A quiet push for recognition inside one of policing’s highest-risk environments has sparked national change – from the return of epaulettes for authorised officers to new training allowances and a trial of AO supervisors in custody suites.

For Wellington authorised officer (AO) Grant Feck, the changes have been years in the making.

In 2023, Grant’s regional committee took a motion to the Police Association annual conference calling for better acknowledgment of AOs’ experience and specialist skills and opportunities to progress within custody roles.

At the time, experienced AOs could spend years mentoring staff, training police officers and running custody floors, yet still look no different from an AO who had just started in the job.

They had had nothing obvious to identify who they are so some AOs were pinning their QID badges directly onto their body armour systems because there was nowhere else appropriate to wear them.

“The motion was about recognition,” Grant says. “The senior AOs that have been here a while are always the go-to. Yet there was nothing that acknowledged that.”

The motion – backed by the association – sought epaulettes for AOs, field training officer (FTO) allowances for those mentoring staff and renewed focus on professionalising custody work.

Three years later, much of that wish list is becoming reality.

Custodial AOs are now receiving black epaulettes and QID fittings, advanced AO training courses have been introduced and FTO allowances were secured through collective bargaining.

National Custody Team capability manager Jana Peterson says Grant’s persistence has helped drive positive change.

“One voice has brought about national change,” Jana says. “Grant has played a huge part in this… he’s been persistent, from the motion at conference, the Police Association agreeing, advocating for change, and it worked.”

But the changes are about more than appearance. Police are also trialling AO supervisors in two custody locations – something Grant hopes will eventually open a new pathway for experienced custody staff.

“It’s not about replacing constabulary,” he says. “It was about recognising and giving the authorised officers an opportunity themselves.”

Jana says the broader goal is creating consistency and “one team” within custody: “No ‘blue’ versus ‘grey’. All one in the environment.”

One of the most memorable transitional moments came during the presentation of the new epaulettes for all the participants at an advanced AO course. Jana recalls everyone cheering and clapping as Grant received his set, acknowledging the work he has contributed behind the scenes.

Grant admits it caught him off guard: “I was a bit emotional, to be honest. But I didn’t do all this selfishly. I did it for everybody.”

This was replicated at a recent noncommissioned officer course for 23 sergeants and AOs Martin Williams and Tracy Morga, who are both about to embark on trial as custody supervisors.