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So I had a weird question come up: Are the custodians Guardsmen or Arbites?
I would would say Guardsmen, but I could see the case for them to be Arbite Enforcers.
For fluff anyway.

Obviously in game play, it's just another IG pair of boots.

What do you folks think?

They are guardsmen, Arbites just kill (or I suppose arrest sometimes) the criminals, once they are in custody the arbites has done his job. As for what exactly a custodian is (like how he applies for his job) I have no clue, it might be a regular officer recruited for his loyalty and determination, he might be a washed out commissar or storm trooper.

Never thought about it that way? I like it though!
I always asumed they were just grunts.

I thought custodians were similar to Military Police to help Commissars when arrests are needed rather than executions...
I'd say they're an organisation inside the commissariat but IMO they could recruit from anywhere...

Honestly I think the custodian is so freaking stupid to be used in the manner that they are Especially considering penal legion are sent to their deaths on purpose in most of the fluff. Should have made the squad size bigger and have the custodian as an upgrade or not even there. Anyway my guess is they are just military police, aka guardsmen.