diff --git a/dspace-api/src/main/java/org/dspace/authorize/AuthorizeServiceImpl.java b/dspace-api/src/main/java/org/dspace/authorize/AuthorizeServiceImpl.java
index e1f29d519c..0420e5e691 100644
--- a/dspace-api/src/main/java/org/dspace/authorize/AuthorizeServiceImpl.java
+++ b/dspace-api/src/main/java/org/dspace/authorize/AuthorizeServiceImpl.java
@@ -508,9 +508,10 @@ public class AuthorizeServiceImpl implements AuthorizeService {
         List<ResourcePolicy> policies = getPolicies(c, src);
 
         //Only inherit non-ADMIN policies (since ADMIN policies are automatically inherited)
+        //and non-custom policies as these are manually applied when appropriate
         List<ResourcePolicy> nonAdminPolicies = new ArrayList<>();
         for (ResourcePolicy rp : policies) {
-            if (rp.getAction() != Constants.ADMIN) {
+            if (rp.getAction() != Constants.ADMIN && !ResourcePolicy.TYPE_CUSTOM.contentEquals(rp.getRpType())) {
                 nonAdminPolicies.add(rp);
             }
         }
diff --git a/dspace-api/src/main/java/org/dspace/content/ItemServiceImpl.java b/dspace-api/src/main/java/org/dspace/content/ItemServiceImpl.java
index b93d33a559..96dac1a4df 100644
--- a/dspace-api/src/main/java/org/dspace/content/ItemServiceImpl.java
+++ b/dspace-api/src/main/java/org/dspace/content/ItemServiceImpl.java
@@ -850,6 +850,8 @@ public class ItemServiceImpl extends DSpaceObjectServiceImpl<Item> implements It
         List<ResourcePolicy> defaultCollectionPolicies = authorizeService
             .getPoliciesActionFilter(context, collection, Constants.DEFAULT_BITSTREAM_READ);
 
+        List<ResourcePolicy> defaultItemPolicies = authorizeService.findPoliciesByDSOAndType(context, item,
+                ResourcePolicy.TYPE_CUSTOM);
         if (defaultCollectionPolicies.size() < 1) {
             throw new SQLException("Collection " + collection.getID()
                                        + " (" + collection.getHandle() + ")"
@@ -864,12 +866,14 @@ public class ItemServiceImpl extends DSpaceObjectServiceImpl<Item> implements It
             // if come from InstallItem: remove all submission/workflow policies
             authorizeService.removeAllPoliciesByDSOAndType(context, mybundle, ResourcePolicy.TYPE_SUBMISSION);
             authorizeService.removeAllPoliciesByDSOAndType(context, mybundle, ResourcePolicy.TYPE_WORKFLOW);
+            addCustomPoliciesNotInPlace(context, mybundle, defaultItemPolicies);
             addDefaultPoliciesNotInPlace(context, mybundle, defaultCollectionPolicies);
 
             for (Bitstream bitstream : mybundle.getBitstreams()) {
                 // if come from InstallItem: remove all submission/workflow policies
                 authorizeService.removeAllPoliciesByDSOAndType(context, bitstream, ResourcePolicy.TYPE_SUBMISSION);
                 authorizeService.removeAllPoliciesByDSOAndType(context, bitstream, ResourcePolicy.TYPE_WORKFLOW);
+                addCustomPoliciesNotInPlace(context, bitstream, defaultItemPolicies);
                 addDefaultPoliciesNotInPlace(context, bitstream, defaultCollectionPolicies);
             }
         }
@@ -1064,6 +1068,15 @@ prevent the generation of resource policy entry values with null dspace_object a
         }
     }
 
+    private void addCustomPoliciesNotInPlace(Context context, DSpaceObject dso, List<ResourcePolicy> customPolicies)
+            throws SQLException, AuthorizeException {
+        boolean customPoliciesAlreadyInPlace = authorizeService
+                .findPoliciesByDSOAndType(context, dso, ResourcePolicy.TYPE_CUSTOM).size() > 0;
+        if (!customPoliciesAlreadyInPlace) {
+            authorizeService.addPolicies(context, customPolicies, dso);
+        }
+    }
+
     /**
      * Check whether or not there is already an RP on the given dso, which has actionId={@link Constants.READ} and
      * resourceTypeId={@link ResourcePolicy.TYPE_CUSTOM}