Volunteers wanted for jail visits

http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/scotland/tayside_and_central/7428103.stm

Version 0 of 1.

Members of the public are being sought to visit prisoners held in police custody in the Forth Valley.

Central Scotland's Joint Police Board is making the appeal after admitting it had no "custody visitors" from Stirling or Clackmannanshire.

The volunteers are recruited to check the welfare of detainees held temporarily in police cells.

They operate independently of the police and carry out about eight unannounced visits a year.

The board acknowledged that since the last recruitment campaign in 2004, the numbers of volunteers had fallen.

Rose Mary Glackin, board member, said: "Custody visitors perform an important role within our communities and ensure that detainees' rights are respected and they are treated with dignity and fairness while being held by the police.

"New volunteers are needed across central Scotland and we urge anyone interested to come to the information sessions that have been organised in their area and help to promote a greater understanding of police practices in our communities."

Potential applicants are asked to attend a one-day training session prior to being interviewed by members of the police board.

If successful, visitors are placed on a six-month probationary period with further specific training offered as part of the three-year appointment.