Volunteers are being asked to come forward if they are interested in checking the welfare of people held in police custody.
Custody visitors make unannounced visits, in pairs, to Police stations to observe, monitor and report on the welfare of people held in custody. By opening Police stations to independent examination, people can get a better understanding and knowledge of police practices.
To be a custody visitor you should be over 18 years old, live within Edinburgh or the Lothians and Borders and be able to make informed judgements in which the community can have confidence.
Jaap Prins, 55, from Edinburgh has been volunteering as a custody visitor for four years. He said: "I became a custody visitor because of a sense of justice that I felt. I have compassion for people in custody and I want to make sure they are being treated well. We have a few standard questions we ask detainees on each visit: Have they been told their rights, have they eaten, have their family or friends been contacted? We can also make sure the conditions they are being held in are appropriate. I feel by taking part in this scheme I am engaging with and helping the community as a whole."
If you are interested in becoming a custody visitor or would like more information please contact Hannah Scott on 0131 529 4121 or email: [email protected]. Further details are also available online.
In addition there is an information morning for the Custody Visitings at City Chambers on Saturday 13 February 2010 at 10am. Call 0131 529 4121 for more information.