WEST Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner David Jamieson is looking for people keen to spend time behind bars.

The police chief is seeking independent, community-minded people to volunteer as custody visitors.

The scheme, which sees pairs of trained custody visitors making random unannounced visits to custody units in their area, provides a check on the conditions under which people are detained in police custody and provides an independent check on the way police officers and custody assistants carry out their duties.

The aim of the visits is to promote public reassurance and confidence in policing.

No special skills are required as full training is provided.

Visitors will be required to attend a one-day initial training event and to conduct a two-hour visit every six weeks.

They must live in the West Midlands and be over 18 but can come from all sections of the community as long as they are good listeners, non-judgmental and capable of making unbiased observations.

Anyone interested can contact Paul Norton on 0121 626 6060 or email p.norton@west-midlands.pnn.police.uk or to find out more check out http://www.westmidlands-pcc.gov.uk/your-commissioner/custody-visiting