The Office of the South Yorkshire Police and Crime Commissioner is recruiting for volunteers to hold the position of Independent Custody Visitor.

Independent Custody Visitors are volunteers who check on the treatment of people in police custody, the conditions in which they are held and ensure that their rights and entitlements are being observed.

A custody visitor is required to visit a custody suite a couple of times a month for up to two hours and report their findings back to the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner.

They work as part of a team and are accompanied at all times by a fellow Independent Custody Visitor.  This is a flexible position, where they decide alongside their partner when the visit is made; at any time of the day or night.

Independent Custody Visitors must maintain their independence and impartiality. They do not take sides but look, listen and report on what they find in the custody suite.  During a visit they will have access to the entire custody area, including the cells, detention rooms, charge rooms and medical room to check detainees have been offered their rights and entitlements under the Police and Criminal Evidence Act.  They must treat everything that they see and hear on their visit as confidential.

Applicants must be over 18 years of age, and live or work in South Yorkshire. Full training will be given and reasonable out of pocket expenses paid.

Due to the position being independent, serving police officers and other serving members of the police, special constables and lay justices cannot apply.

This is an opportunity to offer protection to both detainees and the police and reassurance to the community at large and gain an insight into the criminal justice system.