COUPLES arguing, rowdy youths and suspicious-looking people are needed by police to help train new recruits.

The police training centre at Aykley Heads in Durham has been training its latest intake of recruits by employing volunteers to create situations that trainees may confront in the job.

Role-play sessions form part of the police training conducted by Centrex for police forces across the North-East and Yorkshire.

It allows recruits to practise executing warrants, dealing with crowds, and reacting to suspicious-looking people about to break into a car.

Kate Jones, community division officer with Centrex, said they needed more members of the public to come forward to help with the role play.

She said: "It's the first chance they get to deal with real members of the public, so the role-play prepares them just before they go out onto the streets."

Anyone who would like to volunteer to take part in some of the sessions, is asked to contact Kate on 0191-370 7749.