A FORMER top cop has lent his expertise to a crime author.

Former Brighton and Hove commander Chief Superintendent Graham Bartlett has lent his policing expertise to proof best-selling author William Shaw’s new novel The Birdwatcher out next year.

The Brighton-based crime writer sent pages from his new novel relating to police procedure.

He was pleased to hear from the retired policeman, who left the force in 2013 and is currently chairman of Brighton and Hove safeguarding children board, that he had committed “no major faux pas”.

Mr Shaw is now appealing for any twitchers with a passion for crime fiction to read through sections in his new of the book on birdwatching to check for accuracy.