Scrutiny Panels
Independent Scrutiny Panels are administered by the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner (OPCC) to enable the Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) to hold Dorset Police to account in the below areas. The PCC chairs the Use of Police Powers and Standards Scrutiny Panel. The Out of Court Resolutions Panel (previously the Out of Court Disposals Panel) has an independent chair. Both Panels comprise members of the public together with representatives from the Force and OPCC.
USE OF POLICE POWERS AND STANDARDS SCRUTINY PANEL
Panel Minutes 11 September 2024
Panel Minutes 28 November 2023
Panel Minutes 5 September 2023
Panel Minutes 8 September 2022
Panel Minutes 3 March 2022 - Inaugural Meeting
Out of Court RESOLUTIONS Scrutiny Panel (PREVIOUSLY OUT OF COURT DISPOSALS SCRUTINY PANEL)
An Out of Court Resolution (OoCR) is a way of dealing with less serious offending. Out of Court Resolutions include a range of options used to resolve crime, without going to court. These options were previously known as Out of Court Disposals.
Our use of an Out of Court Resolution is victim focused - taking into account the full circumstances of the offence, offender and views of the victim.
An offender has to admit they are guilty of an offence to be issued with an Out of Court Resolution and be eligible in terms of previous recorded offending.
Out of Court Resolutions allow the police to deal effectively and proportionately with low-level, often first-time offending without a prosecution at court, by providing the victim with a reparative solution (such as offering an apology, payment of compensation and/or repairing any damage caused) and addressing the offender's behaviour through a solution that is both punitive - for example by issuing a police caution - and rehabilitative - through an appropriate course to treat the offender's behaviour.
The Out of Court Resolution Scrutiny Panel was set up to ensure that the use of Out of Court Resolution (OoCR) is appropriate, proportionate, consistent with national and local policy, and considers the victims’ wishes where appropriate. Members of the panel include an independent chair, representatives from the Criminal Justice and Youth Justice services. Meetings are also attended by representatives from the Force and the OPCC. At each meeting the panel consider a random selection of OoCR cases based on a theme which has been decided upon at the previous meeting.
Terms of Reference for Out of Court Resolutions Scrutiny Panel
Panel Meeting Summary (latest at top of list)
Panel Minutes 14 December 2023
Panel Minutes 13 September 2023
Panel Minutes 16 December 2022
Panel Minutes 14 September 2022
Panel Minutes prior to 2022 are available on request.
OTHER FORMS OF SCRUTINY
Link to our Independent Scrutiny Panels are provided in the links below.
Independent Custody Visiting Panel