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 panels have an independent chair and are made up of members of the public together with representatives from the Force and OPCC.
FORMS OF SCRUTINY
Link to our Independent Scrutiny Panels are provided in the links below.
Independent Custody Visiting Panel
USE OF POLICE POWERS AND STANDARDS SCRUTINY PANEL
Panel minutes 1 December 2022
Panel minutes 8 September 2022
Out of Court Disposals Scrutiny Panel
An Out of Court Disposal (OoCD) is a way of dealing with less serious offending.
Our use of Out of Court Disposals 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 Disposal and be eligible in terms of previous recorded offending.
Out of Court Disposals 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 Disposals Scrutiny Panel was set up to ensure that the use of Out of Court Disposals (OoCDs) 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 OoCD cases based on a theme which has been decided upon at the previous meeting.
Terms of Reference for Out of Court Disposals Scrutiny Panel
Panel Meeting Summary
Panel Summary Report 17 May 2017
Panel Summary Report 16 August 2017
Panel Summary Report 15 November 2017
Panel Summary Report 21 February 2018
Panel Summary Report 23 May 2018
Panel Summary Report 12 Septmber 2018
Panel Summary Report 12 December 2018
Panel Summary Report 6 March 2019
Panel Summary Report 19 June 2019
Panel Summary Report 4 September 2019
Panel Summary Report 18 December 2019
Panel Summary Report 11 March 2020
Panel Summary Report 17 June 2020
Panel Summary Report 9 September 2020
Panel Summary Report 9 December 2020
Panel Summary Report 11 March 2021
Panel minutes 9 September 2021
Panel minutes 14 September 2022
Panel minutes 16 December 2022
Annual Reports