Two years ago in 2023, the Home Office and College of Policing published draft national guidance for Community Scrutiny Panels (CSPs), marking a step change in UK policing transparency and accountability, although in draft form the guidance was based on best practice research as well as looking at what works. The panels I set up were the Bedfordshire stop and search community scrutiny panel in 2015 and the JPS community scrutiny panel in 2021 covering Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Hertfordshire’s collaborative police unit of armed officers, roads policing and the dogs unit.
The guidance set out principles to empower local communities in holding police to account, recommending inclusive, representative panels that scrutinise stop and search, use of force, and other key police powers. Today, I reflect on why this remains so critical and celebrate the forces and panels showcasing national best practice.
Why Community Scrutiny Panels matter now
Public confidence in policing is the cornerstone of a safe and fair society. Recent years have seen rising calls for reform, particularly from Black communities and young people disproportionately affected by policing disparities. Persistent concerns over fairness, legitimacy, and respect in police-public encounters risk eroding collaboration and trust. Scrutiny panels answer these challenges by making policing more transparent, impartial, and accountable, aligning with both the Home Office’s “Inclusive Britain” approach and the Race Action Plan from the National Police Chiefs’ Council.
Effective CSPs give communities a direct voice. By reviewing incidents, commenting on officer handling, and making recommendations for training or policy change, these panels don’t replace formal complaints routes; they often prevent complaints from happening, encouraging continual learning and good practice in policing. The presence of diverse, independent panel membership ensures decisions reflect community values.
Best practice in action: The JPS Community Scrutiny Panel
Among the standout examples is the Joint Protective Services (JPS) Community Scrutiny Panel, which covers Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire, and Hertfordshire. The JPS handles specialist units, including armed policing, roads, and dog units. This panel — widely recognised for its innovation and independence — sets national standards for rigour and impact.
Key features of the JPS approach include:
- Independence and diversity: Chaired by a community member and more often than not managed by an independent non policing organisation, the panel should bring together volunteers from all backgrounds, ages (from 16 upwards), and experiences, reflecting local demographics as well as those most affected by police action.
- Rigorous review process: The panel employs structured grading (using a traffic light system) grading green 1 to red 9 to consistently assess officer interactions. Body-worn video footage is reviewed in depth, ensuring robust oversight. It also ensures consistency when panel members change or when similar police actions could otherwise be judged differently months later.
- Constructive feedback: Meetings focus on learning outcomes rather than blame, identifying what officers did well and where improvements are needed. Exemplary conduct is recognised and shared nationally.
- National recognition and influence: Other forces across the UK have adopted the tools I devised in which these national recommendation were devised from. They have also been embedded in College of Policing best practice guidance.
- Across England and Wales, several panels are working collaboratively with youth justice, social services, and voluntary sector partners to ensure especially vulnerable groups, including young people and those with lived experience, are properly represented.
The relevance for 2025 and beyond
Two years after the guidance, CSPs remain more relevant than ever as public demand for transparency grows. They:
- Foster public trust and police legitimacy
- Provide actionable insight for training, policy adjustment, and best practice sharing
- Ensure diverse perspectives are heard, counteracting historic disparities
- Build cooperation and effective partnerships with communities
- Continue and complement the work of the National Police Race Action Plan
As I have seen during my work – whether in national forums, local communities or specialist panels like the Beds, Cambs and Herts – the JPS independent scrutiny panel can be used as a template how to apply best practice. The goal is always to improve policing, protect vulnerable people, and inspire public confidence.
“Police effectiveness depends on public cooperation and support. To rebuild trust, police officers must act fairly, impartially, and with unwavering accountability.”
Looking forward
Effective Community Scrutiny Panels which are diverse and inclusive are a vital part of legitimacy and accountability. When police forces, community members, and independent experts come together, the result is fairer, safer policing for everyone.
As chair of the Beds, Cambs and Herts independent JPS Community Scrutiny Panel and a national ethics advisor, I urge all forces to adopt and expand best practice ensuring scrutiny is not a postcode lottery, but a national standard. Policing by consent is built on trust. Police forces cannot do this by themselves.
By Montell Neufville, police ethics advisor, Att10tive.com
All blogposts are published with the permission of the author. The views expressed are solely the author’s own and do not necessarily represent the views of StopWatch UK.