Guest blog: Volunteers’ Week 2026

Clare Moody, Police and Crime Commissioner:

Volunteers’ Week (1 – 7 June) is a chance for me to celebrate and recognise the vital work of the volunteers who support my role as Police and Crime Commissioner.

The volunteers I work with across scrutiny panels and boards help me hold policing to account. This work takes time, care, and dedication – it often happens quietly, behind the scenes, and yet sits right at the heart of what my office delivers.

These volunteers make a real difference. I am incredibly grateful to them for their work and the difference they make to the people across Avon and Somerset.

Bryan Knickerbocker, Chair of the Independent Scrutiny of Police Complaints Panel:

When people think about policing, they often think about officers on the frontline. What they may not realise is that there are also volunteers working behind the scenes to help ensure policing remains accountable, transparent and trusted by the communities it serves.

I became involved with the Independent Scrutiny of Police Complaints Panel because I strongly believe that public services work best when they are open to independent challenge and continuous improvement. Policing is no exception. The role allows me to contribute to something that matters deeply to our communities by helping ensure that when concerns are raised about police conduct or service, those concerns are handled fairly, proportionately and with a focus on learning.

The Independent Scrutiny of Police Complaints Panel is made up of 14 independent volunteers from across Avon and Somerset who review completed police complaint cases from a member of the public’s perspective. Together, we act as a constructive “critical friend” to both Avon and Somerset Police and the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner.

We review complaint correspondence, investigation records and, where applicable, Body Worn Video footage. We then provide feedback and recommendations to help improve future practice.

Independent scrutiny helps provide assurance that complaint processes are fair, transparent and accountable. It also gives the public confidence that there is meaningful oversight from people who are not part of the police service.

The Panel’s work aligns closely with Police and Crime Commissioner Clare Moody’s Police and Crime Plan, particularly the priority of improving policing standards so that people receive a fair and effective service. Effective scrutiny helps strengthen trust and confidence, supports organisational learning, and helps ensure that policing remains accountable to the communities it serves.

Over the last year, the Panel reviewed 107 police complaint cases across four quarterly meetings, covering themes including discrimination, Stop and Search, Violence Against Women and Girls, individual behaviours and service delivery. We have continued to focus on fairness, transparency, communication, proportionality and organisational learning. We were particularly pleased to see examples where our feedback contributed to improvements in complaint handling, including clearer correspondence, stronger organisational learning processes, greater consistency in decision-making and a stronger emphasis on proportionality.

One highlight from the past year was the recognition the Panel received during HMICFRS inspections, where inspectors noted that the Panel has “a clear and demonstrable impact”. For a group of volunteers who give their time freely in the interests of public accountability, it was encouraging to see the value of independent scrutiny recognised in such clear terms.

The Panel has also continued to evolve. Over the past year we have welcomed several new members from a wide range of backgrounds and experiences, strengthening the diversity of perspectives around the table. This helps ensure our discussions reflect the communities we serve and enables us to deliver more robust and effective scrutiny. Looking ahead, we are expanding our thematic scrutiny into areas such as missing persons, social media, safeguarding and domestic and gender-based abuse, where public confidence and transparency are particularly important.

One of the most rewarding aspects of the role is working alongside fellow volunteers who are passionate about making a positive contribution to their communities. I am proud to serve as Chair of the Independent Scrutiny of Police Complaints Panel and grateful to work alongside a dedicated group of volunteers whose commitment helps ensure that independent public scrutiny remains a valued part of policing in Avon and Somerset.