Independent Scrutiny of Police Complaints Panel
The Independent Scrutiny of Police Complaints Panel (ISPCP) is a group of independent volunteers who review and scrutinise police complaints and highlight good practice. The panel provide an additional layer of oversight and accountability regarding complaints made by the public against the police, ensuring that are handled fairly, thoroughly and transparently.
We are not currently recruiting for new panel members.
Each quarter the panel review a ‘dip sample’ of closed police complaints in their own time and then meet in person alongside staff from Avon and Somerset Constabulary’s Professional Standards Department and from the Office of the Police & Crime Commissioner, to discuss their findings.
The ISPCP can make recommendations for improvements in how police complaints are managed or in how individual cases should be handled. After each meeting a public report is produced detailing points of discussion from the meeting, statistics and a log of actions.
To find out more about the local people on the Panel, view the Independent Scrutiny of Police Complaints reports.
Aims of the Panel
The Independent Scrutiny of Police Complaints Panel consists of eight local panel members who represent their communities in Avon and Somerset.
Their aim is to ‘act as a critical friend’ by providing feedback on completed complaint files to the OPCC and the force’s Professional Standards Department (PSD) to ensure the police maintain a high quality approach to complaints which focuses on accountability, transparency and learning.
For further information about the aims and objectives, read the panel’s role profile (PDF) and Terms of Reference (PDF).
Who can join the Panel?
The panel is a group of independent volunteers.
Volunteers are required to be:
- Over the age of 18 years old
- Living or working in Avon and Somerset
- Able to attend meetings during the day at Avon and Somerset Police Headquarters in Portishead.
All volunteers are subject to a police vetting check.
Serving or former police officers and staff are not eligible for this role to ensure there is no conflict of interest.
Join the Panel
We are not currently recruiting for new panel members.
“Every quarter the ISPCP members review a random sample of police complaints files, and give feedback to Professional Standards on our findings. It’s rewarding to know that raising concerns or querying practice can lead to change. I volunteer on this panel because I believe that transparency in public services is important, and as local residents, we should get involved in scrutiny” Panel member