About the Devon and Cornwall Community Scrutiny Panel
The relationship between police forces and the public has been at the forefront of national and global headlines.
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Why we exist
Whilst we know many police officers conduct themselves professionally under increasing pressure, Devon and Cornwall’s disproportionality rates are one of the highest in the country.
According to D&C Police statistical data, members of the public who self-identify as black are 12 times more likely to be stopped and searched in the region, despite representing only 0.2 per cent of our population.
The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) Youth Panel Report highlighted that young people in the UK have a lack of confidence in the police system and officers’ use of police powers, Many reported feeling the police do not understand their needs, including hidden disabilities, neurodiversity and mental health issues.
“Young people and the police are trapped in a cycle of escalation, fear and mistrust.”
Where we are now
In 2014 the Home Office and College of Policing recommended that all police forces set up independent community scrutiny panels for Stop & Searches.
Despite this, in 2019 His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services (HMICFRS) found continuing failures by forces to review body-worn camera footage, monitoring find rate by ethnicity.
As such external scrutiny panels were set up to ensure such panels were independently chaired and represented by local communities.
In 2020 Devon and Cornwall Police became one of the few police forces in the UK to successfully implement independent community scrutiny to assess local Stop & Search and Use of Force.
Who is part of DCCS Panel?
Learn more about the team and those involved
“The DCCS Panel is leading the way nationally in supporting the process of allowing members of the public to scrutinise interactions between police and the public..”
- Detective Chief Inspector Mark Beavan
(Devon & Cornwall Police)