Community Scrutiny Panel

Who are we?

Cambridgeshire Community Scrutiny Panel is a group of independent volunteers of all ethnicities, aged 16 and above, who share a desire to deliver positive change in policing across Cambridgeshire and Peterborough.

While we are facilitated by the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner, the panel is independently chaired and members are encouraged to speak freely and honestly to ensure the genuine view of the citizen is considered.

Where and when do we work?

We meet as a panel on the last Thursday of every month. We meet in person at Cambridgeshire Constabulary Headquarters and online in rotation and meetings are held in the evening. Click here to view the meeting schedule for 2025/2026. 

What do we do?

We scrutinise police interaction with the public where officers have exercised Stop and Search and Use of Force powers. We help to ensure that these powers are being used appropriately and ethically at all times.

We pay particular attention to interactions with communities who have the lowest trust in policing.

Our recommendations have seen real change in the Constabulary, from front line interactions to system and organisational changes.

Examples of positive change include:

• Encouraging diversity in Stop and Search training sessions
• The quality of the grounds recorded in the use of Stop and Search has greatly improved.
• The protection of individuals during Strip Searches has been enhanced.
• There has been a cultural shift resulting in the increased use of Body Worn Video.

What is Stop and Search and Use of Force?

Where reasonable grounds exist, Stop and Search powers allow police to search a person or their vehicle in line with strict protocols and codes of behaviour.

When it comes to Use of Force, in exercising their duties, police officers may use reasonable and proportionate force but must always show fairness and respect.

As a member of the Community Scrutiny Panel, you will be trained to ensure you can play an active role in monitoring and ensuring these powers are exercised correctly, proportionately and professionally.

Custody Scrutiny

In 2024 the OPCC introduced custody detention to the Community Scrutiny Panel rotation.

This is being introduced to increase transparency, scrutiny and performance within police custody. The objectives of custody scrutiny are to independently:

• Assess and report on detention and custody processes.
• Review and advise on matters of disproportionality; and
• Assist in generating a transparent product suitable for public consideration at the end of each annual panel cycle.

Could this be you?

Community Scrutiny Panel members represent the voice of everyone living, working and studying across our diverse county.

We need volunteers from age 16 upwards who can give honest and constructive feedback to help improve front-line policing.

Perhaps you, or someone you know has had first-hand experience of policing?

If you're interested, please complete our online form. If you want to find out more email [email protected].

Exploring Outstanding Practice

The most recent HMICFRS PEEL assessment reported that ‘Cambridgeshire Constabulary is outstanding at using police powers and treating people fairly and respectfully’. As a result of this grading, the College of Policing came to do an Exploring Outstanding Practice study on Cambridge Police Stop and Search. In this report the OPCC feature for their role in scrutiny of Stop and Search. The OPCC manage the Community Scrutiny Panel, which is independently chaired, and this provides the mechanism for the PCC to hold the Constabulary to account for their use of Stop and Search and Use of Force powers. This panel has received recognition from both HMICFRS and the College of Policing for the impact this has on the Constabulary’s ability to ensure such powers are used reasonably and proportionately. The report can be read in full here: College of Policing - Exploring Outstanding Practice - Cambridge Police Stop and Search

Terms of Reference

The Terms of Reference (ToR) for the panel can be accessed by clicking on the following link: Terms of Reference

Youth Scrutiny Opportunities

In collaboration with the Constabulary, the OPCC have launched a Youth Scrutiny Roadshow to give young people across Cambridgeshire the opportunity to get involved with scrutiny. As young people are also subject to Stop and Search and Use of Force powers, it is essential to engage them with scrutiny to get representation from all of the communities the Constabulary serves.

The sessions primarily focus on S&S, but also cover elements of other police powers such as UoF. The sessions are conducted in a road show style, with members of the OPCC and Constabulary going out to youth groups in the community to provide information on what S&S is, what the rights of the person being searched are, and how officers should conduct themselves. Body worn video (BWV) of real-life incidents are shown to the youth group and their feedback is documented and passed to the Constabulary to be disseminated and acted upon as appropriate.

The team are looking for existing networks or groups within the community consisting of 13 to 18 year olds, who would be willing to have them come along and host a scrutiny session.

If this is something that you, or a group that you are connected to, would be interested in then please contact the OPCC.