How the PCC uses scrutiny
The PCC advocates the four principles of good public scrutiny as outlined by the Centre for Public Scrutiny which are:
1. Providing a "critical friend" challenge;
2. Reflecting the voice and concerns of the public;
3. Taking the lead and owning the scrutiny process; and
4. Making an impact on the delivery of public services.
The PCC carries out scrutiny in a variety of ways using formal and informal methods such as:
- Use of Police Powers Community Scrutiny Panel (formal scrutiny)
- Out of Court Disposal Scrutiny Panel (formal scrutiny)
- Specifically commissioned reviews / reports (formal scrutiny)
- Independent Custody Visitor activity (formal scrutiny)
- Regular internal meetings and discussions (informal oversight)
The methods of scrutiny that the PCC uses are often:
- Scrutiny reviews (delivered as task and finish projects)
- Regular scrutiny of specific topics (e.g. police use of force, out of court disposals and stop and search) via specific panels
- Dip-sampling activities (e.g. of complaints against the police)
You can find out more detail about how the PCC carries out scrutiny in the Scrutiny Framework.