About scrutiny

• What scrutiny means

  The Police and Crime Commissioner for Devon, Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly defines scrutiny as:
  
  “A practical tool to review information and explore an issue objectively, with the aim of developing an informed view driving accountability and bringing about positive change.”

  Scrutiny is a key tool for Commissioners in carrying out their duties and can assist them in holding the Chief Constable to account on the running of the police force and on the delivery of the Commissioner’s Police and Crime Plan objectives.

  Scrutiny is not an inspection or disciplinary process. It can be carried out by the Commissioner, their staff and specially set up panels.

  Scrutiny should act as a ‘critical friend’ and can help both the Commissioner and the Chief Constable identify challenges and opportunities, and seek out best practice and improvements.

  Devon & Cornwall Police can and do carry out their own internal assurance processes to learn and develop as an organisation, but the Commissioner must always carry out their own independent scrutiny of the police. 

• What the Commissioner scrutinises

  The Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner for Devon and Cornwall has a small staff and the resources the Commissioner has available to scrutinise the Chief Constable are limited.

  The Commissioner will identify priority themes, issues, and areas of policing for scrutiny inquiry through their day-to-day work with the police force, engagement with the public, and through wider networks.

  Areas for scrutiny inquiry will usually have been brought to the attention of the Commissioner through one or more of the following ways:

  • High levels of concern about an issue from local people
  • HMICFRS inspections or force performance reports have highlighted concerns about the performance of the police in a particular area
  • ‘Deep dive’ investigations into Police and Crime Plan priority areas.
  • Where there have been significant or unexplained changes in reported crime or other incidents managed by the police
  • New government guidance or legislation is expected to significantly impact an area of policing or crime
  • The Chief Constable has suggested that a theme, issue or area of policing would significantly benefits from more detailed scrutiny

  You can find out more detail about what topics the Commissioner scrutinises in the Scrutiny Framework.

  You can find more about our scrutiny activity here.

• How the Commissioner carries out scrutiny

  To ensure that scrutiny activity is consistent and fair, the Commissioner for Devon, Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly aims to uphold a number of principles when conducting scrutiny. The Commissioner considers that ‘good scrutiny’ must:

  • Consider information objectively, and be balanced and fair
  • Reflect the voice and concerns of the public
  • Advocate strong ethics and integrity
  • Recognise what is working well and identify areas for improvement
  • Have a positive and tangible impact
  • Be a positive and credible tool to drive positive change

  The Commissioner for Devon, Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly conducts scrutiny in three broad ways. Some of this is carried out directly, whilst some is delegated to the Chief Executive, office staff, volunteers, or specially convened panels

  1. Informal Scrutiny and Oversight (through regular meetings with the Chief Constable and force leadership)
  2. Quality Assurance Scrutiny (checking that police processes and procedures are being carried out properly and appropriately)
  3. Thematic Scrutiny Enquiries (which may be delivered through a Scrutiny Enquiry Panel)

  You can find out more detail about how the Commissioner carries out scrutiny in the Scrutiny Framework.

• Suggest a topic for scrutiny

  If you would like to suggest a topic for scrutiny please get in touch. Although all topics will be considered against a criteria some may not be chosen for formal scrutiny by the Police and Crime Commissioner. When that is the case we will explain why.  
  
  The Commissioner receives a large volume of correspondence so please indicate clearly in your email that you would like this topic to be considered for scrutiny.
  
  The Commissioner’s scrutiny does not answer questions relating to specific cases or individuals because there are other processes that should be used for that purpose. The Commissioner’s scrutiny will not be used to consider individual complaints, or any issue relating to a disciplinary process.
  
  The Commissioner will consider questions that affect whole groups or communities.
  
  The Commissioner chooses what areas to scrutinise and those decisions are based on where the scrutiny process can make a difference.