Community Scrutiny Panel invited to Taser training session

Members of a community scrutiny panel were recently invited to Wiltshire Police headquarters in Devizes to witness a Taser training session.

The scrutiny panel were also shown the correct way for police officers to use batons and it was explained to them the considerations officers took into account when using force and the level of force to use.

The Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner (OPCC) recruits members of of the public to join community scrutiny panels, where their role is to review body worn camera footage of police officers using Tasers, batons, PAVA spray, out of court resolutions and stop and search powers.

The panel give feedback on the footage they see, and this is either used to improve training, or fed back to the officers involved through their command chain.

Police and Crime Commissioner Philip Wilkinson thinks this is an important role:

"Civilian oversight of everything the police does is critically important to ensure that they are legitimate.

"This panel can review the body worn footage of officers to reassure me and reassure the residents of Wiltshire, that when Wiltshire Police uses force, it is appropriate, it's the minimum necessary and it's proportionate.

Currently, there are thirty members of the public who take part in the panels, but the OPCC is looking to increase that number to fifty. The panel meets every six weeks and whilst it is voluntary, expenses can be claimed.

Chief Inspector Phil Staynings is the Head of Local Policing and the Neighbourhood Harm Reduction Unit, and wants to see members of public from all different backgrounds sign up for the panel:

"Diversity is key.

"Everyone's got different life experiences, different perceptions, different thresholds, and it's important we test those.

"That's the reason for the diversity and the broad spectrum of people we're bringing into these panels."

One of the key points made to the panel during the evening, was that the most important tool a police officer has, is their ability to speak to people and de-escalate situations, so force doesn't have to be used. 

Juliet Brain has been part of the panel for a year and has found it to be a fascinating experience:

"Police officers have to deal with a huge amount of information, and process it very quickly in a short space of time.

"They're needing to keep themselves safe, and keep other people safe.

"I think there's a lot of space for getting things wrong, or testing procedures and making sure they work. 

"Our view, and our gut response to seeing the footage, helps bridge that awareness and that gap between making sure that officers are using the process and using the safeguards, and for us as the public to say that we can see things are being done correctly."

Published Saturday 31 August 2024