Get involved in improving stop and search

We do not underestimate the impact stop and search has on communities and individuals. We know that to maintain public confidence in its use, the power must be used in a correct and effective manner.

Community engagement

It's important to understand the impact stop and search has on communities and individuals. We do this through community engagement, scrutiny and community accountability.

Measuring the effect of stop and search

We publish stop and search data regularly so that we can be transparent about how stop and search is used, what is monitored and what is recorded. View our stop and search data.

How to get involved

Police Observer Scheme

Our Observer Scheme is open to members of the public who would like to see first-hand how we help make Dorset a safe county for everyone.

You can:

• join our officers, staff and volunteers on patrol
• spend a shift in one of our custody suites
• join one of our many other departments to gain a greater understanding on how certain teams contribute to keeping people safe

The scheme is open to people aged 17 and over, including serving police officers from other forces. You'll be given the chance to spend a shift with response, neighbourhood policing teams, or other specialist roles and teams across the force.

By expanding and renewing the scheme, we aim to open our doors to more members of our community.

Additionally, as part of our 'Join Us. Love Dorset' recruitment campaign, it's a great opportunity for those interested in a career with us. You'll be given an insight into the day-to-day work of policing.

How to apply

To join us on the scheme, please complete and submit our Police Observer Scheme application form.

We aim to respond to your request with an offer within two to four weeks of receiving your request. Emails from us may arrive in your spam folder, so please check this as well as your main inbox.

Your observer shift is likely to happen within one to two months of the offer email. However, this may take longer during periods of high demand.

Contact us

For more information, please email [email protected].

Independent Scrutiny Panel

Dorset Police has established an independent scrutiny panel that will hold the force to account on any stop and search issues. The members of the panel will reflect and represent the diverse communities of Dorset.

The panel sits at least quarterly and is made up of a diverse range of stakeholders. The group reviews examples of stop and search in practice through actual examination of stop search forms and police performance data.

Dorset Police also writes to a random selection of persons that have been subject to stop search to request feedback. Information and data from these sources is recorded and retained and considered by the panel. In addition, every complaint against police which concerns a stop search encounter will be considered by the panel.

If you wish to become involved in the independent scrutiny panel as a community representative, email us for more information.