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

Lay observer scheme

The lay observer scheme is an opportunity for members of the public to join officers on patrol and to gain an insight into how the police and partner agencies work to protect communities from threat, risk and harm.

Dorset Police is welcoming more people to take part in the scheme. It is important for the police to understand the communities that they are serving and also for local people to see the kind of incidents police are called to as part of their day-to-day duties.

If you would like to join officers on a patrol, please complete our vetting questionnaire, agree and sign the rules and regulations, and complete the ethnicity form. You can download them at the bottom of the page.

Return them to your local police station in an envelope, addressing it to:

Observers Scheme
Alliance Admin Dept
Weymouth Police Station
Radipole Lane
Weymouth
DT49WN

Alternatively, you can email them to us.

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.