Your feedback matters
Being stopped and searched can be an unpleasant experience, no matter the approach of the police officers involved. But if it’s felt that there has been unnecessary force or an inappropriate attitude, then we'd like to hear about it and, where necessary, act upon it. Likewise, we welcome any suggestions or positive comments you’d like to share.
Tell us about your experience of being stopped by the police
If you feel you’ve had an unpleasant or unsatisfactory experience, you may wish to make a formal complaint. You can do so if you think a police officer has behaved incorrectly or unfairly. For example, if you think an officer has:
- been rude to you
- used excessive force
- abused your rights
- arrested you unlawfully
All complaints are investigated and this can take time.
To make a formal complaint and for more information about how complaints are investigated, read our complaints pages. If you've had a positive experience, you can offer us feedback.
Alternatives to a formal complaint
To raise an issue about something that has caused you concern, or was done well, it may be worth giving feedback. This might be particularly useful if you've witnessed something where, because you were not directly affected, you feel reluctant to make a formal contact, but you still feel unhappy, or pleased, about the way you've seen police officers behave.
If you want to raise a concern about a stop and search, you can complete a stop and search trigger application.
How to get involved
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.
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.