The Criminal Justice Alliance has submitted a response to the Home Office’s consultation on the Draft Community Scrutiny Framework: National Guidance for Community Scrutiny Panels (CSP). With a strong emphasis on policing issues such as Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG), stop and search, and victim support, the CJA recognises the critical role of community scrutiny and accountability in enhancing policing legitimacy and transparency. While we appreciate several elements in the draft guidance, we stress the importance of greater uniformity and a more comprehensive acknowledgment of the current policing context. We emphasise that effective community scrutiny can help rebuild trust with communities, especially those who have historically had strained relationships with police. Our amendments and recommendations emphasise transparency, equity, and the rebuilding of trust with all communities as key goals.
