OPINION: As Thames Valley Police’s decision to expand its public scrutiny panels to include oversight of officers’ use of force video footage brings the issue of scrutiny back into the media, Montell Neufville, police ethics advisor and Chair of the Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Hertfordshire Police Scrutiny Panel overseeing road police and armed police across the three counties, sets out five key reasons why he believes oversight and accountability are crucial to effective policing.

FEATURE: A renewed focus on community scrutiny of the use of force – highlighted in the wake of the killing of George Floyd, and encouraged by Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services – has prompted Bedfordshire, Hertfordshire and Cambridgeshire Police Joint Protective Services command to set up a tri-county independent scrutiny panel on police use of force; panel chair Montell Neufville explains how the panel was established and will operate.

OPINION: Police ethics advisor Montell Neufville explores the issue of police legitimacy, what it means and its relationship to building trust and confidence in policing, whose role it is to build that trust and confidence, and the opportunities and recommendations for how this can be achieved.

OPINION: The findings of the recent Commission on Race and Ethnic Disparities Report have been called into question by a number of campaign and community groups; but police ethics advisor Montell Neufville believes that among the recommendations are some important messages for prospective PCCs and mayors on public scrutiny and police-community relations.

OPINION: In December the UK Government confirmed that it was scrapping standalone unconscious bias training for civil servants, citing a report that suggested it was ineffective, and could even be counter-productive; but Police Ethics Advisor Montell Neufville believes such training – particularly when delivered as part of wider learning on diversity, cultural competency or risk management – still has an important role to play in policing.

OPINION: A consultation on Serious Violence Reduction Orders – the latest Government measure to tackle violent offences, particularly knife crime – recently finished, having prompted concerns from a number of criminal justice support organisations; police ethics adviser Montell Neufville believes that, if introduced, the new orders could have a damaging impact on community relations.

OPINION: The debate over whether police forces should be ‘defunded’ – or funding reallocated to alternative community resources – has continued on both sides of the Atlantic; police ethics adviser Montell Neufville believes it’s important to understand the existing police and community criminal justice funding landscape, before considering the alternatives.

OPINION: The recent stop of London MP Dawn Butler under the Road Traffic Act (RTA), and the media storm which ensued, once again brought the issue of police legitimacy into the headlines; Montell Neufville believes amending the RTA could improve interactions with the public.

OPINION: The disproportionate use of stop and search is often a result of either conscious or unconscious bias, and can undermine relations between police and communities. Police ethics adviser Montell Neufville examines the dangers of dismissing disproportionality, and how officers can challenge those arguments.

Opinion: 'Section 60' stop and search powers continue to cause controversy, but Montell Neufville, a police ethics adviser, trainer and chair of a police community scrutiny panel, says that if officers of all ranks adhered to the Police Code of Ethics, many of the issues surrounding stop and search could be avoided.

Opinion: Chair of Bedfordshire Community Scrutiny Panel Montell Neufville shares his concerns that lockdown measures have prevented panels from scrutinising the police use of Covid-19 powers which could undermine transparency and damage community relations.

Opinion: Procedural justice refers to how the public's interaction with police officers shapes their view of the police and their willingness to obey the law. Bedfordshire Police Stop and Search Panel Chair Montell Neufville says that, given its potential to reduce crime, procedural justice is relevant to all areas of policing.

Opinion: Bedfordshire Police Stop and Search Panel has been highlighted as one of the most effective in the country. Panel Chair Montell Neufville explains the importance of being open and transparent with both local communities and police officers.

Opinion: Home Secretary Priti Patel recently announced section 60 Stop and Search powers would be relaxed to make the process quicker and more effective. Stop and Search Lead and Chair of Bedfordshire Community Scrutiny Panel Montell Neufville questions this approach along with other 'myths' surrounding stop and search.