Zoe provided an update outlining the distinction between mental health and mental disability, referencing definitions given to student officers. Officers are informed that the definition of mental disorder includes “mental illness, arrested or incomplete development of the mind, psychopathic disorder, and any other disorder or disability of the mind.”
The panel also noted the definition contained in the Mental Health Act 1983, as presented within Blackstone’s Handbook for Policing Students, which defines mental disorder as:
“Any disorder or disability of the mind.”
Panel members noted that a new wristband scheme is being trialled in Cornwall to support communication between officers and neurodiverse people: News Article - Devon & Cornwall Police.
DATA SCRUTINY PANEL
17th november 2025
Actions Update:
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Data Quality and Disproportionality
The analysis of data from 2nd January to 16th October focused on data quality, trends over time, and disproportionality in relation to Stop and Search. For the Use of Force analysis, only data from May to October was used.
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Stop and Search
The panel noted that Stop and Search data quality had remained generally stable, though some unknown and blank records persist throughout the reporting period.
A continued, consistent discrepancy between officer-perceived ethnicity and self-defined ethnicity was noted for September. Self-defined data recorded 3% Black, whereas officer-perceived data recorded 5% Black.
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Use of Force
The panel highlighted ongoing data quality issues in the Use of Force dataset, attributed primarily to Pronto system failures which prevent accurate transfer of information.
Only data from May to October was used for the Use of Force analysis.
Longitudinal Trends Over Time:
Stop and Search
The panel observed that Stop and Search volumes remained consistent into September, following higher activity levels noted in May and June.
Thematic Context:
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Availability of BWV
The panel noted that in body-worn video (BWV) records for September, 13 records were flagged as having no BWV available. Of these, two records appeared to be only part-complete, prompting a query to determine if they represented duplicates or errors.
The reasons for the unavailability were specified: five records cited no camera available (two from BCU South Devon, one from CID, one from Alliance FSG, and one from BCU Plymouth); three records noted the camera was out of power (two from BCU Cornwall and one from Alliance Roads Policing); one record cited a faulty camera (BCU South Devon); and one record documented officer discretion (BCU South Devon).
The panel noted that South Devon BCU appeared to have a disproportionately high number of incidents involving unavailable or unused BWV. This will be formally flagged for action.
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Injury from Use of Force
The analysis for September identified 84 records indicating injury, involving 56 unique individuals (based on subject ID and timestamp assessment).
The panel raised concerns regarding cases where no medical assistance was offered following an injury.
An action was agreed to seek an update on the inclusion and recording of the “tactic” in the Use of Force dataset.
Thematic Context:
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Previously Red RAG rated officers
Continue with this thematic to prioritise the constructive feedback loop for improvement
The panel raised concerns regarding cases where no medical assistance was offered following an injury.
An action was agreed to seek an update on the inclusion and recording of the “tactic” in the Use of Force dataset.
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New: People transferring to custody
Option to review: Stop and Search and Use of Force where a person is logged as going to custody, to follow that journey through
The panel also noted that there are mor thematic areas of interests than there are meetings in a year. Thematics could be prioritised and a second tier list of thematics should there not be any videos that match the main thematic in a month.
The panel discussed aligning data panel meetings in 2026 to be earlier in the month before the main scrutiny panel, so that the data panel can assist with flagging records for review.
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Ethnicity - Stop & Search and Use of Force
Continue with previous thematic of Ethnicity and people logged as non-white
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New: Peak festival times
Option to review: Stop and Search and Use of Force specifically related to festivals - aligning the BCU Commander and videos with the month we know that major festivals are held [e.g. August for Boardmasters]
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Age - Stop & Search and Use of Force
Continue with Age as a thematic but prioritise people logged as 11-17 or under 11 [rare]
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New: Injuries as a result of Use of Force
Options to review: where no assistance offered, where a person is logged as being injured as a result of the use of force, where there is use of force but the person is logged as being compliant.
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New: Multiple officers involved in a single Use of Force "event"
Option to review: Where it appears that 2 or more officers have logged a Use of Force entry related to the same individual and event
Scrutiny Follow-Up and Wellbeing Form:
ACTIONS
Understand what refresher training is in place for officers completing Stop & Search and Use of Force records, and how frequently this occurs
Seek an update on timelines for the Force reporting their Stop and Search and Use of Force data publicly
Follow up on expected timelines to receive the tactic in Use of Force data
Understand whether Stop and Search data records whether intelligence has been received from CCTV operators
Follow up on timelines for linked Stop and Search and Use of Force data sets
Flag availability of BWC in the South Devon BCU
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