Independent Advisory Group

Two-way communications with diverse communities

The Nottinghamshire Independent Advisory Group (IAG) is a strategic group that seek to improve two-way communications between Nottinghamshire Police and the diverse communities of Nottingham City and the County of Nottinghamshire.

As critical members and friend this partnership aims to assist with building of public confidence, improving local policing performance and accountability.

The Independent Advisory Group (IAG) is composed of volunteers who are representatives of the communities in Nottinghamshire and are dedicated to enhancing local police performance. The consultation process includes:

• Providing independent advice, which may include guidance, personal insights, or constructive criticism, to aid in the development and review of policies, procedures, and practices.
• Assisting the police in preventing or resolving critical incidents that could significantly impact community confidence.

Recently, there has been a focus on demands due to a decline in public confidence. However, with the introduction of a new community engagement strategy within the Race Action Plan, it’s an ideal time to revamp the IAG structure to maximize outreach and foster dialogue between Nottinghamshire Police and the public.

As part of this initiative, we aim to establish principles of consultation and co-production that will enable us to better involve the community, voluntary sector, and partners in decision-making processes. These principles will align with the policing plan and vision.

The IAG’s goal is to identify ways to enhance police services for all communities. The strategic IAG and its subgroups are not a singular voice of the community, but rather a collection of individual community voices. IAGs are just one piece of the puzzle in developing broader community consultation and engagement.

The strategic objectives include:

• Enhancing engagement with the wider community in Nottinghamshire.
• Establishing efficient and effective methods for understanding community priorities and communicating information back to the community.
• Increasing public trust and confidence in Nottinghamshire police.
• Improving police relations with marginalized communities and providing a platform for consultation on issues affecting specific community groups.

The IAG operates independently of the police service and bears no responsibility or liability for the outcomes of decisions based on its advice. While members and partners are encouraged to build positive relationships with the police service, they are not accountable to the police. Nottinghamshire Police are not responsible for the actions of IAG members, nor are they obligated to follow any advice given by them.

The initial structure of the IAG will include the following eight subgroups:

IAG Subgroups:

• Each subgroup is scheduled to convene at least once every quarter, with the timing and location chosen for the convenience of the required community attendees. The attendees should be representative of the specific subgroup they belong to. Each subgroup will be overseen by a nominated Community Chair and/or a Vice Chair, who will be supported by a Chief Inspector or Inspector serving as a single point of contact.
• The Force’s single point of contact will be selected based on their professional or personal connection and experience with the subgroup they represent. The actions gathered from these meetings will be channeled into the Strategic IAG group. This group is attended by the Head of Local Policing to ensure that community voices are amplified at a senior level, concerns are communicated to the Chief Officer Team, and any data can be disseminated swiftly and securely upon approval.