WARWICKSHIRE Police and Crime Commissioner Ron Ball has backed a call to find new volunteers to help provide Warwickshire Police with independent advisers, boosting the links between the community and the force.

Independent Advisory Groups exist to act as critical friends to the police, comprising ordinary members of the public who meet every two to three months to offer impartial advice on a range of different issues. Members may also be called in to provide their expertise on big incidents or issues as the need arises.

Theyt have been integral in providing advice and guidance to the police on a range of local issues, including the impact of critical incidents, as well as decisions around force policy and procedures on the use of firearms, Tasers and Stop and Search.

Now Warwickshire Police wants to find additional volunteers to join its local IAGs in Stratford District; Nuneaton, Bedworth and North Warwickshire; Rugby District and Warwick District, as well as for the separate groups covering the ‘protected characteristics’ which are run jointly with West Mercia Police: the Disability IAG, the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender IAG and the Black & Minority Ethnic IAG.

Warwickshire Police and Crime Commissioner Ron Ball said: “IAGs are a really important way of ensuring that Warwickshire Police delivers policing in line with the wishes of the communities it serves. It’s vital to hear honest opinions on where the police approach is wrong or could be damaging to community relations and, equally, where things are being done well.

“It’s important that IAGs are comprised of people with a wide range of backgrounds and experiences; often the best members are people who have not previously had their voices heard within the community, who can give their honest opinion if there are issues of concern."

Anyone interested in joining the IAGs should contact Jo-An Golding on 01926 415141 or email jo-an.golding@warwickshire.pnn.police.uk. For more information on the work of IAG’s, visit https://www.warwickshire.police.uk/iag.