Independent Advisory Group

The role of an Independent Advisory Group (IAG) is to help the police to build insight into the needs, wants and concerns of the groups who are under-represented in normal decision making processes. This insight is used to shape service delivery for the benefit of all our communities and engender trust and confidence. In performing this function, the IAG acts as a ‘critical friend’ to the police, challenging conventional thinking and providing an independent perspective on issues, working as a genuine partner with the police to inform and promote improvements.

IAG members are partners to Lincolnshire Police and volunteer to advise individually and collectively on the effect policing activities may have or be perceived to have on individuals and communities. They contribute to police thinking around the development of policing policies and practices. This is intended to assist the Force in its process of continuous improvement and development as an effective and efficient organisation working on behalf of the community it serves. They do not provide ‘specialist advice’ on policing issues.

Community input into the activities of the police enables policing at both a strategic and tactical level to be more effective, focusing on community engagement and therefore responding to community needs. However, the IAG is not the voice of the community. It is the voices of individuals from the community, independent of the Police, who come from across the county.  It is as diverse a group in backgrounds, perceptions, ideas, knowledge and skills as volunteers can form.  It is one piece of the police jigsaw of wider community consultation and engagement.

What is meant by independent?

The IAG is convened by Lincolnshire Police in partnership with communities and is supported and funded by the Force rather than existing as an external, self-sustaining entity. The term “independent” refers to the nature of the advisors and the advice provided, rather than the relationship with the police. As such, it cannot be seen as being wholly independent from the police since it is sponsored, co-sustained and coorganised by both the police and IAG members.

However, members of the IAG network do offer independence of thought to their contribution to policing across the county. Moreover, they are not there simply to agree with the police but are encouraged to constructively challenge in the interests of benefiting service delivery from a community perspective.

What is advice?

In this context, independent advice is defined as opinion, guidance or constructive feedback given by someone who is not part of the Force, reflecting a perspective from the point of view of a member of a community in its widest sense. Such a perspective may have its origin in a residential, business, or service provider context.

Advisors, although partners in a beneficial and positive relationship with the police service, are not answerable to the police and neither are the police responsible for IAG members’ actions. IAG members represent themselves and not necessarily the view of any particular group within the community, although this may be the case on occasions. They do not bear responsibility for the consequences of decisions based upon their advice. The autonomy of police decision-making is not affected and the Force may or may not choose to follow advice that is offered as a result of consultation with any member or group within the IAG.

IAG mission

The Lincolnshire Police IAG’s mission is to be a positive influence in promoting the effectiveness of Lincolnshire Police by contributing insight and challenge through an enduring partnership between the Force and the community it serves.

IAG membership

The Strategic IAG currently comprises nine members. They are:

• Richard Dixon-Warren (Chair)
• Trisha Newman (Vice Chair)
• Subash Chellaiah
• June Gwillym
• Brian Harding
• Kevin Pridgen
• Jan Robinson
• Simon Routh-Jones
• Connor Short
• Glen Thompson
• Sue Waterfall

There are, in addition, Policy and Critical Incident Advisors who are effectively ‘Associate Members’ whose assistance and expertise is sought when required.

IAG activities and engagement

The IAG meets as a group on the last Monday of every month except August and December. Meetings alternate between in person at Lincolnshire Fire and Police Headquarters and online via Microsoft Teams. A member of the Chief Officer Team and the IAG’s strategic and tactical representatives normally attend. Meetings are often the forum for briefings and updates on Police and partner capabilities and developments.

IAG members sit as ‘critical friends’ on a wide range of Lincolnshire Police strategic and tactical board, group and panel meetings, and at events such as the annual Neighbourhood Policing Conference. An IAG member may be called to sit on Police Gold Group meetings convened to provide the strategic response to an emergency or major incident, and attend multi-agency meetings such as the Lincolnshire Road Safety Partnership.

How to join

IAG periodically run specific recruitment campaigns. However, anyone can apply to join to join at any time. Expressions of interest and requests for more information are welcome.

It is important that the IAG is both broadly representative of the population of Lincolnshire and diverse, to enable it to fulfil its role properly and consistently. Applications from individuals who can represent the views of university and college students, and minority and underrepresented groups are particularly encouraged.

Apply to join by downloading and completing the application form below, by requesting an application form by emailing [email protected] or by writing to:

Lincolnshire Police IAG - Expression of Interest
c/o Staff Officer to the Chief Constable
Force Executive
Lincolnshire Police HQ
Deepdale Lane
Nettleham
Lincoln LN2 2LT

Contact the IAG

If you would like more information about the group and what membership will involve, please contact [email protected]