Independent Oversight Board

Who watches the watch.

Without independent oversight, any street patrol — however well-intentioned — drifts toward "self-appointed enforcers." Our board is the structural answer to that risk: a majority-independent body with real power to amend policy, audit operations, and remove volunteers.

The seats on the board

Independent Chair

A respected public figure with no operational role in Streetwatch. Sets the agenda, chairs meetings, and signs the annual public report.

Legal Adviser

Practising solicitor or advocate. Reviews policies for compliance with Scots law, data protection, human rights, and use-of-force boundaries.

Safeguarding Lead

Senior safeguarding professional from social work, NHS, or a children's charity. Owns the safeguarding policy and audits every safeguarding incident.

Former Police Member

Retired Police Scotland officer (inspector grade or above). Advises on deconfliction with statutory policing and intelligence-handling discipline.

Youth Work Representative

Practitioner from a Glasgow youth or detached-work organisation. Ensures patrols engage young people without criminalising them.

Equality, Diversity & Inclusion Lead

EDI specialist with lived experience of a minoritised community. Holds Streetwatch to its political-neutrality and anti-discrimination commitments.

Community Representative (x2)

Two rotating seats drawn from Glasgow community councils or resident associations in active patrol areas. Two-year terms.

Lived-Experience Member

A board member with direct lived experience of homelessness, addiction recovery, or domestic abuse services — keeping the work grounded.

Appointments are made by open application and a panel that excludes the operational leadership. All members are bound by a published code of conduct and conflict-of-interest register.

What the board can do

Real power, not a rubber stamp.

  • 01Approve, amend or veto any Streetwatch policy, code of conduct or training programme.
  • 02Receive every safeguarding and use-of-force incident report within 72 hours.
  • 03Commission independent audits of patrol logs, intelligence handling and complaints.
  • 04Suspend any volunteer, team lead or operational director pending investigation.
  • 05Publish a quarterly transparency report and a full annual report — unedited.
  • 06Refer matters to Police Scotland, the Information Commissioner, or OSCR where appropriate.

How independence is protected

Independent by design

A majority of seats are held by people with no operational role in Streetwatch. The Chair and Safeguarding Lead can never be staff or patrol leads.

Public minutes

Meeting agendas and minutes are published within 14 days, redacted only where safeguarding or live investigations require it.

Whistleblower protection

Volunteers, partners or members of the public can write directly to the board. Reprisal against a whistleblower is grounds for immediate removal.

Term limits

Maximum two consecutive three-year terms for any board member. No founder, donor or operational director may sit on the board.

Raise a concern

Complaint, concern or whistleblow?

Anyone — volunteer, partner agency, or member of the public — can write directly to the oversight board. The operational leadership does not see board correspondence.