11th Chapter

Question 1

What is the organisation of the police force in the UK?

Answer 1

No national police
but
50 or so separate forces

Question 2

What is the name of the headquarters of the Metropolitan Police Service?

Answer 2

New Scotland Yard

Question 3

What is the well-known nickname of a British police officer?

Answer 3

“Bobby”

Question 4

Do British policemen carry guns?

Answer 4

No

Question 5

What are Neighbourhood Watch Schemes?

Answer 5

Encouraging the people of a particular neighbourhood to keep their eyes open for anything suspicious

Question 6

Explain and translate into Slovak the following terms: 
conditional/unconditional discharge,
(on) probation
community service
death penalty
life sentence
acquitted 
bail 
convicted 
defendant 
on remand 
party 
plaintiff 
verdict

Answer 6

Podmienečne/Nepodmienečne
V podmienke
Verejnoprospešné práce
Trest smrti
Doživotný trest
Zbavený
Kaucia
Usvedčený
Obranca
Vyšetrovacia väzba
Strana
Žalobca
Rozsudok

Question 7

What are the two kinds of court in the UK?

Answer 7

Magistrates’ courts

Crown Court

Question 8

How does a magistrate’s court work?

Answer 8

Ordinary people who get their expenses paid and decide if the accused is guilty

Question 9

Who are JPs?

Answer 9

Justices of the Peace

Question 10

What are the two sides in criminal cases known as?

Answer 10

Prosecution

Defence

Question 11

How are the members of a jury selected and what decision do they make?

Answer 11

At random from the list of voters

They decide if the defendant is guilty or not

Question 12

How does a jury reach a verdict and what happens if they fail to do so?

Answer 12

At least 10 out of 12

The judge declares a mistrial and the case starts all over again with a different jury

Question 13

How does the function of the judge differ from that of a jury?

Answer 13

Judge acts as a referee during the trial

Jury decides if the defendant is guilty or not

Question 14

What is the highest court in Britain?

Answer 14

Supreme Court

Question 15

What are the two types of lawyer in Britain and what is the main difference between them?

Answer 15

Solicitors and Barristers

Solicitors deal with the public
Barristers work in higher courts

Question 16

How does the training of solicitors differ from that of barristers?

Answer 16

Separate training, Different exams
Solicitors - 2 year training contract with a firm of solicitors
Barristers - pupillage

Question 17

Explain the terms call to the bar, take silk, QC

Answer 17

To the bar- presenting cases in a higher court
Take silk- to be appointed the rank of QC
QC- rank of Queen’s Counsel

Question 18

What different legal knowledge and skills are typical of solicitors and barristers?

Answer 18

Solicitors - dealing with the everyday world

Barristers - becoming experts in arcane points of law, acquiring the special skill of eloquence in public speaking

Question 19

Do solicitors and barristers need a university qualification?

Answer 19

Yes

Question 20

Why do judges and barristers wear the archaic gown and wig in court?

Answer 20

It symbolizes the impersonal majesty of the law

Question 21

Judges are appointed exclusively from the ranks of:

Answer 21

Barristers

Question 22

What reinforces the independent (social) status of judges? (give 3 things)

Answer 22

Later retiring age
Very high salaries
Almost impossible for them to be dismissed

Question 23

Is there a ministry of justice in the UK?

Answer 23

No

Question 24

How does the legal system of Scotland differ from the rest of the UK?

Answer 24

Advocates instead of barristers

Verdict “not proven” which means the accused cannot be punished but not completely cleared of guilt