🚫| 7. Police Flashcards
1
Q
Role of Police
A
- Preventing Crime
- Investigating Crime
- Maintaining Public Order
2
Q
Effectiveness of Police
A
- Falling Crime Rates
- Investigation of Murders
- Maintaining Public Order
3
Q
Ineffectiveness of Police
A
- Stop & Search
- Mistakes
- Leniancy in Maintaining Public Order
- Abuse in Maintaining Public Order
4
Q
Role of Police:
Preventing Crime
A
- One role of the police is to prevent crime.
- Many believe that police officers prevent crime by maintaining a presence in towns and cities - visibile police officers or vehicles patrolling is a major deterrent.
- For example, when the Scottish Government instructed pubs and restaurants to close at 10pm to stop the spread of Covid-19, extra police officers were put on patrol to enforce this law.
5
Q
Role of Police:
Investigating Crime
A
- One role of the police is to investigate crime.
- After a crime has taken place, it is the job of the police to investigate by interviewing witnesses and reviewing evidence in order to identify a suspect for arrest.
- For example, in April 2024 Police Scotland investigated when racist grafitti was sprayed onto First Minister Humza Yousaf’s home.
6
Q
Role of Police:
Maintaining Public Order
A
- One role of the police is to maintain public order.
- It is important for police officers to be present at large events or protests to prevent violence or unsafe forms of protest breaking out.
- For example, in July 2023 police officers had to intervene when a group of protesters climbed onto the roof of INEOS Grangemouth.
7
Q
Effectiveness of Police:
Falling Crime Rates
A
- One reason why the police are effective in tackling crime is falling crime rates.
- Overall, crime rates in Scotland and the likelihood of being a victim of crime has fallen over the last 15 years or so which can be credited to Police Scotland’s worked.
- For example, the 2021/22 Scottish Crime and Justice Survey reported that the volume of crime in Scotland had fallen by 53% since 2008/09.
8
Q
Effectiveness of Police:
Investigating Murders
A
- One reason why the police are effective in tackling crime is properly investigated murders.
- Evidence shows clearly that Police Scotland have managed to investigate and solve murder cases efficiently, giving victims and their families justice.
- For example, an article written by the Guardian in March 2022 reported that out of the 520 murders in Scotland since 2013, only two were unsolved.
9
Q
Effectiveness of Police:
Maintaining Public Order
A
- One reason why the police are effective in tackling crime is how public order is maintained.
- Police Scotland has a good track record for maintaining public order at events, which helps prevent violent crime and breach of peace.
- For example, a poll carried out after the COP26 protests in December 2021 found that 61% of Glaswegians supported Police Scotland’s approach.
10
Q
Ineffectiveness of Police:
Stop & Search
A
- One reason why the police are ineffective at tackling crime is the stop and search scheme.
- The stop and search scheme, which officers use to find drugs, weapons or other illegal items, is very controversial as there is a lack of evidence to suggest it has been successful.
- For example, an article written by the BBC in October 2019 reported that Police Scotland had stopped and searched 3,000 children in a 15 month period - in two thirds of these searches, no illegal items were found.
11
Q
Ineffectiveness of Police:
Mistakes
A
- One reason why the police are ineffective at tackling crime is mistakes being made.
- Serious mistakes have been made within Police Scotland, such as officers going to wrong addresses and delays in response to 999 or 101 calls, which decreases ability to effectively respond to crime.
- For example, in 2019 182 serious errors were recorded in Police Scotland.
12
Q
Ineffectiveness of Police:
Leniancy in Maintaining Public Order
A
- One reason why the police are ineffective at tackling crime is leniancy in maintaining public order.
- Some argue that police have not done enough to prevent or tackle violence at events.
- For example, Police Scotland were criticised for allegedly being too lenient towards Rangers Football Club fans engaging in anti-social celebrations in the Spring of 2021.
13
Q
Ineffectiveness of Police:
Abuse in Maintaining Public Order
A
- One reason why the police are ineffective at tackling crime is abuse in maintaining public order.
- Police Officers have been accused of being too heavy-handed and abusing their power when trying to maintain public order at protests.
- For example, in November 2021 the First Minister at the time, Nicola Sturgeon, was urged to respond to Police Scotland’s apparent intimidation and abuse of power towards participants in the COP26 protests.
