AC 3.3 Flashcards
Police funding cut between 2010-2018
19%
How many fewer officers are there as a result of funding cuts?
20,000 fewer officers overall with some specialists, e.g. detectives, reduced leading to national shortages.
What does the police federation survey say about the job?
experienced officers unlikely to recommend the job.
What is the impact of funding cuts on police priorities?
With limited budgets & fewer officers, some investigations & prevention measures have been prioritised over others, e.g. crimes that take less time to resolve than say, more serious offences, e.g. rape
What did the HM inspectorate of Constabulary & Fire & Rescue Services say about funding cuts?
2019 - warned that “cracks in the system are widening” - National shortage of detectives, with 14% of roles vacant – meaning a quarter of thefts and common assaults investigated by underqualified officers.
How many additional officers has there been since april 2020 as of jan 2023?
16,700
How much was the CPS’s funding cut by between 2010 and 2018?
1/4
How many staff were made redundant/not replaced in the CPS?
1/4
What was the impact of funding cuts had on charging decisions?
Loss of staff & expertise led to the DPP stating that that 1000s of cases, e.g. allegations of rape & modern slavery were not properly investigated.
Downgrading of charges to Magistrates’ Courts
EXAMPLE OF IMPACT ON CPS, OF FUNDING CUTS – prosecution of rape
In 2019, the CPS inspectorate report claimed that the decline in rape convictions in England and Wales partly due to lack of resources & that the criminal justice system was at ‘breaking point’.
2018 & 2022, rape prosecutions in England & Wales have fallen by 70%.
Lord Janner funding cut example
Failure to prosecute Lord Janner - an independent inquiry in 2016 concluded the CPS had 3 “missed chances” in earlier investigations to prosecute him.
How much was the prisons budget cut by between 2010-2018? (central gov)
15%
How many less prison officers are there now as a result of funding cuts?
fell by 15%
How has funding cuts affected the prison service?
The lack of investment in the Prison Service has been linked to numerous breaches of security – drugs, sim cards and other items smuggled into prisons
How many assaults on staff were there in 2018?
8,400
How many assaults’ of prisoners were there in 2018?
22,000
How many prisons are overcrowded according to the Howard League?
50%
How was lack of staff/overcrowding been linked to breakdowns of order and loss of control of prisoners? EXAMPLE
The 2016 riot in HMP Birmingham (a privately-run prison) – the worst since the Strangeways riot 25 years before – for which staff shortages were held partly responsible. G4S later lost its contract to run this prison which was then taken back into public control by HM Prison Service.
Why does lack of funds impact a prisons ability to rehabilitate offenders?
Lack of funds impact on a prison’s ability to rehabilitate offenders because there are too few medical staff, teachers & prison officers as well as facilities to address causes of offending, e.g.
How many deaths were by suicide in prisons?
1/4
How many prisoners have used a class drugs ? (funding cuts limitation)
64%
How many prisoners have no qualifications according to the prison reform trust? (funding cuts limitations)
47%
What did the chief inspector of probation find on 2019?
National staff shortage.
This was in addition to existing staffing shortages caused by funding cuts between 2010 & 2018.
What was the impact of a national staff shortage with the probation service?
many local probation services relied on agency staff. This meant that the PS suffered from a loss of expertise.
part-privatisation of the PS did not contribute to social control.
What act regulates the interception of communications by police? (LEGAL LIMITATIONS)
Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000
What are civil liberties?
basic rights and freedoms guaranteed to every individual by law
