Ac3.1 - Explain The Role Of Agencies In Social Control Flashcards
THE POLICE
- the police are the main way that the gov achieves social control over the people
- the Metropolitan (London) Police, was the first force to be established, was set up by the Home Secretary, Sir Robert Peel at the start of the 19th century
- philosophy
The philosophy of the police was created by Sir Robert Peel this includes:
1) the basic mission of the police is to prevent crime and disorder
2) the police’s ability to perform the duties depends on the public’s cooperation and approval
3) the use of physical force is the last resort
4) the police’s duty is to impartially serve the law
5) the police are the public and the public are the police, the police are just citizens in uniform, paid to do the full time what all citizens must do, that is, uphold the law
Aims and objectives
1) keep the peace and maintain order
2) protect life and property
3) prevent, detect and investigate crime
4) bring offenders to justice
Remember the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984
Funding
In 2020/21 the total budget was £15.2 billion.
1. Two thirds come from central government
2. Most of the rest from local council tax
3. Small amount come from charging for services such as policing football matches
Funding fell by 19% between 2010 and 2018 high resulted in a loss of 20,000 officers by 2020 there are 123,000 police officers
working practices
Police forces include branches such as detectives in the CID (criminal investigation department), fraud and drug squads, covert and overt.
1) unarmed policing - The Police in Britain are largely unarmed - reflect Peel’s philosophy.
2) special constables - are unpaid, part time officers (undergo training and have same powers as paid officers)
3) police community support officers - have limited powers, aim is to deal with anti-social behaviour
4) police and crime commissioners - are elected representatives of the people of the area covered by a police force
CPS
- philosophy and values
The CPS says that the values that underpin it’s work are:
- independence and fairness (prosecuting without bias and always seeking to deliver justice)
- honesty and openness
- treating everyone with respect
- behaving professionally and striving for excellence
- equality and inclusion (to inspire greater confidence in the CPS from victims and witness)
Aims and objectives
The aims and the objectives of the CPS are:
- to decide which cases should be prosecuted, keeping them all under continuous review
- to determine the appropriate charges in more serious or complex cases and advise the police, particularly during the early stages of investigations
- prepare cases and present them at court using a range of in-house lawyers and self - employed specialists
- provide information, assistance and support to victims and prosecution witnesses
Funding
- most of the CPS’s income comes from the government, with a budget of around half a billion pounds per year
- in addition, the CPS recovers some of its costs when the court awards costs against defendants- and it also recovers assets confiscated from criminals
- however, the CPS has also suffered significant funding cuts. In 2018, it’s budget had fallen by 25% leading to a loss of a third of its staff. This has led to concerns that it is unable to perform its role effectively
Working practices
- the CPS is a national body throughout England and Wales with 14 regional tea,s prosecuting cases locally
- each area is headed by a Chief Crown Prosecutor works closely with local police forces and other criminal justice partners
- CPS Direct is a virtual 15th area, providing charging decisions to police nationwide, 24/7, 365 days a year
- Stephan Parkinson is the current head of the CPS and Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP). He was appointed in November 2023
PRISONS
philosophy of prisons
‘Preventing victims by changing the lives of offenders’
Aims and objectives
1) to protect the public from harm
2) to help people who have been convicted of offences to rehabilitate so they can contribute positively to society
3) to hold prisoners securely and implement the sentences and orders of the court
Funding
- paid - gov taxation
- 2021/24 - £5.39b
- cuts to staffing levels, 15% fall in the number of prison officers between 2010-2018
- cost of keeping a prisoner in prison in 2024 was £51,724 per year
- HMP Oakwood was £17,006, while at HMP Aylesbury it was £44,723
Working practices
- 2024 there were a total of 122 prisons in England and Wales and 87726 prisoners in England and Wales
- 109 public sector
- 13 - private prisons
- 2019 - HMP Birmingham is to be returned to a public sector prison following failing by G4S, including Britain’s worst prison riot in 2016
Prisons
- prison service is nationally organised, with prisons situated throughout the UK. When sentenced to prison, an offender is first placed in a local prison and given a security classification based on risk assessment. They may then be moved to a more appropriate prison elsewhere
- those who try and escape prison are placed on the escape list.
HMP BERWYN
- HMP Berwyn is a Category C men’s prison located in Wrexham and is one of the largest prisons in the UK.
- It aims to take a progressive approach to rehabilitation by creating a more supportive and respectful environment for prisoners.
- The prison focuses on education, vocational training, and maintaining family ties, offering programmes that help offenders develop skills and prepare for employment upon release.
-Berwyn also emphasises building positive relationships between staff and prisoners, encouraging responsibility and personal growth. - By promoting a culture of respect and rehabilitation rather than punishment alone, the regime hopes to reduce reoffending rates and support prisoners in leading crime-free lives after release
Prison activities
- there are a lack of opportunities for education, training and work experience
- 2020 Chief Inspector of Prisons said that half of the prisons inspected had too few programmes of useful activity
- 2/5 were assessed as delivering ‘good’ or ‘reasonably good’ activities, compared with 2/3 in 2009-10
Incentives & earning privileges
- there are three levels - basic, standard and enhanced
- when a person enters prison, they’re put on standard level - they’re allowed to spend more of the money they earn
- misbehaviour - basic level - they can only have the minimum I.e limited number of letters/visits
- good behaviour - enhanced level - additional privileges I.e TV in their cell/more phone calls etc
JUDGES
- philosophy
The philosophy of the judiciary is summed up in 6 principles in the Guide to Judicial Conduct. These lay down the standards of judges ethical conduct.
- philosophy continued
Name the 6 principles
- Judicial independence
- Impartiality
- Integrity
- Propriety
- Ensuring equal treatment
- Competence
- Judicial independence
- judges should be independent and free from gov interference in their decisions. This enables them to uphold the rule of law and safeguard for rights of citizens against the power of the gov
- Impartiality
Not showing favour to one side or the other
- Integrity
Being honest and with strong moral principles
- Propriety
Upholding societies accepted standards of behaviour and morals
- Ensuring equal treatment
To everyone who comes before the courts