Police + Goverment Flashcards
Structure of police
- 2013, Scotland’s police forces combined into 1
- Chief inspector - Ian Livingstone
- 13 local policing divisions - sub divisions traffic police + community police
- National police divisions such as Counter Terrorism division
- Part time volunteer Special Constables- same powers as regular officers
Role of the police
- Protect people+property- bobby on the beat=deterrent, neighbourhood watch, large events- deter pick picketers e.g Commonwealth games in Glasgow
- Investigate Crimes- interview witnesses, CCTV, forensic police dna, give evidence in court
- Engineer, educate,+enforce traffic rules- speed cameras, breathalyse, schools
Methods used by police
- Initiatives- national of local campaigns to target specific problems, e.g ‘No knives better lives’ nice amnesties, reduce knives reduce crime
- Community policing- build relations in community, e.g midnight football
- CCTV cameras- best in car parks and shop fronts, deterrent, used in court
Powers of police
- Stop+search- suspect you committed of witnessed crime, terrorist, e.g knives
- Arrest- e.g possession of knives or other weapons in public places
- Move people on- complaint about behaviour of witnessed unruly behaviour
- Search your house- warrant from courts of Justice of Peace, e.g drugs, firearms, stolen property
- Detain- up to 12 hrs
Effectiveness of solution to ACID ATTACKS
SOLUTION
- gov had encouraged businesses not to sell acid to under 18s
- made it criminal offence to be carrying acid without good reason
EFFECTIVE
- many businesses agreed like Tesco, b&q and Wickes
NOT EFFECTIVE
- not compulsory
- only custodial sentences if caught 2x
- UK has highest rate of acid attacks per capita
Effectiveness of solution to HATE CRIME
SOLUTION
- Scotland 2010 new law came into force to tackle hate crimes against gay or disabled people in same way as racism. Attacks motivated by hatred for these groups would get more severe sentences.
- Social media campaign 2018 ‘be greater than a hater’
EFFECTIVE
- make people more willing to report it
- make people think twice before they act
NOT EFFECTIVE
- social media increasing hate crime (keyboard warriors)
- 2017, 6000 hate crimes reported to police
Effectiveness of solution to VIOLENCE
SOLUTION
- Violence Reduction Unit
- Scottish gov supported +supplied social workers
EFFECTIVE
- Ggow no longer murder capital
NOT EFFECTIVE
- Domestic violence
Effectiveness of solution to ALCOHOL ABUSE + DRINK DRIVING
SOLUTION
- 50p per unit minimum pricing in Scotland
EFFECTIVE
- people buy less cause more expensive
- cost less for NHS - alcohol addiction/abuse + injuries from drunk accidents/fights
NOT EFFECTIVE
- Scotland’s drink problem so severe that addicts still buy
- children go without food cause addict parents, shoplifting etc
- buck fast not covered
Are ALCOHOL LAWS effective?
YES
- reduced amount of alcohol person drinks and still drive to 50mg of alcohol per 100 ml blood
- 50p minimum pricing
NO
- age be raised to 21, major cause in crime in young people, 17-20 highest level drink drive
- 50p per unit not reduce amount people drink
- people ignore alcohol limits, 1 in 10 deaths drink driving
Are DRIVING LAWS effective?
YES
- 50mg of alcohol per 100ml blood
- new drivers stricter punishments, 1 in 5 have collision in first yr of driving, 6 or more points within 2 yrs of test pass = lose license
NO
- 17-24 have most accidents, curfew
- ignore alcohol limits, 1 in 10 deaths
- ignore mobile phone driving ban, 500,000 still use phone driving, van drivers +men worst
Describe the ways in which police launch initiatives
• Advertise initiatives in the media
- tv advert/ don’t drink & drive Xmas
- Celeb/ F1 Driver David Coulthard fronted an advert which appeared in cinemas+radio to reduce deaths saying even best drivers watch speed on country roads
• Visit ppl targeting initiative at
- No knives better lives aim reducing knife crime/ visit schools+youth clubs/ speak danger knife crime/ let young ppl hear first hand from ppl who been affected by knife crime
Describe govt attempts to tackle crime
- offence to use mobile phone while driving. If caught may be given fixed penalty
- offence to purchase alcohol when under 18
- if underage police have right to confiscate alcohol
- have to give name+address
- May be reported to Children’s reporter for Children’s hearing
- also offence for over 18 buy drink for under 18
