Police Scotland

Question 1

Structure of Police Scotland

Answer 1

Locality policing, operational support division, specialist crime division

Question 2

Structure: locality policing

Answer 2

Branch most likely to be seen in the community, work with the local community to address problems with the community
The branch’s success depends on building strong bonds with the community

Question 3

Structure example: locality policing

Answer 3

Many schools such as Drummond Community High School have a ‘campus’ cop who works to build relations with young people and address their issues

Question 4

Structure: operational support division

Answer 4

Deployed when there are serious crimes or high profile events, such as when there is a threat to life for officers and the public

Question 5

Structure example: operational support division

Answer 5

There is always an armed officer outside th Scottish Parliament Building, after the Westminster terror attack took place

Question 6

Structure: specialist crime division

Answer 6

Forefront of investigations, where serious crimes take place or there is a serious threat to life, SCD deals with issues such as murder and international gangs

Question 7

Structure example: specialist crime division

Answer 7

When an individual is suspected to commit acts of terror, the counter terrorism team would investigate and respond

Question 8

Roles of Police Scotland

Answer 8

Prevent crime, protect the lives and property of individuals, investigate crime

Question 9

Role: prevent crime

Answer 9

The police will respond to emergency calls and conduct patrols. The police will launch campaigns to inform potential victims and perpetrators of impacts of crime

Question 10

Role example: prevent crime

Answer 10

The police launched a campaign called #getConsent to make people aware of the impact of sexual crimes

Question 11

Role: protect the lives and property of individuals

Answer 11

The police are present during medical emergencies or accidents to protect lives, as well as provide assistance during high profile events

Question 12

Role example: protect the lives and property of individuals

Answer 12

Police Scotland are seen patrolling at high-profile events, such as COP26, to prevent violence

Question 13

Role: investigate crime

Answer 13

The police may gather evidence and interview witnesses, they can also work with other agencies

Question 14

Role example: investigate crime

Answer 14

Operation Branchform was an investigation launched in 2021 t investigate possible fundraising fraud in the SNP

Question 15

Powers of Police Scotland

Answer 15

Detain and arrest individuals, search individuals, authority to enter premises

Question 16

Power: detain and arrest individuals

Answer 16

If the police have resonable suspicion that someone has committed a crime, they can arrest them
This power prevents further criminal activity and ensures public safety
People can be taken for investigation and questioning

Question 17

Power example: detain and arrest individuals

Answer 17

The police can detain an individual for up to 12 hours without charging them

Question 18

Power: search individuals

Answer 18

The police can search someone if there is resonable suspicion they have committed a crime, ability to search the property and vehicles of an individual

Question 19

Power example: search individuals

Answer 19

If an individual were arrested for murder, the home of the accused would be searched for evidence that links them to the crime

Question 20

Power: authority to enter premises

Answer 20

In specific circumstances like when pursuing a suspect, the police can enter premises without a warrant
This allows police to intervene in dangerous situations and protect individuals

Question 21

Power example: authority to enter premises

Answer 21

The police have searched the home of where Margaret Fleming was last seen to investigate the murder

Question 22

Effectiveness of police

Answer 22

Prevention strategies, investigations they carry out, keep the public safe

Question 23

Effective: prevention strategies

Answer 23

One prevention strategy is having “campus cops” in secondary schools, help get young people familiar with police presence and to deal with local issues in the community

Question 24

Effective example: prevention strategies

Answer 24

Schools such as Drummond Community High School have a “campus cop” who supports students

Question 25

Effectiveness: Investigations they carry out

Answer 25

The police have to make sure people who commit crime are punished, they use their departments to gather evidence so the courts can find someone guilty

Question 26

Effectiveness example: investigations they carry out

Answer 26

In 2023, Police Scotland had a 100% homicide detection rate, meaning there were no unsolved murders

Question 27

Effectiveness: keep the public safe

Answer 27

They are effective at protecting people at large-scale such as football games. They patrol to deter criminals

Question 28

Effectiveness example: they keep the public safe

Answer 28

There was no significant violence at COP26, the largest event ever held in the UK

Question 29

Ineffectiveness of police

Answer 29

There aren’t enough police officers, problems with hateful behaviours, some guilty people get away

Question 30

Ineffectiveness: there aren’t enough police officers

Answer 30

Criticism from the public that there isn’t a large enough police presence to protect them, wait times are too long when calling police

Question 31

Ineffective example: there aren’t enough police officers

Answer 31

In Edinburgh, the number of police officers have declined by 5% in the past 3 years, some warning of a rise in crime rates

Question 32

Ineffective: problems with hateful behaviour

Answer 32

The police have to be trusted by the oublci so they can report hate crime, many don’t trust Police Scotland

Question 33

Ineffective example: problems with hateful behaviour

Answer 33

Average public confidence level in Police Scotland was only 38% between April 2022 and March 2023

Question 34

Ineffective: some guilty people get away

Answer 34

Key role of the police is to investigate crime, but the fact so many go unsolved shows they are ineffective

Question 35

Ineffective example: some guilty people get away

Answer 35

The BBC reported that almost 50% of crimes in Scotland don’tmake it to court because of a lack of evidence