Police Scotland Flashcards
Structure of Police Scotland
Locality policing, operational support division, specialist crime division
Structure: locality policing
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
Structure example: locality policing
Many schools such as Drummond Community High School have a ‘campus’ cop who works to build relations with young people and address their issues
Structure: operational support division
Deployed when there are serious crimes or high profile events, such as when there is a threat to life for officers and the public
Structure example: operational support division
There is always an armed officer outside th Scottish Parliament Building, after the Westminster terror attack took place
Structure: specialist crime division
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
Structure example: specialist crime division
When an individual is suspected to commit acts of terror, the counter terrorism team would investigate and respond
Roles of Police Scotland
Prevent crime, protect the lives and property of individuals, investigate crime
Role: prevent crime
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
Role example: prevent crime
The police launched a campaign called #getConsent to make people aware of the impact of sexual crimes
Role: protect the lives and property of individuals
The police are present during medical emergencies or accidents to protect lives, as well as provide assistance during high profile events
Role example: protect the lives and property of individuals
Police Scotland are seen patrolling at high-profile events, such as COP26, to prevent violence
Role: investigate crime
The police may gather evidence and interview witnesses, they can also work with other agencies
Role example: investigate crime
Operation Branchform was an investigation launched in 2021 t investigate possible fundraising fraud in the SNP
Powers of Police Scotland
Detain and arrest individuals, search individuals, authority to enter premises
Power: detain and arrest individuals
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
Power example: detain and arrest individuals
The police can detain an individual for up to 12 hours without charging them
Power: search individuals
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
Power example: search individuals
If an individual were arrested for murder, the home of the accused would be searched for evidence that links them to the crime
Power: authority to enter premises
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
Power example: authority to enter premises
The police have searched the home of where Margaret Fleming was last seen to investigate the murder
Effectiveness of police
Prevention strategies, investigations they carry out, keep the public safe
Effective: prevention strategies
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
Effective example: prevention strategies
Schools such as Drummond Community High School have a “campus cop” who supports students
Effectiveness: Investigations they carry out
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
Effectiveness example: investigations they carry out
In 2023, Police Scotland had a 100% homicide detection rate, meaning there were no unsolved murders
Effectiveness: keep the public safe
They are effective at protecting people at large-scale such as football games. They patrol to deter criminals
Effectiveness example: they keep the public safe
There was no significant violence at COP26, the largest event ever held in the UK
Ineffectiveness of police
There aren’t enough police officers, problems with hateful behaviours, some guilty people get away
Ineffectiveness: there aren’t enough police officers
Criticism from the public that there isn’t a large enough police presence to protect them, wait times are too long when calling police
Ineffective example: there aren’t enough police officers
In Edinburgh, the number of police officers have declined by 5% in the past 3 years, some warning of a rise in crime rates
Ineffective: problems with hateful behaviour
The police have to be trusted by the oublci so they can report hate crime, many don’t trust Police Scotland
Ineffective example: problems with hateful behaviour
Average public confidence level in Police Scotland was only 38% between April 2022 and March 2023
Ineffective: some guilty people get away
Key role of the police is to investigate crime, but the fact so many go unsolved shows they are ineffective
Ineffective example: some guilty people get away
The BBC reported that almost 50% of crimes in Scotland don’tmake it to court because of a lack of evidence
