Unit 4 AC3.1 Explain the role of agencies in social control Flashcards
What are the aims of the police according to the Association of Chief Police Officers?
Keep peace, protect life and property, prevent, detect and investigate crime, bring offenders to justice.
What philosophy was set up by Sir Robert Peel in 1829 for the Metropolitan Police force?
Prevent crime and disorder, rely on public cooperation, minimal force, impartial service to the law.
What are the sources of funding for the police?
Central government, local council tax, charging for services.
What is the total police budget in 2018/19?
£12.3 billion.
How has the police funding changed in recent years?
Funding fell by 19% between 2010 and 2018.
How many police officers were there in England and Wales in March 2019?
Over 123,000 police officers.
What powers do the police have in relation to crime?
Stop, question, search, arrest, detain, interview individuals in relation to crime.
What is embedded in the Police Code of ethics?
Philosophy of public service and maintaining public support.
How many regional police forces are there in England and Wales?
39 regional police forces in England, 4 in Wales.
How many police forces are there for Scotland and Northern Ireland?
One police force each for Scotland and Northern Ireland.
What are some specialist police organizations with UK-wide reach?
National Crime Agency, British Transport Police, Border Force.
What types of criminality and offenders do the police deal with?
All types of offenses and offenders, with specialized agencies for specific crimes.
What are the general duties of the police?
Patrolling, community work, responding to calls, securing crime scenes, gathering evidence, apprehending offenders.
What are some examples of specialist departments within the police?
CID, Fraud and Drugs Squad, Special Branch, Covert operations, Traffic and Mounted Police.
What are the working practices of the police in terms of national and local reach?
39 regional police forces in England, 4 in Wales, one police force each for Scotland and Northern Ireland, along with specialized organizations.
How do the police deal with different types of criminality and offenders?
Deal with all offenses and offenders, with specialized agencies for certain types of criminals and crimes.
What are the general duties of the police in terms of their daily work?
Patrolling, community work, responding to calls, securing crime scenes, gathering evidence, apprehending offenders.
What are some examples of specialist units or departments within the police?
CID, Fraud and Drugs Squad, Special Branch, Covert operations, Traffic and Mounted Police.
What are some examples of national-level specialist roles within the police?
National Crime Agency (e.g., Child Exploitation and Online Protection), Metropolitan Police (e.g., SO15 Counter Terrorism Command), Special Constables, Police Community Support Officers.
What is the role of Police and Crime Commissioners?
Elected representatives of the people within a Police Force’s area.
When and why was the CPS set up?
The CPS was established in 1986 to prevent bias and take over prosecuting role from the police.
What is the main role of the CPS?
The CPS prosecutes serious and complex cases in England and Wales.
What are the aims and objectives of the CPS?
The CPS advises police, assesses evidence, decides prosecutions, prepares cases, and supports victims and witnesses.
How does the CPS contribute to social control?
The CPS prosecutes serious offenses and ensures justice with fairness and independence.
What values underpin the CPS?
Independence, fairness, honesty, respect, professionalism, excellence, equality, and inclusion.
Where does the CPS get its funding?
The government funds the CPS, and it recovers costs from court awards and confiscated assets.
How has CPS funding changed recently?
Funding has been cut, impacting staffing and effectiveness.
How does the CPS handle criminality and offenders?
The CPS deals with majority of offenses and offenders, focusing on serious cases.
What is the reach of the CPS in its working practices?
The CPS operates nationally with 14 regional teams working locally.
What is CPS Direct?
CPS Direct provides charging decisions to police nationwide, operating 24/7.
What tests does the CPS use?
The CPS uses evidential and public interest tests.
What factors are considered in the public interest test?
Factors include offense severity, suspect’s culpability, community impact, proportionality, and protecting information sources.
When can a suspect be charged with insufficient evidence?
Under certain circumstances, if reasonable grounds exist for guilt and more evidence can be gathered later (Threshold Test).
What is the role of the Chief Crown Prosecutor?
Chief Crown Prosecutors lead regional teams in prosecution efforts.
How does the CPS support victims and witnesses?
The CPS assists, informs, and supports them throughout the legal process.
How does the CPS inspire confidence in the legal system?
By upholding values and treating everyone with respect.
What types of cases does the CPS handle?
The CPS handles serious and complex cases, including major offenses, organized crime, and terrorism.
How does the CPS recover costs?
Costs are recovered from court awards and confiscated criminal assets.
What is the CPS budget?
The CPS has a budget of around half a billion pounds per year.
What types of criminality and offenders does the CPS deal with?
The CPS deals with serious offences and the majority of cases, except for very minor offences.
How does the CPS handle very minor offences?
Very minor offences are not handled by the CPS.
What is the role of Chief Crown Prosecutors within the CPS?
Chief Crown Prosecutors head each of the 14 regional teams within the CPS.
What is CPS Direct and what service does it provide?
CPS Direct is a virtual service that provides charging decisions to police nationwide.
What does the CPS assess in order to determine whether to prosecute a case?
The CPS assesses whether there is enough evidence to secure a conviction for a suspect.
What are the key questions considered in the public interest test?
The public interest test considers factors like offence seriousness, suspect’s culpability, and impact on the community.
Under what circumstances can a suspect be charged even with limited evidence?
A suspect can be charged with limited evidence if there are reasonable grounds for guilt and potential for conviction.
What are the two requirements for applying the Threshold Test?
Reasonable grounds for guilt and serious offences are the requirements for applying the Threshold Test.
What is the reach of the CPS in terms of its jurisdiction?
The CPS operates nationwide in England and Wales and has 14 regional teams for local prosecutions.
How many regional teams does the CPS have for prosecuting cases locally?
CPS Direct is a virtual service that provides charging decisions to police nationwide, available 24/7.
How does the CPS collaborate with local police forces and other partners?
The CPS works closely with local police forces and other criminal justice partners in its operations.
How does the CPS evaluate whether a prosecution is in the public interest?
The CPS considers factors such as the seriousness of the offence, suspect’s level of culpability, and public interest in prosecutions.
How does the CPS handle cases involving information sources and other investigations?
The CPS handles cases involving information sources and other investigations with appropriate measures to ensure their protection.
What are the criteria for applying the Threshold Test?
The Threshold Test requires reasonable grounds for guilt and the offence to be serious enough to justify immediate charging.
How does the CPS handle cases where immediate charging is justified and bail is not appropria
The CPS reviews cases where immediate charging is justified and bail is not appropriate throughout the process.
What is the main aim of the judiciary in social control?
The main aim of the judiciary is to interpret and apply the law to the cases that come before the courts.
What are the responsibilities of judges in the Crown Court?
In the Crown Court, judges manage the trial, explain legal issues to the jury, sum up the evidence, and pass sentences.
What role do judges play in the appeal courts?
In the appeal courts, judges make rulings on appeals from lower courts, creating precedents that bind future decisions.