Philosophy of police
-1829 sir robert peel formed Metropolitan London Police Force. Goal was to protect society and prevent crime, not catch criminals.
-use physical force only as a last resort
-impartially serve the law
-community policing- partnership between police force and community to address concerns
- proactive engagement- addressing potential problems before they escalate
-Police are public servants: they are to serve the public and the law
Aims and objectives of police
- Keep peace and maintain order
- Prevent crime
- Bring offenders to justice
- Protect life and order
- Investigate crime
- PACE act 1984 gives police powers to stop, question, search, arrest, detain and interview
Funding of police
-Up to £628 million allocated from 31st March 2025
- in 2020/21 total police budget was £15.2 Billion.
- In England and Wales the main source of income for the police is a central government grant and local council tax, and from charging for service like policing football matches.
HOWEVER
- Police funding fell 19% between 2010 and 2018. led to loss of 20,000 police staff.
National and local reach police
-National and local reach with separate local reach
- 45 in UK, 39 in England, 4 in Wales, 1 in Scotland and 1 in Northern Ireland
- there are special forces that are national like the British Transport Police
Crime/ offences police related
-Burglary, murder, theft, rape, knife crime
- Sexual offences, repeat offenders, young offenders, serial offenders, low risk offenders
- Police deal with virtually all types of offences and offenders. some specialist law enforcement agencies like HM R&C deal with certain kinds of crime like tax fraud
Working practices of police
-Most have general duties like securing crime scenes, patrolling, collecting witness statements and finding offenders. working in community, some in special operations units like a narcotic unit
- Other support from PCSOs and police crime commissioners, and special constables.
Philosophy of CPS
- Honesty and openness, fairness and integrity, independence, treat people with respect, behave professionally and strive for excellence and demonstrate equality and inclusion
- Founded in 1986
Aims and Objectives of CPS
- Advise police in investigations - line of enquirers and evidence
- Independently assess evidence submitted
- Decide whether to prosecute
- Prepare for prosecution and present in court
- Assist, support and inform victims
Funding of CPS
- £813 million in 2010/11 to £567 million in 2019/20
- £774 million in 2023/24
- 25% budget fall since 2018, 1/3 loss in staff
- Government (central) funded
National and local reach CPS
National with local reach. 14 regional offices across England and wales available 24/7
Crime/ Offences CPS related
- Serious offences with strong likelihood of prosecution
- Hate crime, domestic abuse, any prosecution offence involving 6+ months sentence
Working Practices of CPS
To investigate and prosecute using the full code test. It includes evidence trial and public interest test and threshold test
Philosophy of Judiciary
6 principles in guide to judicial conduct
- judicial independence
- impartiality
- integrity
- propriety
- ensure equal treatment
- competence
Aims and Objectives of Judiciary
- Interpret and imply the law
- Crown court manage trial and explain legal issues to jury sum up and pass sentence
- Court of appeal and Supreme Court create precedent, bind lower court decisions, make ruling on appeals
Funding of Judiciary
- Government directly funds them
- 2021 extra 2.2 billion to drive recovery in court
- 2024 requested £8.95 billion additional
- District judge earns £110,000 yearly
National and Local reach of Judiciary
- National jurisdiction with Supreme Court and court of appeal
- Local reach withhold crown court and magistrates
Crimes/ offences judiciary related
All time of offences and offenders except least serious dealt with by magistrates
Working practices of judiciary
- Take judicial oath and oath of allegiance
- Important to remain independent
- Security of tenure so only removed by HOC, HOL and King
- Guaranteed salary not to be altered by Govt
- Superior judge, SC/ Court of Appeal
- Inferior judge, Crown court
Philosophy of prisons
- Maintain human rights and dignity
- Custodial care, create safe environment for staff and inmates
- Rehabilitation and reformation
- “Preventing victims by changing the lives of offenders”
Aims and objectives of prisons
- Punish the offender and support their rehabilitation
- Remove dangerous individuals and protect public from harm
- Reintegration of individuals back to society, preparation
- Keep prisoners held securely and carry out sentencing of the courts
National and local reach of prisons
- Prison service is organised nationally, so the offender will be placed in a local prison.
- Once risk assessment is completed, they will be transferred to a Cat A-D prison.
- Local reach as prison throughout country - 120 across England and Wales (2024)
Funding of prisons
- Govt spent £6billion on prisons 23/24
- Average prison place = £51,108 (2022/23)
- Finances govt funded via taxation
HOWEVER
2010-2018 funding fell by 16% to about £3B a year, which led a 15% decline in the number of prison officers.
Crimes/ offences prison related
- Anyone with a custodial sentence who has to serve time in prison (burglary, rape, murder, sexual assault)
- Anywhere from first time offenders to serial
- Not likely to include summary/ less serious
Working practices of prisons
- 2019 - 80,000 prisoners housed in Uk prisons
- Recent pressures on service leading to early releases some being released serving less than 50% sentence
- Private prisons operated HMP Birmingham but track record so poor that they are no longer used/ not fit for purpose (G4S)
- rehabilitate, prepare and supervise
- present reports for courts
