Social Issues in the United KingdomCrimeCycle 5_Police

Questions you would like to ask

Today we will begin studying the police in Scotland. Write down the questions you would like answered.

Learning Intentions: Be able to describe the different roles of the police and

give examples of how they fulfil these Be able to give examples of police initiatives and be able

to explain why these are employed Understand how the organisation of the police force has

changed Be able to apply this knowledge to exam style questions

Main roles of the Police:Protect the public (preservation

of life)Prevent crimeReducing CrimeKeep law and order (bring

criminals to justice)

OverviewPeople turn to the police at times of crisis.

Do you think the police do a good job?  In the UK the police are not normally

armed. Only senior officers can authorise the issue of firearms and only specially trained officers can use them.

Scottish police officers attend the Scottish Police College at Tulliallan in Fife.  

Most police officers are recruited as adults and go straight to Police College. However, there are also opportunities for Police Cadets, aged between 16 and 18, who are given training to prepare them for a police career.

Should police be armed in Britain?

You have 15 minutes to research. You need to come up with a for or against argument. You must include a specific example!

For Arming Police 18th Sept 2012 – Nicola Hughes and Fiona Bone killed by

a Glock in the line of duty 18 November 2005 - they include PC Sharon Beshenivsky

who was shot dead during a bungled robbery in Bradford Enable them to meet threat with threat Be effective

Against Arming the Police 2014 – Police aggressive behaviour against peaceful

protestors during fracking protests. 2009 – Innocent bystander Ian Tomlinson died after

being beaten with a bat, during the G20 protests Increasing no. of firearms increases risk

Protect the Public

'They were screaming for help' 11 May 2004 Staff caught up in a massive explosion at a Glasgow plastics f actory have described the chaos as the building collapsed. The explosion demolished much of the Stockline Plastics building in Grovepark Street, west of the city centre.

About 100 people were thought to have been working in the f actory and survivors described how they crawled out f rom the debris af ter the blast. Workers caught in the blast described how they were "blinded by smoke and dust". "Within about five minutes the police and ambulances started to arrive. They were everywhere."

Preventing and Reducing Crime

Social crime prevention is where the police work in local communities trying to prevent crime, for example working with young people in schools (“Campus cops”) to educate young people on the dangers of e.g. joining gangs. This can also include working in partnerships with the council to deliver road safety courses in schools, child protection measures and drug referrals.

The police also try to physically prevent crime by patrolling and targeting individuals and areas where crime is a problem. Community policing - the Police playing an active role in the local community by walking the streets, visiting schools, liaising with local businesses, visiting neighbourhood watch. The public see the Police on the street, making them feel safe and secure. The "friendly face of the force".

ExamplesExample 1Zero Tolerance - police will not move around in random or routine patrols but instead will target known "troublespots" and "troublemakers".  Example 2The Spotlight Initiative - Set up by Strathclyde Police in 1997 to deal with 'low level' crimes e.g. under-age drinking, which should in effect prevent more serious crimes e.g. assault.  Example 3Neighbourhood Watch - this is a partnership between the local community, the police and the local authority.  Example 4CCTV - The aim of using CCTV is to deter criminals as they are aware that they are being watched Police can also intervene in situations to prevent situations escalating. Example 5Anti-social Behaviour Task Force - The aim of the Anti-Social Behaviour Task Force is the reduction of anti-social behaviour in communities. The police work with other outside agencies e.g. the Social Work department. Antisocial behaviour orders (ASBOs) are court orders which prevent the perpetrator from specific antisocial behaviours. An ASBO can ban an offender from: continuing the offending behaviour, spending time with a particular group of friends, being in certain areas.

Continued…Example 6

Dispersal Zones and curfews - under 16s can be forcibly removed from certain areas and returned to their homes.

 Example 7

Glasgow City Centre Nite Zone - the aim is to make pedestrian movement at night safe and reduce the number of violent crimes occurring at this time. This is done through extra street lighting, additional CCTV, improved transport and help buttons in the main streets e.g. Sauchiehall Street that connect you to the police office.

Link each of the examples to each role of the police on your diagram

Police initiatives – Find out what each one is, and what it is trying to achieve.

Blue light discos in Schools

Doorstep – North

LanarkshireKnife Amnesty

Hate Crime Young Runaways

Play safe, Home Safe

Operation Ultraviolet

Anti-Sectarianism

and Unacceptable

Behaviour

Autism Awareness

Blue Light Disco Fife - Bluelight events are held on a Friday night and run

between 7pm and 11pm. The age group targeted by the events are those in the S1 to S4 years. Venues tend to be neutral, e.g. a local college or community centre, to avoid territorial issues. Tickets are sold in advance through Schools, Police stations, Community Wardens, etc. The ticket price is £1 to keep it affordable to all and also includes free travel to and from the events when travelling on Stagecoach buses.

  On the night of the event, all young people entering the

venue are searched and breathalysed. Given that the breath test is not a “legal” requirement, this can be carried out by partners, for example by Community Wardens or Fire Officers. Anyone failing the breath test is immediately taken home to their parents or guardian by the Community Police and the reasons explained to them.

Doorstep North Lanarkshire

promotes community safety among older people. "Some criminals make their living from preying

on older, vulnerable people in their own homes, and we are determined to do everything we can to prevent this despicable crime," said Councillor Helen McKenna, Convener of the Environmental Services Committee at North Lanarkshire Council.

"The information pack is designed to tell residents how to prevent doorstep callers getting into their home or being scammed by bogus workmen. It also gives advice on consumer rights and how to find a reputable trader, as well as who to contact if people are worried about unwanted callers."

Play Safe Home Safe (PSHS)

Play Safe Home Safe (PSHS) is a partnership initiative been NHS Lanarkshire health improvement teams, Police Scotland, North and South Lanarkshire Council and Scottish Fire and Rescue service that aims to promote key safety messages to young people and encourage safer behaviour on nights out, etc.  Keep your drink in sight – only accept drinks from

people  you know. Always carry a condom and use it, any doubt get

checked out. Stay with your mates, look after each other and if

you leave let them know where you’re going. Get home safe – have money for a taxi and some

numbers in your phone.

Ultra Violet A crime prevention initiative involving the invisible

marking of personal property is being extended to communities across Scotland.

Police Scotland said a pilot project using the Smart Water solution in The Grange in Edinburgh reduced crime by more than half.

The same approach is to be used in parts of Aberdeen, East Lothian, Stirlingshire and Greater Glasgow.

Housebreaking in the Edinburgh pilot area fell by 53%. Properties in The Grange and Greenbank areas were

marked with a solution containing a unique code which shows up under ultra-violet light.

Signs were placed in the community warning that the technology was in use.

What role does the information below fall under?

The police have a duty to ensure public safety and reduce and prevent crime by bringing criminals to justice. The police collect evidence, arrest and charge criminals and make a report to the Procurator Fiscal who then decides whether or not the Government will prosecute the person. If they decide that they will then the Police co-operate with and support the Government in trying to prove that the person is guilty so that criminals can be brought to justice.

Create a flow chart to demonstrate how the system works, from suspicion to court appearance.

Tackling Crime in Scotland

The Global Study on Homicide, published in 2012, showed Glasgow to have a particularly high murder

rate of 3.3 per 100,000 people compared to 1.6 per 100,000 in

London.

What is the murder rate in Glasgow compared to

London, per 100,000 people?

Police in Scotland - Structure

In April 2013, eight Scottish police forces, the Scottish Organised Crime and Drug Enforcement Agency and the Association of Chief Police Officers in Scotland merged to create Police Scotland. Major crimes are investigated by the Specialist Crime Division.

Scottish Organised

Crime

Drug Enforcem

ent Agency

Association of Chief

Police Officers

Police Scotla

nd

Now answer the following three exam questions. (8 marks each)

1. ‘The police have a varied role in Britain.’ Describe, in detail, the role of the police in modern Britain.2. ‘The police have a major role in reducing crime.’ Describe, in detail, the role of the police in reducing crime.3. ‘The police try to prevent crime.’ Describe two ways in which the police try to prevent crime.

1. ‘The police have a varied role in Britain.’ Describe, in detail, the role of the police in modern Britain.

One role of the police is preventing crime. One method of crime prevention is social, through working with the community. One example of this is the neighbourhood watch scheme which helps to encourage members of the community to keep each other safe and working closely with the local police.

Another role of the police is protecting the public. This can be cordoning off areas which are unsafe and preventing access. For example, the police were first on the scene at the Glasgow plastics factory explosion and they prevented more people from getting hurt.

The third role of the police is to preserve order. They will work together with communities to reduce violence in an area. For example in Fife Blue Light Discos were introduced to try and give young people in the area something positive to do, they were held in neutral areas to prevent arguments over territory and all young people were breathalysed on entry.

Another way the police can fulfil their role by reducing crime is by trying to make it harder for criminals to get away with crimes. If they think they are going to get caught they are less likely to commit the crime. One way the police have tried to reduce crime is through the Ultra Violet initiative, were peoples belongings are marked with ultra violet dye to make it easier to track thieves.

How confident do you feel about answer knowledge based exam questions?