Police

Key responsibilities of the police

• The police achieve their aims by using powers granted to them under PACE 1984 - (a cornerstone of criminal procedure, ensuring that police powers are used lawfully and proportionality). 

• This gives them specific legal powers to: stop, search, arrest, detain, interview etc.

• Policing is done via consent from the public they serve rather than the power of the state

• The legitimacy of policing is based on a consensus of support from the community, ensuring that police actions align with public expectations and values.

When can police charge without the CPS permission?

In less serious cases:

1. Cases that are classified as a summary only - typically heard in the Magistrates court and would carry a minimum sentence of 6 months. These are cases that include damage where the loss or damage is below £5000 and shoplifting offences.

2. Either way offences, where a guilty plea is expected, and can be sentenced in the Magistrates court.

How is police funded?

The total police budget for 2025/20206 was £19.5 billion

Around two thirds is funded by central government (i.e. by the taxpayer - income tax etc)

The other third is funded by council tax contributions and charging for some services like policing football matches.

How are police a form of external social control?

External social control: influences that persuade or compel a person to conform with rules so that they do not commit crime. E.G.

• Threat of police action - arrest

• Fear of punishment

• Court proceedings act as a general deterrent to society

• Shame and embarrassment (stigma) of being arrested and questioned

What is the role of:

Criminal investigation department

National crime agency

Drug squad

Special branch

Firearm branch

and are they national or local?

Criminal investigations department (Local)

• They deal with investigations into serious crimes. These count as robberies, burglaries, sexual offences, fraud, serious assault and murder.

National crime agency (National)

• They prevent and detect serious organised crime. This would include undercover work, physical or technical surveillance, witness protection and financial investigation.

Drug squad (local)

• They tackle large scale drug trafficking, local forces deal with drugs within their area

Special branch (local)

• Each force has its own special branch dealing with terrorism. They investigate firearms or explosives which may be linked with threats to national security

Firearm branch (local)

• Each force has a number of officers in a specialist team who are trained and equipped to participate in operations that require firearms.

How are the police linked with the courts?

• Give evidence for the prosecution in court

• Provide protection of vulnerable witnesses

• Holding defendant in police cells

• Escort high risk defendant to and from court as well as protections within court (they only escort high risk individuals)

• Seek warrants for arrests/search/extension of detention time which they must get permission from the court to do so

How is the police linked with the Crime Prosecution Service?

• Provide evidence for the prosecution of offenders

• Charging offenders in line with CPS instructions

How are the police linked with the HM prison and probation service?

• Arresting prisoners who have been recalled to prison for breaching the terms of their license.

• As a result of ‘Sarah’s law’. working with prisons and probation services to manage the list of child sex offenders living in the area