Responses to crime

• Describe, in detail, government responses to crime (1)

  1. The government funds the violence reduction unit to tackle gang crime. The police offer gang members an alternative to gang life through education and support. For example, the VRU reduced gang crime by 50% in Glasgow.
  2. One of the government responses to alcohol related crime has been to introduce the minimum unit pricing. This law made alcohol more expensive to encourage people to drink less. For example, it was hoped that MUP would reduce crimes linked to alcohol like murder.
• Describe, in detail, government responses to crime (2)

  1. One government response to knife crime has been the no knives better lives program. This educates young people about the consequences of carrying knives to put them off. For example, NKBL vista schools to tackle knife crime in Glasgow.
• Explain, in detail, why the governments responses to tackling crime have been ineffective (1)

  1. The violence reduction unit has not tackled gang crime. Teenage gangs still fight over territory or for excitement in deprived areas like easter house. For example, the SNPs free bus pass scheme for under 22s is leading to a rise in violent crime in Glasgow because gangs can travel.
  2. minimum unit pricing has not tackled alcohol related crime. Alcohol is still the biggest cause of violent crime in Scotland. For example, 2/3 of violent crimes are committed while under the influence
• Explain, in detail, why the governments response in tackling crime has been ineffective (2)

  1. The no knives better life’s program has not tackled knife crime. Lots of young people still carry knives for protection, in deprived areas. For example, there are 40 fatal stabbings a year in Glasgow.
• describe, in detail, the role of the police in Scotland

  1. One role of the police is to prevent crime from happening in the first place. They can do this by educating people about crime through school visits and media campaigns. For example, “ get consent” try to prevent sexual crime by educating people about it.
  2. one of the role of the police is to protect the people. Police patrol hotspots where there are large amounts of people such as city centres, football games and protests. For example, there are armed police at airports to protect the public.
• Describe, in detail, the powers of the police in Scotland

  1. The police have the power to arrest suspects. The police can arrest someone they have seen committing a crime or if they have a reliable witness / evidence. For example, this can be any crime like assault, vandalism , theft or drug dealing.
  2. The police have the power to detain suspects. They can take a suspect to the police station for questioning and to gather evidence. For example, the police can detain a person for 24- hours for questioning before charging them.
• Describe, in detail, the structure of the police

  1. One department of the police is known as community policing. People are more likely to report crimes if they know police officers and crimes are less lie,ly to happen if an area is being policed. For example, ‘ campus cops’ have a good relationship with pupils, parents and staff.
  2. One department of the police is the operational support department. This department is made up of support units with spinal skills to help the police when needed. For example, the armed response unit can kill terrorists and the dog unit can find explosives.
• Explain, in detail, arguments that the police are ineffective (1)

  1. The police rely on CCTV to prevent crime. Criminals can simply move to places without CCTV so this technology is ineffective. For example, when CCTV was out up in govanhill crime moved to shawlands.
  2. The police can on,y detain suspects for 24 hours. This is not long enough to investigate crimes and some guilty people get away as result. For example, 50% of all crimes reported in Scotland go unsolved.
• Explain, in detail, arguments that police in Scotland are ineffective (2)

  1. Some people think that police are ineffective because most police officers are unarmed in Scotland. This means thye cannot always protect people, which is the main role of the police. For example, officers carrying t guns would help stop terrorists
• Explain, in detail, how prison may support an offenders rehabilitation/ effective punishment (1)

  1. prison has rehabilitation programmes.These help inmates come off drugs so they do not reoffend to pay for their habit. For example, three quarters of people entering prison have drugs in their system.
  2. Prisoners are offered Job training. They can attend skills workshops or get jobs within the prisons. For example, some prisoners work in the kitchens or in the barbers to help them find jobs on the outside.
• Explain, in detail, why the governments responses to tackling crime have been ineffective (2)

  1. one role of the prisons is to punish offenders. A persons freedom is taken away from them and the conditions in prison are not very nice. For example, prisoners have no real privacy and have limited contact with family.
• Explain, in detail, why prison is not an effective form of punishment (1)

  1. Prisons are very expensive. It costs a lot of money to keep someone in the prison and that money could be spent on services like education. For example, it cost over £35,000 per year to keep a person in prison.
  2. Scottish prisons are overcrowded. This makes it hard to rehabilitate prisoners or to supervise the, properly. For example, there is so much fighting bullying and addiction that the government has had to end short sentences.
• Explain, in detail, why prison is not an effective form of punishment (2)

  1. Prion does not stop reoffending. A high percentage of prisoners will reoffend and so a lot of time and money is wasted. For example, 90% of barlinnie sim mates are repeat offenders.
• Explain, in detail, two reasons why alternatives to prison are an effective punishment

  1. The courts can issue fines to deter criminals from doing it again. This inflicts financial pain but the government actually receives money and does not have to pay for someone to be kept in prison. For example, fines are used for driving offences such as speeding or minor crimes.
  2. The courts use electronic tagging to stop reoffending. The offender must be at home at certain times. For example, tags are used with gang members in Glasgow to stop them from being out at night.
• Explain, in detail, two arguments that non-custodial sentences are ineffective

  1. Fines do not deter criminals. Some people do not pay their fine. For example, parents are expected to pay the fines for their children.
  2. Electronic tagging does not stop criminals. Tags can be broken and equipment is sometimes faulty. For example, 71% of those tagged reoffend within 2 years.