AC 1.2

• Role of the Police

  Responsible for enforcing law:

  They investigate

  Collect evidence

  arrest, detain and question suspects

  issue cautions

  send case files to the CPS to decide whether to prosecute
• Police relation with Courts 


  Ensure defendants in custody are brought before them

  Also gives evidence in court
• Police relation with CPS


  Provide evidence for prosecution.

  Charge offenders in line with CPS instructions.
• Relations with prison+probation services 


  Police arrest those who are recalled back to prison for breaking their licence.

  Due to Sarah's law they also work with the prison and probation service to manage the list of child sex offenders in their area.
• Prison relation with voluntary organisations 


  Refer victims and witnesses to victim support, the witness service, women's refuges etc.
• Role of the CPS

  Independent Prosecution Service

  Set up under Prosecution of Offences Act (1985)

  Deals with about half a mil cases a year.

  They prosecute in court.

  They review evidence and judge if it is reliable.

  They prepare cases for court

  Full Code Test (evidential and public interest test)

  Threshold test
• CPS relation with police 


  Advise on possible lines of enquiry and evidence collection to build a case.

  Instruct on charging suspects
• CPS relation with court 


  Prepare and presenting prosecution cases against offenders.
• Role of Court 


  Once a suspect is charged, they are brought before the magistrates court.

  The defendant pleads guilty or not guilty and pre-trial issues such as bail and legal aid are decided.

  Guilty pleasure lead to a sentencing hearing. Non guilty pleas lead to a trial.

  Magistrates court take 95% of cases

  Crown court take 5% of cases

  Four possible punishments include prison, fines, community sentences and discharge
• Court relation with Prison and Probation service 


  One someone is sentence the prison and probation service make sure that it is carried out
• Role of the prison service

  They keep those sentences to prison in custody, helping them lead law-abiding and useful lives, both while they are in prison and released.
• Prison relation with police 


  Facilitate interviews with prisoners involved in ongoing investigations
• Prison relation with the court 


  Carry out custodial sentences the court has imposed

  Supervise defendant's who were refused bail

  Facilitating visits from defence lawyers to clients in prison
• Prison relation with probation service 


  Liaising when a prisoner is to be released from prison on a licence
• Role of the probation service

  Supervises offenders serving community sentences and those released on licence.

  Prepare pre-sentence reports

  Assess offenders in prison to prepare them for release on licence to the community
• Probation relation with Prison 


  Supervise prisoners who are released on licence
• Probation relation with Court

  Prepare pre-sentencing report on offenders

  Supervise offenders who were given a community sentence by the courts

  Supervise drug testing under the courts orders