Check the comprehension of the text by listening to each question and choosing the answer, which you think, is correct.

1. What are police discipline codes designed for?

a) for emphasizing specific police powers;

b) for strengthening the Monarch's power;

c) for ensuring the impartiality of the service in its dealings with the public and for maintaining public confidence.

2. Whom are complaints against police officers investigated by in Scotland?

a) by the local police chief;

b) by Parliament;

c) by independent public prosecutors.

3. What year was the independent Police Complaints Authority established?

a) in 1897; b)in 1985; c) in 1994.

4. What are the main duties of the Independent Commission for Police Complaints in Northern Ireland?

a) to supervise any case involving death or serious injury and to supervise any other complaint;

b) to supervise the cases at the commission chairman's discretion;

c) to supervise only the cases sent by the State Secretary.

5. How does police work range?

a) it ranges widely enough, but it does not cover criminal investigation;

b) it ranges greatly and it covers the protection of people and property, road and street patrolling, traffic control to crime prevention, criminal investigation and arresting offenders;

c) it really ranges greatly, but even in urban areas it does not cover social problems. *

6. Do all areas have police/community consultative groups?

a) yes, they do mainly. They enable people to discuss issues of concern with the police in a constructive spirit.

b) such police/community consultative groups exist, but they are quite few in number.

c) the issue is on the agenda, but the community is not in favour of them.

7. What efforts are made to develop relations with young people?

a) the police do not deal with these matters;

b) the police pay a lot of attention to it and develop contacts even with schools, sports clubs;

c) the police forces sometimes establish contacts with the youth, but it is not going to be a system.

8. Is there civilian support staff among police officers?

a) it is out of the question in England;

b) the number of civilian support staff has been growing as forces secure economies by replacing police officers;

c) this matter is under consideration at the moment and in some areas there is small civilian staff.

9. Are there any volunteer special constables?

a) yes, there are. They perform police duties in their spare time, without pay, acting mainly as auxiliaries to the regular force.

b) yes, there are. They act mainly as auxiliaries to the regular force, but they are paid.

c) no, there are not.

Treatment of Offenders

Sentencing

The sentence passed on an offender is entirely a matter for the courts, subject to the maximum penalty enacted by Parliament for each offence. The Government ensures that the courts have available an adequate range of sentences to suit the circumstances of each case and that they are well informed about the purpose and nature of each available sentence. The Court of Appeal issues guidance to the lower courts on sen­tencing issues when points of principle have arisen on individual cases which are the subject of appeal.

Custody

The Government believes that custody should be a sanction of last resort used only when the gravity of the offence means that there is a posi­tive justification for a custodial sentence, or where the public needs to be protected from a dangerous offender. The Court of Appeal has stated that sentencers in England and Wales should examine each case in which cus­tody is necessary to ensure that the term imposed is as short as possible, consistent with the courts' duty to protect the interests of the public and to punish and deter the criminal. A magistrates' court in England and Wales cannot impose a term of more than six months' imprisonment for each offence tried summarily, but may impose consecutive sentences subject to an overall maximum of 12 months' imprisonment. If an offence carries a higher maximum penalty, it may commit the defendant for sentence at the Crown Court, which may impose — within the permitted statutory maximum — any other custodial penalty. As in the rest of Brit­ain there is a mandatory sentence of life imprisonment for murder: this is also the maximum penalty for a number of serious offences such as robbery, rape, arson and manslaughter.

The death penalty has been repealed for almost all offences. It remains on the statute book for the offences of treason, piracy with violence and some other treasonable and mutinous offences; it has, however, not been used for any of these offences since 1946.

In Scotland the maximum penalty is determined by the status of the court trying the accused unless the sentence is limited by statute. In trials on indictment, the High Court may impose a sentence of imprisonment for any term up to life, and the sheriff court — any term up to three years but may send any person to the High Court for sentence if the court considers its powers are insufficient. In summary cases, the sheriff may nor­mally impose up to three months' imprisonment or six months for some repeated offences, although his powers are extended by statute in some exceptional cases. In the district court the maximum term of imprisonment is 60 days.

In Northern Ireland the position is generally the same as for England and Wales. A magistrates' court, however, cannot commit an offender for sentencing at the Crown Court if it has tried the case; for certain summary offences, a magistrates' court may impose a term of imprisonment for up to 12 months. There are also other circumstances when a magistrates' court can impose imprisonment of more than six months.

Fines

The most common sentence is a fine, which is imposed in more than 80 per cent of cases. There is no limit to the fine which may be imposed on indictment; on summary conviction the maximum limit, except in certain exceptional circumstances, is £2,000 in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, and in Scotland £2,000 in the sheriff court and £1,000 in the district court.

Probation

At present in the United Kingdom the number of offenders subject to supervision in the community considerably exceeds the number in custody. The purpose of probation is to protect society by the rehabilitation of the offender, who continues to live a normal life in the community while subject to the supervision of a probation officer. Before placing an offender on probation, which may last from six months to three years, the court must explain the order in ordinary language, ensuring that the offender consents to the requirements of the order and understands that a failure to comply with them will make him or her liable to a penalty or to be dealt with for the original offence. In England and Wales such an order can be made only for offenders aged 17 years or more. In Scotland the minimum age is 16 years and in Northern Ireland 10 years. About 17 per cent of orders in England and Wales contain a variety of additional requirements concerning place of residence, attendance at day centres or treatment for mental illness.

The probation service in England and Wales also administers supervision orders, the community service scheme and parole. In addition, so­cial work services are provided in custodial establishments.

In England and Wales the cost of the probation service is shared between central and local government and it is administered locally by probation committees of magistrates and members co-opted from the local community. In Scotland probation services are integrated with local authority social work departments, and in Northern Ireland the service is administered by a probation board, whose membership is representative of the community and which is funded by central government.

The probation service provides and maintains day centers and hostels together with schemes and programmes designed to meet the needs of a broad range of offenders, and, if possible, drawing the community into partnership in responding to offending.

Offenders aged 16 or over (17 in Northern Ireland) convicted of imprisonable offences may, with their consent, be given community service orders. The court may order between 40 and 240 hours' unpaid service (the maximum in England and Wales is' 120 hours for 16-year-olds) to be completed within 12 months. (This does not apply in Northern Ireland.) Examples of work done include decorating the houses of old or disabled people and building adventure playgrounds. The number of community service orders made in England and Wales increased from 28,040 in 1981 to 34,580 in 1986 and in Scotland from 1,083 in 1981 to 3,150 in 1986. In Northern Ireland the number rose from 811 in 1986 to 841 in 1987.

In England, Wales and Northern Ireland a court is free to pass a sus­pended sentence of not more than two years. (A draft Treatment of Offenders (Northern Ireland) Order will allow sentences for serious offences to be suspended for up to five years.) The sentence is not served unless the offender is convicted of a further offence punishable with imprisonment; in that event the suspended sentence normally takes effect and another sentence may be imposed for the new offence. In England and Wales an offender receiving a suspended sentence of more than six months may be placed under the supervision of a probation officer for all or part of the period: courts also have the power, when passing a sentence of between three months' and two years' imprisonment, to order that part should be served and the rest held in suspense.

Date: 2016-03-03; view: 999