POLICING IN SCOTLAND

Policing in Scotland

Aim:

•Identify the key roles played by the police in Scotland.

Success Criteria:•You can identify the four key roles of the police and provide a detailed description of each role.

The History of the Police Force

• In the 18th century (1700s) law enforcement and policing was left entirely to local areas who employed watchmen and constables; there was no nationally organised police force.

• An Act of Parliament in 1800 enabled Glasgow to establish its own city police force - the first professional police force in Britain.

• The idea of professional policing was taken up by Sir Robert Peel when he became Home Secretary in 1822. Peel's Metropolitan Police Act 1829 established a full-time, professional and centrally-organised police force for the greater London area known as the Metropolitan Police.

• The new constables were nicknamed ‘Bobbies’.

Role of the Police

The main role of the police in Scotland is to:

Maintain law and orderDetect criminalsPrevent crimeProtect the public.

The police have many approaches, methods and

departments to help them fulfil their role effectively.

Police Pictionary The class will be divided into four teams:

Each team member will take their turn to come to the front.

You will be given an example of the types of work which the police do.

You will have to draw this on paper for your team members to guess. The only word or phrase you can include in your drawing is ‘POLICE’ or ‘999’.

Whichever team guesses correctly scores a point.

Role of the Police

Maintain Law and Order

Detect Criminals

Protect the Public Prevent Crime

Role of the Police - Task

Draw a table in your jotter.

In your table include four examples of the role played by the police.

For each example, write a detailed description of what this role would involve.

Your teacher will do the first example with you.

Policing in Scotland

Aim:

•Consider recent changes in the structure of the police in Scotland.•Examine key campaigns which the police have launched during the past few years.

Success Criteria:•You can give examples of four key campaigns and explain the purpose of each one.

Police Language – Do You Ever Hear Them Talk In Abbreviations?

• ABH• ASBO• CCTV• CID• CPS• D & D• DCI• DI

• GBH• MISPER• NCIS• RTC• SB• SGT• SIO• TWOC

Correct Answers

• ABH - Actual Bodily Harm

• ASBO - Anti Social Behaviour Order

• CCTV - Closed Circuit Television

• CID - Criminal Investigation Department

• CPS - Crown Prosecution Service

• D & D - Drunk and Disorderly

• DCI - Detective Chief Inspector

• DI - Detective Inspector

• GBH - Grievous Bodily Harm

• MISPER - Missing Person

• NCIS - National Criminal Intelligence Service

• RTC - Road Traffic Collision

• SB - Special Branch• SGT - Sergeant• SIO - Senior

Investigating Officer• TWOC - Taking Without

Owner's Consent,

Organisation of the Police

Most aspects of policing are devolved to the Scottish Parliament.

Before 2013 Scotland was divided into eight police forces.

In 2013 these were merged into one single police force – the Scottish Police Service.

It is argued that this is the most effective way of providing a police service both in terms of money and resources.

Critics argued it is a means of saving money, there will be less police officers and less attention to the needs of local areas.

Chief Constable Stephen House

Task

Copy down Figure 3.2 from page 26 of the your textbook which shows the structure of the Scottish Police Service.

Make a note of the main arguments for and against a single police force.

Police Campaigns

The world we live in is constantly changing, new types of crime or other issues emerge and this means the police have to consider how the protect the public and maintain law and order.

In order to stay effective in their role, the police will often launch key campaigns or initiatives.

We are going to consider some recent examples of police campaigns.

Key Police Campaigns

Name of Campaign Purpose

No Knives, Better Lives

Don’t Let Them Get Away With It

Street Robber Campaign

Winter Safe Journey Campaign

Police Campaigns

No Knives, Better Lives

Don’t Let Them Get Away With It

Street Robbery Campaign

Winter Safe Journey Campaign

Community Policing

When the police work with the local community to solve problems. It depends on the police getting to know the community.

The most common way to do this is to have police out on patrol in the community

Local Policing Campaign

In 2013 the Local Policing Campaign was launched.

In each local area, the police consult the public about the key issues they are concerned about.

They then draw up a local policing plan to tackle these issues.

Oban South Plan

Task – Local Policing Plan – Oban South

Key Local Priorities Actions Taken By the Police