The Police Reform Act 2002
This act gave Police Community Support Officer who have some police powers whilst not being 'sworn in' constables such as being able to seize vehicles being used anti-socially and the ability for Chief Constables to confer a more limited range of police powers on other (non-sworn in) individuals as part of Community Safety Accreditation Schemes.
An Act to make new provision about the supervision, administration, functions and conduct of police forces, police officers and other persons serving with, or carrying out functions in relation to, the police; to amend police powers and to provide for the exercise of police powers by persons who are not police officers; to amend the law relating to anti-social behaviour orders; to amend the law relating to sex offender orders; and for connected purposes.
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Police Reform Act 2002
The police reform act impacted mainly onto the police obviously due to giving PCSO’s (Police Community Support Officer) more power to control anti social behaviour e.g. seizing vehicles, it also impacted offenders because more officers on the streets will be able to take action upon them so they may be deterred partially. Victims of such things as: sexual violence and anti-social behaviour will be a lot more content with their personally safety because they will know that the police can provide relative safety for them and their community. It also gave victims and the police the change to complain about the conduct involving an incident by creating the Independent Police Complaints Commission which grants it the power to examine cases involving the police using it’s independent investigators. It also grants the home secretary the power to directly intervene in a failing force and dismiss police chief constables after a poor report from HM Inspector of Constabulary which will impact the police hierarchy especially.
Anti-Social Behaviour Act 2003
This will effect mainly the offenders because they will be cracked down on even if there is suspicion that they will commit something that will damage society, for example it gives the police power to disperse groups of more than 2 if ordered by the police officer. It will also impact on them because police officers were given the power to order under 16s to send them home after nine, this will also affect communities because it will make them feel safer both in their homes and out on the streets because there will be more control held by the police. The police will also be impacted because their officers will be carrying more responsibility do make the right decisions.
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Widens the use of antisocial behaviour orders (asbos) to allow local authorities, registered social landlords and the British Transport police to apply for asbos.
• Allows police and community support officers to issue dispersal orders to any group of two or more people, within a designated area, whose behaviour they believe is likely to cause harassment, alarm or distress to members of the public. Refusing to leave or returning to the area constitutes a criminal offence.
• Grants police officers the power to order young people under the age of 16 to return home after 9pm.
• Creates on-the-spot fines for noise, graffiti and truancy.
• Creates closure orders. Quickly nicknamed the "crack house closure order" this provision enables the police to shutter premises used for the supply, use or production of class A drugs for a period of up to six months.
• Amends the definition of "public assembly" in Section 16 of the Public Order Act 1986 so that instead of 20 people being required to constitute an "assembly", only two are needed.
P2- Research document
General: Sentences are punishments given out by a court in order to protect the public, punish the offender in accordance with the crime they committed. It also allows the offender to make amends for the crime they committed, Courts must follow guidelines provided by the Sentencing Advisory Panel, this means they cannot give out any random sentence they feel like. As well as this the court must take in the facts of the case and the circumstances of the offender. There are big differences in sentencing for adults and different age groups under 18.This is used to mainly reform and rehabilitate the offender so he/she does not re-offend.
Pre-Court: There are three main pre-court measures that are used in this country, these being: Caution, Reprimand and Final Warning. A caution is an official warning given by the police to an adult who admits that they committed the crime. It is designed to act as a deterrent so the offender doesn’t re-offend. Only adults receive police cautions, offenders under 17 receive reprimands and the final warnings. A reprimand is a formal verbal warning given to a young person by a police officer due to a minor crime being commited. They are sometimes reffered to a youth offending team. A final warning is also a formal verbal warning to youths, they are then assed to find out the causes of their offensive behaviour.
Youth Justice System: Under the Crime and Disorder Act 1998 crime and disorder by youth is covered by both parenting orders and curfew notices. Parenting orders are given out to Parents of a child that has received a: ASBO, Criminal Conviction or Conviction of Truancy offence
ASBO: This act was brought out in order to try and lessen the extent of anti social behaviour, It was brought in mainly to control, truancy, suspected crack houses, illegal firework usage, false reports of emergencies, wasting police time and trespassing. It also gave the local councils the power to order under 16s to erase graffiti that they were proved to of done. It also gave the police power to disperse large groups of youths that are suspected to be considering/ doing anti-social behaviour, the definition of anti-social behaviour being: behaviour that lacks consideration for others that may cause damage or dismay to society whether intentionally or through negligence, as opposed to pro-social behaviour that helps or benefits society. However this act was cut out by the government because people within communities saw them as a badge of honor which gained them respect.
Child Safety Order: This is part of the Crime and Disorder act and was brought out to try and prevent children under the age of 10 from being involved in criminal and antisocial behaviour. In this country children under the age of 10 cannot be prosecuted for a crime they commit because they are seen as not being responsible for their own actions
Parenting Order: This was created in the crime and disorder act for combating poor parenting, they are put against parents who’s children have committed a crime such as truancy or behaved in an anti social manner. The worst case scenario for a parent is that they could be put in prison, they can also be charged up to £1000 or attend parenting classes
Reparation Orders: These are used to help offenders see the consequences of their offending. They order the offender to repair the harm they caused directly or indirectly to the victim or to the community. For example cleaning graffiti. This is overseen by a youth offending team.
Restriction Of Liberty Order: Tis is an order that require the offender or offenders to remain in or out of a specific area for a certain amount of time.
Community Rehabilitation Order: It was formally a probation order(sentence) given out by a court for criminals aged 16 and over. It is for a period of between 6 months – 3 years. This makes the offender accountable for their crime and is also to resolve any personal issues.
Restorative Justice: This encourages the offender to take responsibility for their actions e.g. apologizing to the face of the victim, returning stolen money/possessions. In addition, it provides help for the offender in order to avoid future offences. Restorative justice that fosters dialogue between victim and offender shows the highest rates of victim satisfaction and offender accountability.
