In some cases the witnesses can be intimidated, this is when the defendant tries to frighten the witness or maybe there family to stop them giving evidence. The witness service can arrange to make the witness feel safer:
- They could put screens between the witness and the accused so that they can not see each other.
- You could give evidence through a TV link.
- Or you could also give evidence privately.
Samaritans
When a crime as happened some people suffer from significant emotional trauma in the aftermath of a crime being committed
Some people could develop depression, feelings of anxiety, irrational fears or even more severe problems such as post traumatic stress disorder.
The Samaritans are a voluntary agency organisation which operates for 24 hours a day and they support people who feel desperate or even suicidal. This help is given through a telephone support line normally.
The Samaritans also offer a service to people in prison who also may feel isolated from any other type of support. They have pioneered prisoner listener schemes where inmates are trained to befriend and listen to fellow prisoners who could be suffering from emotional difficulties.
The Samaritans provide a vital service to the public and victims of crime and many others who are troubled and suicidal, this Is because each year 160,000 attempt suicide.
(P5)
In recent years, they are a number of new laws that are now being passed through parliament to try and tackle crime and disorder. They are a number of reasons for these new laws:
- The public believe that they is an increase in crime.
- The fact that law and order is a political issues which can gain or loose votes.
- Evidence of high levels of crime blighting some communities and being part of a cycle of disadvantage.
- Also because of cross-border and international crime, and the need to align Britain with Europe in the fight against crime.
Crime and disorder act 1998.
This law deals with a variety of types of crime all of which are related to antisocial and also disorderly behaviour on the streets.
All these acts and strategies come under the crime and disorder act 1998.
Now I am going to talk about the theft act 1968.
This is the most common of all recorded crimes, and this act (the theft act) deals with the problem.
The theft act 1968 states that a person is guilty of theft if he dishonestly appropriates property belonging to another with the intention of permanently depriving the other of it.
Then the act says what the maximum prison sentence is for the different kinds of theft. Theses are the main ones:
- for Blackmail you can get 14 years also.
- If you commit robbery, then you could get 14 years
- For theft you could get seven years
- Also for burglary you could get life depending on the circumstance’s
Since 1968 some changes have been made through the police and criminal evidence act 1984, the criminal justice act 1991, the aggravated vehicle act 1992 and the youth justice and criminal evidence act 1999.
So this means that although the date of the act is 1968 the act is still also being updated and kept up to date.
(P6)
Sentencing and orders
The first thing that happens to offenders is that they are sent to court for there sentence, the courts can’t just give any sentence they want, they must use a set of guidelines provided for them by the sentencing advisory panel which sets out suitable sentences for certain offences.
It is important to have these guidelines so that every court in England gives out the same punishment for the crime committed. E.g. it would be unfair If someone in west Yorkshire was given a fine for something but someone in Derbyshire was given a prison sentence for the same crime.
There a number of different sentences that the courts can give to offenders when they have been found guilty.
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Community punishment order- the offender has to give a certain number of hours service to the community, such as getting rid of graffiti or helping council workers.
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Fine- this is where the offender has to pay a certain amount of money to the court.
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Conditional discharge- this is were the offender does not have any action taken against them straight away, but if they commit again then they can be brought to court and sentenced.
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Hospital order- this is a sentence available to be used with mentally disordered offenders, they will be placed in a specialist hospital unit so they can be assessed and treated.
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Compensation order- this is where the person has to pay money to the victim.
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Absolute discharge- this is where the offender is found guilty or they have admitted being guilty, but no action is taken against them.
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Curfew order- this prevents the individual being out at a certain time or can stop them been in a certain area.
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Drug treatment and testing order- the probation service monitor drug rehabilitation and give compulsory drug testing.
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Community rehabilitation order- this is where the offender has to meet with a probation officer to talk about how there behaviour has been.
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Suspended prison sentence- this is a prison sentence that will become active if you commit again.
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Prison sentence- This is a period of time spent in prison.
Antisocial behaviour order (ASBO)
The crime and disorder act 1998 says that antisocial behaviour is behaviour which causes or is likely to cause harassment, alarm or distress to people.
Antisocial behaviour can include many things such as:
- Begging
- Criminal damage
- Drug dealing
- Vandalism
- Graffiti
- Gang behaviour
- Racial abuse
- Joyriding
These orders are intended to control the nuisance elements in a community to improve the quality of life for all the other residents. These asbo orders last for two years and they contain certain conditions which must be obeyed, this could have to stay out of certain areas.
If you disobey the conditions of your ASBO then you could face up to five years in prison.
Parenting orders
These orders were created by the crime and disorder act in order to combat poor parenting being responsible for youth offending. They are applied for by the local council or local education authorities and granted by the courts if a child has committed a criminal offence, played truant or have behaved in a antisocial way.
There parents might have to go to parenting classes and make sure their child goes to school and does not get into further trouble.
These orders can last up to a year and they can also be extended to cover children who behave badly at school. Parents can also be fined up to a maximum of £1000 and can also be sent to prison.
