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Partners in Crime - Solving and Reassuring
A Thematic Inspection of Crime Management in Scotland
chapter 7: conclusion
This report emphasises the need for balanced deployment to ensure the fundamental needs of crime investigation are met. It recognises noteworthy practice and indicates several areas where there is potential for improvement. Above all it indicates the value of a joined up approach within the criminal justice process which takes account of victim needs , and which can add value to solving crime and reassuring the wider public.
Solving crime can deliver reassurance whilst members of a reassured community are more likely to contribute to the process that leads to the solving of that crime.
Policing is a vital element of the criminal justice system in Scotland and the service now has an opportunity to verify if it is effectively balancing its solving and reassuring responsibilities.
This inspection has established unequivocal evidence that the police service in Scotland is progressing very positively in respect of crime reduction and detection. Key players in the Scottish Police Service are driving forward initiatives often based on best or developing practice elsewhere. A willingness to place victims at the centre of the criminal justice process is evident, as is an enthusiasm to maximise the benefits that IT can deliver.
Much of the ongoing work is in parallel, overlap or duplication with initiatives elsewhere. This presents an opportunity to consolidate research and development implications. Due to the speed with which technology is advancing, the Scottish police service would benefit from reviewing the extent to which current ICT strategies are appropriately keeping pace with commercial developments.
The Scottish police service is proud of its many traditions and its constitutional position. In recent years, many initiatives have been developed but mostly within the constraints of these traditions and constitutional principles. Whilst there are values in this heritage, HMIC has identified opportunities to explore developments that would impact upon tradition and constitution. Amongst the most potentially radical of these, are consideration of options involving police warning schemes and the extension of fixed penalty arrangements. Closer involvement with Procurators Fiscal at the preparatory stage of cases is also highlighted. It is important that such issues are considered as part of an overall modernising package that is designed to make best use of resources within the wider criminal justice system.
The recommendations in this report are designed to retain the strengths of existing processes. The recommendations also take account of the fact that a more successful police service, maximising the benefits of ongoing and potential developments, has the ability to place even more pressure on the wider criminal justice system. Absorbing these additional pressures whilst delivering effective and consistent service at all stages of the process will require some change from the situation of today.
Other contemporary influences on the criminal justice environment include Lord Bonomy's Report 'Improving Practice' (2002) a review of the High Court and Sheriff Principal McInnes' review of Summary Justice, Andrew Normand's report on Proposals for the Integration of Aims, Objectives and Targets in the Scottish Criminal Justice System, which the police service will require to consider in context along with the areas covered in this report.
The recommendations of this inspection have one very clear implication, and that is for a more proactive and measured approach to incident handling and crime management. In the future, it may be less common to hear the phrase 'I'll have someone attend as soon as possible'. To some, particularly those with a traditional vision of what victims and other customers expect from the police, this may be an unwelcome development. However HMIC is confident that nothing suggested in this report will deprive those who genuinely need a speedy and personal service from receiving it. But at the same time, victims will benefit from a better informed and more consistent professional response.
Overall the recommendations are designed to support police forces and individual officers in providing to each victim the level and method of service that is appropriate to each set of circumstances with the aim of maximising the likelihood of solving the crime whilst simultaneously delivering effective reassurance.
NOTEWORTHY PRACTICES
During the inspection process, HMIC identified numerous instances of noteworthy practice, the following examples cover the wide spectrum of processes involved in the effective management of crime. It should be noted that forces often shared the practice illustrated, however only one force is mentioned for the sake of example.
Investigation
Northern Police were seen to fully exploit the skills of their SOCOs and reap the benefits of the advances in forensic science by putting in place a policy whereby every crime scene is the subject of a crime scene examination.
The experience of the SOCOs at Grampian Police was put to good practical use where after attending a crime scene the SOCO has direct access to the Crime Management system, which allows them to provide a comprehensive update for the information of the investigating officer.
Central Scotland Police have established a Policing Management Unit (PMU) which not only manages crime, but also provides a structured mechanism to integrate the management of crime with the intelligence function, thus providing investigating officers with the most effective data to assist with their investigation. The unit also incorporates a dedicated resource to deal solely with victim liaison issues.
Victims
With regards 3rd party reporting, Lothian & Borders Police have developed a structure through which victims can use a designated voluntary organisation as a conduit to report certain classifications of crimes. The subsequent action is thereby victim led in that they can specify in which way the report is dealt with.
In relation to identification of repeat victims Fife Police have incorporated Call Line Identification into their call handling process which allows the call taker to be in a position to establish the details of a repeat caller before any words are spoken.
Criminal Justice Issues
The submission of reports at Tayside Police is assisted by on-line guidance being provided to officers via a software application incorporated into the case management system.
Dumfries & Galloway Police also provide on-line guidance to officers, during their case submission, however further guidance is provided by an officer who is located within the local Procurator Fiscals office who is in a position to problem solve and identify recurring concerns at an early stage of the process. This also allows for the early inclusion of an input by the Fiscal in specific cases.
Reporting & Recording
Strathclyde Police have entered into an agreement with the First Bus company whereby incidents of minor vandalism to buses where no injury occurs is reported via a fax submission to the force. This negates the need for either a representative from the bus company or a police officer from having to attend to report/receive the incident
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