z wrote:
I’m pointing out an error you made with SOCPA because you gave another member a really hard time about, yes you’ve guessed it, making an error with SOCPA.
Just thought that was a bit ironic, no need to apologies.
The difference was Bi Si argued that such an Act existed, I made a cut and paste/ edit error when transfering Police Act 2002 and Socpa '05 from a word document to my post
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Anyway, with that out the way, and after we agree with administrative detections.
On to consistency.
Ok, so lets go through this one at a time –
1)Proper copper makes an arrest, (fine so far)
2)takes prisoner to station, (after he/she can find a van and someone to drive it yep with you so far)
3)hands over to custody Sgt. (hands over? What like ‘here you go, I’m off’) don’t think the Sgt would like that very much, how many Sgts do you think are at custody to take all these prisoners?)
In most modern Custody Suites, the cop stands with the prisoner in front of the custody Sgt's 'desk', gives the reasons for arrest the Sgt asks if the reason for detention is understood. The prisoner is then in the charge of the custody Sgt. I think that could be described as a 'handover'.
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4)makes dictaphone recording of all relevant information, (so who searches the prisoner? Finger prints the prisoner? Who takes a DNA sample from the prisoner? Who photographs the prisoner?
The search is usually carried out by a Custody Assistant (I don't know the official title) i.e. Civilian worker, in front of the Custody Sgt. were the belongings are 'bagged', the Custody assistant takes the Fingerprints, Photo and DNA sample.
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Who interviews the prisoner?
It is very rare the Arresting Officer conducts the interview.
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Who then bags up all their clothing and personal belongings, money and jewelry and logs all their property, bags it and locks it away?
The Custody Sgt. as described above.
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Who takes the statement from all the witness's with first hand knowledge?
Sometimes the Arresting Officer (AO) sometimes other officers are assigned, sometimes both depending on how many witnesses there are, How can the AO be in 2 places at once, in the 'station' and out interviewing witnesses.
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Who then charges the prisoner? Who then bails the prisoner?
Again usually the Custody Sgt. on his own decision, or during 'office hours' after consultation with the on site CPS representative ( they have one at each Custody Suite or in the associated station). After office hours there is a 'CPS Direct' telephone line for queries as to correct Charging.
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Who then goes back to nick the prisoner again for failing to sign on bail, or breach of bail conditions, or failing to attend court, and go through the whole process again)
Blah Blah Blah
This would be a separate new offence, and by definition would have to take place sometime after Charge and Bail, and could be dealt with by any Police Officer
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5)gives recording to Police support officer who types it up fills the forms etc, (granted this may save an hour, but PCSOs already do this in many areas, take the initial crime report and do a few reports that don’t require the OIC to take or input)
After the 'handover' into Custody, the Cop could get a cup of tea and dictate his statement, the reasons for Arrest were accepted by the Sgt, the statement is usually typed up prior to the interview, as this generally is the basis of the interview/questioning. The AO could then hand his dictated statement to the typist, he could then go and interview the other witnesses, or nick some more Bad boys and Girls.
IIRC the cost per hour of a Proper Police Officer is in excess of £80 per hour, so that 1 hour saved would probably account for the typists wages for the best part of a shift. Economics and efficiency and Value for Money.
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6)Cop returns to duty, four/five hours later)
With my system depending how many cups of tea, and how long it took to dictate the Statement, he could be back on the 'beat' in an hour or so, certainly less than 5 or 6 hrs, again economic efficiency.
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7) next time cops in station he checks statement and signs if correct, or corrects errors and gives back to 5). No, no, no, no, no. The OIC must charge or release the prisoner, without a statement this cannot be done.
When did the AO transubstatiate into the OIC (I presume this is Officer in Charge). The Custody Sgt. must Charge or release the Prisoner, the AO will often be off duty by this stage.
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The OIC wouldn’t be able to ‘come back later and check any errors and sign’ he would have to get it done there and then.
He could check for errors and/or sign, during the shift changeover if he was going 'off duty' or he could be called back to the Custody Suite prior to interview.
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Or he couldn’t charge the offender, he would have to do the interviewing himself, he did the arresting, he saw what went on.
As explained above it is often other officers (often detectives) who interview prisoners, and the Custody Sgt. Charges and Bails.
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Are you suggesting we de-skill all police officers so all they do is walk around, arrest and hand over to a team of (highly paid and well trained) people to do all the processing all the skilled Law input, so we are effectively left with PCs who have no skills (isn’t that your argument against PCSOs??) and only know how to arrest someone and transport them to custody then go back out again, with no real knowledge of the legal ins and outs, leading to negative outcomes at court etc.
I am suggesting, Police Constables carry out the duties they always have, in accordance with their Attestation, and discretion. The Police are getting more skilled day by day (and I'm glad it's so), in line with the technology they have at their disposal.
What I am stating not suggesting is, The whole Police Sevice is being de-skilled and Public confidence eroded by the use of PSCO's.Quote:
It’s far more complicated than, nick them, hand them over, then back out on the beat.
If it were only that simple.
It could be simpler and hence more efficient and economically sound.
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One more question, could you describe a situation were it would be better for PCSO to attend than a Constable.
Any situation where the person would not need to be arrested.
The fact that PCSOs have more time to spend giving better witness/victim aftercare and support is an obvious advantage.
Blah blah blah
If there is no need for arrest there has been no crime, hence there are no victims or witnesses or support needed, and if there is no need for arrest authorities should leave people to lead their lives as they see fit within the law.
I get the feeling from the misinformation in your post that the reason you want PACE abolished is because you do not understand it.
fatboytim