EVIDENCE TO THE ROYAL COMMISSION ON CRIMINAL PROCEDURE, MEMORANDUM NO TEN - SOME ASPECTS OF RELATIONS BETWEEN THE POLICE AND THE PUBLIC - ENGLAND

• NCJ Number: 62992
• Author(s): ANON
• Date Published: 1979
• Length: 24 pages
• Corporate Author: Great Britain Home Office
• Sale Source: Great Britain Home Office
• Language: English
• Country: United Kingdom

Annotation

REFORM ISSUES OF RELEVANCE TO THE BRITISH ROYAL COMMISSION ON CRIMINAL PROCEDURE ARE IDENTIFIED IN THE AREA OF RELATIONS BETWEEN THE POLICE AND THE PUBLIC.

Abstract

THE FOLLOWING ISSUES BEARING UPON RELATIONS BETWEEN THE POLICE AND THE PUBLIC ARE WORTHY OF COMMISSION CONSIDERATION: THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE CITIZENS DUTY TO HELP THE POLICE AND THE WISH TO DEFINE MORE CLEARLY THE LEGAL POWERS OF THE POLICE AND THE POSSIBILITY OR DESIRABILITY OF RESTATING IN LEGISLATIVE TERMS, THE DUTY OF THE CITIZEN TO THE POLICE. POLICE RELATIONS WITH PARTICULAR GROUPS SUCH AS JUVENILES AND ETHNIC MINORITIES SHOULD INVOLVE KNOWLEDGABLE AND SKILLFUL BEHAVIOR BY POLICE. THE COMMISSION MIGHT WELL CONSIDER ISSUES OF POLICE TRAINING TO FACILITATE EFFECTIVE POLICE RELATIONS WITH PARTICULAR GROUPS IN THE COMMUNITY. A MATTER THAT APPEARS TO HAVE PARTICULAR RELEVANCE TO ETHNIC MINORITIES RELATES TO SECTION 4 OF THE VAGRANCY ACT 1824. THIS LAW PERMITS ARREST OF ANY PERSON WITHOUT WARRANT IF THAT PERSON ENGAGES IN BEHAVIOR IMPLYING AN ATTEMPT TO COMMIT A CRIME. THE ISSUE OF THE POWER OF ARREST HAS RELEVANCE TO THE WORK OF THE COMMISSION. WHEREAS, THE VAGRANCY ACT PERMITS ANY CITIZEN TO MAKE A WARRANTLESS ARREST, THE COMMISSION MAY WISH TO LIMIT THE POWER OF ARREST TO A POLICE OFFICER. ALTHOUGH THE BLACK COMMUNITY WIDELY BELIEVES THAT POLICE USE THE VAGRANCY ACT TO HARASS, THE POLICE MAINTAIN THEIR ACTIONS UNDER THE ACT HELP PREVENT CRIME. THE COMMISSION MAY WISH TO CONSIDER THE PROPER LIMITS TO THE POWER OF ARREST OF PERSONS BELIEVED TO BE ATTEMPTING TO COMMIT A CRIME. THE APPENDIX DESCRIBES THE NATURE OF POLICE WORK WITH JUVENILES. FOOTNOTES ARE PROVIDED. (RCB)