UNIT 4 - AC3.4 - Evaluate the effectiveness of agencies in achieving social control.

Question 1

What is the role of the Police?

[AC3.4]

UNIT 3 - Synoptic Link.

Answer 1

• Law enforcement.
• Social control.
• Upholding the law.
• Protecting the public.
• Arrest and Detain.

[AC3.4]

Question 2

What statistic is there to suggest the Police are effective in achieving social control?

Terrorism-related Activity statistic. [AC3.4]

Answer 2

• In the year ending 30th June 2021, there were 181 arrests for terrorism-related activity - 49 fewer than the previous 12 months (21% fall).

[AC3.4]

Question 3

What statistic is there to suggest the Police are effective in achieving social control?

Drug Seizure statistic. [AC3.4]

Answer 3

• In 2018/19, there were 153,135 drug seizures in England and Wales (12% increase).

[AC3.4]

Question 4

What are the social control responsibilities of the police?

[AC3.4]

Answer 4

The police are responsible for the majority of the detection, investigation, and prevention of crime.

[AC3.4]

Question 5

Why is a fall in police funding an issue?

[AC3.4]

Answer 5

• Less cases solved.
• Higher Crime Rates.
• Higher Staff Workloads.
• More miscarriages of Justice.
• Less investigation into crimes.

[AC3.4]

Question 6

What Cases can be used to show how effective/ineffective the Police are in achieving social control?

[AC3.4]

Answer 6

• Banaz Mahmood.
• Hillsborough Disaster.
• Stephen Lawrence.
• Wayne Couzens.
• Puppy Farm Murder.
• Child Q.

[AC3.4]

Question 7

How does the Handling of the Banaz Mahmood case show a lack of police effectivness?

[AC3.4]

Answer 7

• The Police were incompetent and had a lack of cultural awareness around honor crimes leading to several errors.
• The Police dismissed warning calls which Banaz made.

[AC3.4]

Question 8

How does the role of the Police in the Hillsborough Disaster show a lack of effectivness?

[AC3.4]

Answer 8

• Police failed to manage control of the fans at the stadium.
• Extra gate was opened without proper control or guidance from the Police.
• Delays and Poor communication to emergency services.

[AC3.4]

Question 9

What concerns were there regarding Institutional Racism by the MacPherson Report in the Steven Lawrence case?

[AC3.4]

Answer 9

• The Macpherson report criticised the police’s initial investigation into Steven’s murder.
• The Police showed prejudice and had a lack of urgency in persuing leads and suspects.
• Racial Stereotyping was found - officers making assumptions off ethnic characteristics.

[AC3.4]

Question 10

How has the Wayne Couzens case had an impact on the ability of the Police to achieve social control?

[AC3.4]

Answer 10

• It made the public loose trust in the police force.
• It has led to increased apprehension and caution of the public when encountering the police.
• It has helped to address violence agaist women and ensuring the saftey of vulnerable individuals.

[AC3.4]

Question 11

How has the Puppy Farm Murder Case highlighted issues with Policy?

[AC3.4]

Answer 11

• The effectivness of Firearm Lisencing policies were questioned as John owned a firearm even though he had a history of violence and had mental health issues.
• Highlighted strict regulations to ensure the wellfare of animals bred to prevent negalect.

[AC3.4]

Question 12

How does the Child Q case show a lack of effectiveness in the Police?

[AC3.4]

Answer 12

A 15-year-old black girl at a school was strip searched by a female police officer after being suspected to have smuggled drugs. There was a lack of an appropriate adult (someone to allow the search - e.g. parents).

[AC3.4]

Question 13

What are some strengths of the Police for being effective in achieving social control?

[AC3.4]

Answer 13

• There are several specialist departements within the police (e.g. counter terrorism, British Transport Police).
• Huge volume of cases brought to trials.
• Many of out of court disposals - police issuing fixed penalty notices to deal with low level crimes.

[AC3.4]

Question 14

What are some weaknesses of the Police for being ineffective in achieving social control?

[AC3.4]

Answer 14

• The Police can be institutionally racist.
• The Police can make serious errors in cases.
• ONS - 48% of offences with no suspect identified.

[AC3.4]

Question 15

What is the role of the CPS?

[AC3.4]

UNIT 3 - Synoptic Link.

Answer 15

• Prosecuting Criminal Cases.
• Upholding Public Interest.
• Ensuring Justice.
• Supporting Victims and Witnesses.
• “Charging Role”.

[AC3.4]

Question 16

What statistics is there to suggest the CPS are effective in achieving social control?

[AC3.4]

How many cases in Crown Court and Magistrates’ were prosecuted in 2018?

Answer 16

• In 2018, 80,000 cases were prosecuted in crown court and over 450,000 cases in magistrates’ court.

[AC3.4]

Question 17

What statistic is there to suggest the CPS are effective in achieving social control?

% of cases compelled with Code for Crown Prosecutors? [AC3.4]

Answer 17

• 97.3% of cases compelled with the Code for Crown Prosecutors.

[AC3.4]

Question 18

What statistic is there to suggest the CPS are effective in achieving social control?

Correct Charging decision statistic. [AC3.4]

Answer 18

• The correct charging decision was made in 94% of 1260 cases.

[AC3.4]

Question 19

What statistic is there to suggest the CPS are effective in achieving social control?

% Victim Satisfaction. [AC3.4]

Answer 19

• 85% victim satisfaction.

[AC3.4]

Question 20

Why is a fall in the CPS Budget an issue?

[AC3.4]

Answer 20

It leads to cuts in staff - loss of 1/3 of staff between 2010 and 2018 due to 25% budget cut. Leads to higher caseloads and staff becoming overworked leading to more miscarriages of justice and lacks of disclosure of evidence.

[AC3.4]

Question 21

What Cases can be used to show how effective/ineffective the CPS are in achieving social control?

[AC3.4]

Answer 21

• Damilola Taylor.
• Christopher Kapessa.
• Abu Hamza.
• Rape Cases.

[AC3.4]

Question 22

What fallings of the CPS are there in the Damilola Taylor Case?

[AC3.4]

Answer 22

• There was no forensic evidence to be able to incriminate the suspects.
• ‘Witness Bromley’s’ testimony was heavily relied upon and it was found she lied to the police and CPS in order to just get the monetary reward. This led to the case collapsing.

[AC3.4]

Question 23

Were the decisions made by the CPS in the Christopher Kapessa case effective?

[AC3.4]

Answer 23

• Christopher’s death was initially treated as non-suspicious by the police.
• The CPS initially decided not to bring charges against anyone who was in connection with his death. This is because they had insuffient evidence.
• After public pressure ans campaigns, the CPS reviewed the case and eventually brought charges against a teenage boy in 2021.

[AC3.4]

Question 24

Were the decisions made by the CPS in the Abu Hamza case effective?

[AC3.4]

Answer 24

• Abu Hamza was known for his extremist and involvement in terrorist activities.
• He wasn’t prosecuted in the UK, but was extradited to the US where he faced multiple terrorim-related charges.

[AC3.4]

In terms of effectivness from the UK’s point of view, they were effective as they managed to remove a know terrorist from the UK. There have been concerns about the effectivness of his extradiction from the UK and the potential of human rights violations.

Question 25

Why has the CPS been criticised for the handling of rape cases?

[AC3.4]

Answer 25

• Low prosecution rates - even though increased reporting.
• Poor decision-making processes - bias and stereotyping around sexual violence victims.
• Disclosure failures - vital evidence such as phone records not bring disclosed.
• Underfunding and resources - budget cuts leading to inadequate support for victims.

[AC3.4]

Question 26

What is the role of the Judiciary?

[AC3.4]

UNIT 3 - Synoptic Link.

Answer 26

• Being Impartial decision makers.
• Ensuring Fair and Just trials.
• Upholding the law.
• Protecting the rights of defendants and victims.
• Not allowing bias or any form of unfair advantage.

[AC3.4]

Question 27

What statistic is there to suggest the Judiciary are effective in achieving social control?

Cases with sentences increased from Court of Appeal in 2017. [AC3.4]

Answer 27

• In 2017, 137/173 cases had sentences increased after going to the Court of Appeal.

[AC3.4]

Question 28

What statistic is there to suggest the Judiciary are effective in achieving social control?

Judicial Review Applications: no. heard + in favour. [AC3.4]

Answer 28

• In 2022, there were 2400 judicial review applications, only 89 were actually heard with 31 being in the favour of the claimant.

[AC3.4]

Question 29

What statistic is there to suggest the Judiciary are effective in achieving social control?

% of Decisions overturned and % of cases found illegal. [AC3.4]

Answer 29

• 50% of overall decisions were overturned. Only 10% of case decisions found to be illegal.

[AC3.4]

Question 30

What Cases can be used to show how effective/ineffective the Judiciary are in achieving social control?

[AC3.4]

Answer 30

• R v Ponting (1985).
• R v Wang (2005).
• London Riots 2011 (Unduly Lenient Sentencing).
• Lavinia Woodward.

[AC3.4]

Question 31

Were the judiciary effective in the case of R v Ponting? Why?

[AC3.4]

Answer 31

The Judiciary can be seen as effective in the case of R v Ponting because they directed the jury to an acquital due to a ‘perverse verdict’ as it was found to be in the Public Interest for society to know about the sinking of the ship in the Falklands war.

[AC3.4]

Question 32

Were the Judiciary effective in the case of R v Wang? Why?

[AC3.4]

Answer 32

The court indicted the apellant for possessing offensive weapons in a public place contray to the Criminal Justice Act 1988. The trial judge directed the jury to return a guilty verdict as the apellant had failed to advance a lawful defence.

[AC3.4]

Question 33

What types of sentence were given in the 2011 London Riots?

[AC3.4]

Answer 33

Unduly Harsh Sentences - sentences being given to unneccesary intent.

[AC3.4]

Question 34

Can the judiciary in the case of the 2011 London Riots be seen as effective?

[AC3.4]

Answer 34

• Not really, as they gave out Unduly Harsh sentences to pretty much anyone involved, whether it was pretty crimes or serious crimes.
• For example, an college student named Nicolas Robinson, stole a £3.50 case of bottled water from a Lidl supermarket in Brixton during the London Riots in 2011. This led to him being imprisoned for 6 months after being caught.

[AC3.4]

Question 35

What type of sentencing can be seen in the Lavinia Woodward case?

[AC3.4]

Answer 35

Unduly Lenient Sentence - sentences being given too weakly (unproportionate).

[AC3.4]

Question 36

Can the judiciary in the case of Lavinia Woodward be seen as effective?

[AC3.4]

Answer 36

Not really, because there was criticism around the judiciary showing class bias and also giving an unduly lenient sentence. Lavinia stabbed her boyfriend with a bread knife during a drug-fuelled attack, but due to her academic record aspiring to be a heart surgeon, the judge only gave her a 10-month prison sentence which was suspended for 18 months. This shows that the judge didn’t want to ruin her future, even though she now wants to become a barrister after now studying law.

[AC3.4]

Question 37

What is the ULSS and what do they do?

[AC3.4]

Answer 37

• The Unduly Lenient Sentences Scheme (ULSS) allows victims, prosecutors and members of the public to apply to the Attorney General for a sentence to be reviewed.

[AC3.4]

Question 38

What statistics are there for the Unduly Lenient Sentences Scheme (ULSS)?

Answer 38

• 137 out of 173 cases referred to the Court of Appeal had sentences increased for being too lenient.
• This shows that judges are reasonable with sentencing and aren’t unduly lenient.

Question 39

What are the key skills and characteristics that a judge should have?

[AC3.4]

Answer 39

• Expert Legal Knowledge.
• Good Literacy and Communication Skills.
• Able to be thorough and pay lots of attention (good concentration).
• Impartiality and Independence from other agencies.
• Metholodical and Reasonable in sentencing.

[AC3.4]

Question 40

What statistics can be used to describe judges?

[AC3.4]

Answer 40

• 90.1% are white, with only 9.9% from BAME (Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic).
• 74% are pivately educated or went to Oxbridge.
• About 70% of judges are aged 50+ and around 35% are aged 60+.

[AC3.4]

Question 41

What is the role of the Prison Service?

[AC3.4]

UNIT 3 - Synoptic Link.

Answer 41

• Punishment & Rehabilitation.
• Maintenance of Public Saftey.
• Reintegration & Preparation.
• Ensuring Human Rights & Dignity.
• Providing Custodial Care for Reformation.

[AC3.4]

Question 42

What statistics are there to suggest the Prison Service are effective in achieving social control?

No. of children in child custody + amount of child offences. [AC3.4]

Answer 42

• Between 2006 and 2022, the amount of children in child custody fell from 2800 to 500. This links to the amount of child offences (3000 down to 350 offences).

[AC3.4]

Question 43

‘Do Prisons work?’ Clip.

What different things can prisons be seen to destroy and create?

[AC3.4]

Answer 43

• Invented to destroy the criminal personality and generate new life, whilst creating a new-law abiding identity.
• They can be seen to destroy family bonds rather than creating new connections (this is especially detrimental for women who have just birthed a baby).

[AC3.4]

Question 44

What different things in prison can be seen to distort time whilst exploiting the system and going against social control in prison?

[AC3.4]

Answer 44

• Drugs such as Spice or Mamba can be seen to fill in the free time prisoners have as they help to reduce loss, loneliness, isolation and alienation by making prisoners have a thrill/ surge of energy. They can be described as ‘Chemical Comforts’ in prison.

[AC3.4]

Question 45

What happened in the Riots at Winston Green Prison in 2016?

[AC3.4]

Answer 45

There was 12 hours of rioting which included setting stairwells on fire and destroying paper records. This took place across 4 different wings in this Category B prison making them unuseable afterwards. It began by the use of Mamba and Spice (worst drug out there) which led to uncontrollable behaviour, but also people getting fustrated and unhappy due to problems with health care appointments.

[AC3.4]

Question 46

Graph in Booklet:

How does the percentage of inmates in prison who agrees that ‘it’s easy to get legal drugs’ and ‘I have felt unsafe here’ change?

[AC3.4]

Answer 46

In 2004 around 25% of inmates in prison agreed that ‘it’s easy to get legal drugs’ and around 33% agreed ‘I have felt unsafe here’. They then both increased to 2007, but ‘it’s easy to get legal drugs’ overtook ‘I have felt unsafe here’ meaning the drug problem had got increasingly worse. Since then they decreased to 2011 and then increased again both above 45%.

[AC3.4]

Question 47

Graph

What Statistic between 2013 and 2016 tells us about deaths in prison due to drugs?

[AC3.4]

Answer 47

Between 2013-2016 there were 64 deaths in prisons due to ‘Spice’ (worst drug in prisons).

[AC3.4]

Question 48

What statistics show how overcrowding in prison has become a major problem?

[AC3.4]

Answer 48

• 1993 - 43,000 individuals in prison.
• 2018 - 58% of prisons overcrowded.
• 2019 - 83,000 individuals in prison (almost double).

[AC3.4]

Question 49

How are prisons seen as an effective means of social control?

[AC3.4]

Answer 49

• They work well as a general deterrance.
• If prisoners want to rehabilitate, then it could potentially work to lower recidivism rates.
• Rate of recidivism after education in prison is 34% compared to 43% without education.

[AC3.4]

Question 50

How are prisons seen as an ineffective means of social control?

Answer 50

• They are unable to work very effectively as a form of rehabilitation (e.g. short sentences don’t allow enough time).
• Prohibited items such as drugs and phones are still smuggled into prisons across the UK.
• There are assualts on staff and other inmates all the time leading to deaths and serious injuries from boredom and lack of trained staff.

Question 51

What is the role of the Probation Service?

[AC3.4]

UNIT 3 - Synoptic Link.

Answer 51

• Rehabilitation & Reintegration into society.
• Reducing the Recidivism Rate.
• Supervision & Monitoring of offenders in the community.
• Individualised support for those that need it.
• Providing a support network.

[AC3.4]

Question 52

What statistic is there to suggest the Probation Service are effective in achieving social control?

% offenders completed lisence. [AC3.4]

Answer 52

• 59% of offenders recorded as completing their period on lisence.

[AC3.4]

Question 53

What is a CRC and what statistics show issues with them?

[AC3.4]

Answer 53

A Community Rehabilitation Compnay (CRC) is a company set up to deal with low-risk offenders. 19 out of 21 CRC’s in the UK failed to meet their targets in 2018. There are also issues with housing and supervision.

[AC3.4]

Question 54

What is the NPS and what statistics show issues with them?

[AC3.4]

Answer 54

The National Probation Service (NPS) is a statutory criminal justice service, mainly responsible for the supervision of offenders in the community. Only 59% of offenders were recorded as fully completing their period of lisence with the NPS.

[AC3.4]

Question 55

Graph

What is Reassuring about the Probation Services?

[AC3.4]

Answer 55

From March 2016 to March 2021, the full amount of Probation Staff were at similar levels with totals of around 6,000/7,000. In June and September 2021, these were found to nearly double to around 11,500 staff.

[AC3.4]

Question 56

How is The National Probation Service (NPS) seen as an effective means of social control?

[AC3.4]

Answer 56

• They can act as a safe point of contact whilst under supervision.
• They can help to reintegrate offenders back into society by helping to change their behaviour.
• Rehabilitation and Restorative Justice Schemes for example can help to reduce recidivism rates.

[AC3.4]

Question 57

How is The National Probation Service (NPS) seen as an ineffective means of social control?

[AC3.4]

Answer 57

• In 2018, only 40% of offenders were supervised by the NPS and 60% by CRC’s.
• Shortages in staff lead to more inexperienced staff being employed leading to probation services not being able to work well.
• Increased recidivism rates when offenders don’t want to take part.

[AC3.4]

Question 58

What is the role of Charities?

[AC3.4]

UNIT 3 - Synoptic Link.

Answer 58

• Supporting individuals with convictions.
• Reducing the stigma individuals face.
• Reducing Discrimination for those with criminal records.
• Promoting Rehabilitation and Reintegration.
• Providing a support network for ex-offenders.

[AC3.4]

Question 59

What statistics are there to suggest Charities are effective in achieving social control?

[AC3.4]

Answer 59

Between 2000 and 2007, the number of charities increased by around 10,000. As of 2023, there are 168,850 registered charities in England and Wales.

[AC3.4]

Question 60

What is the role of Pressure Groups?

[AC3.4]

UNIT 3 - Synoptic Link.

Answer 60

• Advocacy and Policy Change.
• Social Integration and Support.
• Reducing Discrimination for those with previous convictions.
• Empowerment.
• Raising Funds for those who need help and support with a conviction.

[AC3.4]

Question 61

Why might Charities have a better chance of helping to rehabilitate offenders than a government agency might have?

[AC3.4]

Answer 61

• They are independent organisations.
• They can understand a better link to the issues that offenders face.
• They are only focussed on the offenders, nothing else to do with anyone else.
• Charities can be seen to work more closely to the side of the ex-offenders.
• Charity workers have more time than probation officers do.

[AC3.4]

Question 62

What is the effectiveness of NACRO as a charity to achieve social control?

[AC3.4]

Answer 62

• They manage over 200 projects and around 60,000 cases every year.
• They work as a charity to reduce crime and support struggling communities in England and Wales.
• They are effective when working with ex-offenders, deprived communities and disadvantaged people to aid rehabilitation and social reintegration.

[AC3.4]

Question 63

What is the ‘End Friday Release’ Campaign?

[AC3.4]

Answer 63

• This is a campaign which was set up to stop prison releases on Friday’s. This is because it means offenders won’t be able to access banks until Monday mornings - weekend without accommodation and funds.

[AC3.4]

Question 64

What issues does the ‘End Friday Release’ campaign pose?

[AC3.4]

Answer 64

• Friday releases make offenders extremely vulnerable without accommodation and also could lead to further crime to be able to get food to survive.

[AC3.4]

Question 65

What 2 Charities relating to women show the effectivness of Charities?

[AC3.4]

Answer 65

• Women in Prison.
• WomenMATTA.

[AC3.4]

Question 66

What does the ‘Women in Prison’ Campaign do?

[AC3.4]

Answer 66

They help to reduce the harm that women face in prison (both physical and mental) and aim to work like a pressure group to campaign for women to not be sent to prison for non-violent crimes.

[AC3.4]

Question 67

What problems are women prisoners more likely to have than male prisoners? How is this harmful?

[AC3.4]

Answer 67

Many have increased mental health issues, abuse, trauma, seperation from family, inadequate healthcare including problems with pregnancy in prison. This is especially harmful due to it effecting how a child grows-up, with a lack of parental (motherly) care.

[AC3.4]

Question 68

What statistics can be used for ‘Women in Prison’?

[AC3.4]

Answer 68

• 28% of women in prison had no previous convictions (over double for men).
• More than half of women in prison say they suffered domestic violence and 1 in 3 for sexual abuse.
• 70% of women prisoners have 2 or more diagnosed mental health issues.
• 55% of women in prison are mothers to dependent children.
• 54% of women leaving prison are reconvicted within 1 year.

[AC3.4]

Question 69

What does the ‘WomenMATTA’ Campaign do?

[AC3.4]

Answer 69

They support women of all ages that have suffered abuse or are in a crisis. These women fall into criminal lifestyles because of deprivation and disadvantages in childhood. They mainly support women who recieved prison sentences in which males didn’t for the same crime.

[AC3.4]

Question 70

What different things limit what charities can achive?

[AC3.4]

Answer 70

• Charities can only get involved in things thats lots are people are concerned about.
• Voluntary donations are one of the only things that keeps charities going apart from grants.
• The media may stigmatise or dehumanise offenders.
• Politics can influence support to certain charities. (e.g. some celebrities are more likely to donate or be patreons to mental health organisations than charities).

[AC3.4]