Some UK questions

[ChrisF202]

I have some more questions about British law enforcement:

1) In the UK, who serves warrants, restraining orders and other court documents?

2) Who guards the court facilities in the UK?

3) Why do all British police forces have the exact same ranks and rank insignia system? I know that some forces have more ranks then others and that Chief Constable is used is place of Commissioner and Assistant Chief Constable in place of Assistant Commissioner and so forth.

4) When British police are armed, what weapons are they armed with?

[Cockney Corner]

"Britain" doesn't have one legal system (England & Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland have different laws) so it isn't possible to give one answer. However, for England & Wales, the answers are something like this:

1) Warrants are issued both by the Civil Courts (eg. ordering a debt owed to be recovered) and Criminal Courts (eg. ordering a person to be arrested). If a debt is owed, you can expect court officers called baillifs to turn up at your door and attempt to gain payment. If you are sought for arrest, to be returned to prison or other criminal matters, it will most likely be the Police. As for restraining orders, the Civil and Criminal Courts have separate powers to order people to stay away from other people. The Criminal Courts have a specific power to issue a Restraining Order if a person is convicted under the Protection from Harassment Act. Beach of this is arrestable. Again, it will typically be the Police who will arrive at your door to enforce it. The situation is actually rather more complicated than I have suggested, but these are the bare bones.

2) Normally, private security guards. For major trials, there would usually be a Police presence however.

3) Why do we all have the same ranks - well, why not? A lot of legislation requires measures to be authorised by officers of a particular rank and the existing system simplifies matters. I'm not aware of any proposals to change the rank structure, though there are suggestions from time to time that some officers be permitted to start their service at a rank other than Constable (where we all currently begin). As you have stated, the Metropolitan and City of London Police have slightly different ranks for very senior officers.

4) Some UK officers are routinely armed. Others will be armed as specific circumstances require. Officers who provide armed support on patrol (known as "ARV's" ) tend to carry a lot of useful kit in the backs of their cars but would typically carry a side-arm, often a Glock, and a carbine. They also carry the standard items for "unarmed" officers, ie. baton, handcuffs, CS spray.

[ChrisF202]

Thanks Cockney, here in the US, the concept of using private firms is unheard of, altough we do have a very good private corrections facility firm that some places use (USA Corrections or something like that). Dont you think that with private guards it makes it easier for someone to escape? I can recall one incident I saw on the BBC where a felon awaiting trial just walked right out the door. As for the rank insignia and ranks, almost all US forces use something different, ex. in my local agency, a Sergeant wears 3 blue chevrons with white border, whereas in Mesa, Arizona a Sergeant wears 2 chevrons with gold border.

[Sgt Lobster]

ChrisF202,

In England & Wales there are numerous prisons run by private security companies on behalf of the Government. Private security companies are also responsible for transporting the majority of prisoners from police stations to court and between prisons and court.

It has also become common for chief officers to contract security companies to provide gaolers in police custody offices.

In relation to warrants issued in respect of criminal proceedings, most are executed in England & Wales by the police. However many magistrates courts employ civilian enforcement officers who execute many minor warrants for non-payment of fines etc.

The set up in Scotland & Northern Ireland is different. Though I believe Scotland has just moved onto using private companies for court and escort duties.



Lobster.

[thirdgod]

Originally posted by ChrisF202
Thanks Cockney, here in the US, the concept of using private firms is unheard of, altough we do have a very good private corrections facility firm that some places use (USA Corrections or something like that). Dont you think that with private guards it makes it easier for someone to escape? I can recall one incident I saw on the BBC where a felon awaiting trial just walked right out the door. As for the rank insignia and ranks, almost all US forces use something different, ex. in my local agency, a Sergeant wears 3 blue chevrons with white border, whereas in Mesa, Arizona a Sergeant wears 2 chevrons with gold border.

Sgts. in Mesa wear three chevrons, blue with gold border. If you're talking about CCA as far as private corrections, I haven't been terribly impressed with their operations. Seems to me it's counterproductive to trust an important operation like custody of inmates to someone who worries about making aprofit. The possibilities for bad stuff happening are endless.....just my $.02

[ChrisF202]

Originally posted by thirdgod
Sgts. in Mesa wear three chevrons, blue with gold border. If you're talking about CCA as far as private corrections, I haven't been terribly impressed with their operations. Seems to me it's counterproductive to trust an important operation like custody of inmates to someone who worries about making aprofit. The possibilities for bad stuff happening are endless.....just my $.02
I have alot of US police rank insignia info, I belive I ment Pheonix, AZ. The endless possibilities of problems is what amazes me as to why the UK relies upon them so much.

[Sgt Lobster]

The reason for outsourcing of custody functions is simple, it's supposed to save money, and at least in the case of the police get officers back onto the streets.


Lobster.:rolleyes:

[ChrisF202]

Originally posted by Sgt Lobster
The reason for outsourcing of custody functions is simple, it's supposed to save money, and at least in the case of the police get officers back onto the streets.


Lobster.:rolleyes:
True, anything to get more officers on the streets is good. But isent it better to have court officers and sheriff's like we do? I dont know about in the UK, but here their is a huge difference between a police officer or deputy sheriff and a private guard.

[Sgt Lobster]

ChrisF202,

I think most of us here would prefer to work with a police employee. However in these days of 'best value' we often get what is the cheapest not necessarily the best.



Lobster.