The independent group established by Matthew Ellis, Staffordshire’s Police and Crime Commissioner, to examine the way policing works is now looking at whether a new approach to tackling low-level offending is putting victims’ needs first whilst ensuring appropriate sanction for the offender.
Community resolutions deal with low level first offences in a practical way that satisfies the victim without ending up in the traditional criminal justice system. It make amends and provides a sanction through actions such as putting right damage to property, providing a verbal or written apology, attending treatment for addiction or paying compensation.
It is intended to put right what was wrong and also, in many cases, carry out additional sanctions to reinforce that wrongdoing happened.
Matthew Ellis said, “On the face of it some might see this as a soft option and it is essential that is not the case. In reality it means that action can be taken against an individual in a situation where often nothing was done historically. It provides a sanction for a less serious issues without becoming embroiled in the criminal justice system or facing a criminal record for a moment of inconsiderate behaviour or stupidity.
“But it must be used appropriately in a broadly consistent way across Staffordshire. It must be supported by those who suffered harm or inconvenience and it must not be, or appear to be, the easy or soft option for the offender.
“To make sure that is the case, I have asked the Ethics, Transparency and Audit Panel (ETAP) to examine how this approach is being used by officers across different parts of the Force area”
ETAP was launched under the Commissioner’s ‘New Dawn of Transparency’ agenda and aims for policing in Staffordshire to be the most open and transparent in the country. Nine members of the public sit on the ETAP and meet regularly to monitor the work of police including how crime is recorded, how complaints from the public are dealt with and sensitive issues such as the use of Taser and ‘stop and search’ powers.
ETAP members are being joined by experts from other public organisations to examine how well the two types of ‘Out of Court’ disposal – community resolution and suspended prosecution – have been used and whether the policy requirements set out by the PCC last November have been met.
The other organisations involved include the Ministry of Justice, Her Majesty’s Courts Service, Probation and the Youth Offending Service.
New Safer Neighbourhood Panels are also being established in every local policing area across Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent and they will, on a very local basis, examine the effectiveness of the police’s use of Out of Court disposals in their area.
People from across Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent are also being invited to join the ETAP. Find out more at http://www.staffordshire-pcc.gov.uk/eta/
