The Justice System (AQA GCSE Citizenship Studies): Revision Note

Role and powers of the police

The role of the police in the UK

• The police in the UK have a vital role in maintaining safety and upholding the law.

• Their responsibilities focus on protecting the public, reducing crime and ensuring that anyone who breaks the law is dealt with fairly

Core functions of the police

• In 2025 the National Police Chiefs Council stated that the mission of policing was@

  • To make communities safer by upholding the law fairly and firmly

  • Preventing crime and antisocial behaviour

  • Keeping the peace 

  • Protecting and reassuring communities 

  • Investigating crime and bringing offenders to justice

Policing in the UK

• In the UK there is no national Police Force. 

  • Police are organised on a national basis in Scotland and Northern Ireland

  • In England and Wales they are organised into 43  regional forces, largely based on local authority boundaries

    • The largest of these is the Metropolitan Police, which provides policing in London and employs around 35,000 officers

• There are also three specialist forces

Powers of the police

Stop and search

• Using powers granted under the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 (PACE) police have the authority to detain and search individuals or vehicles to prevent or detect crime

• In order to do so the police officer must ‘ have reasonable grounds for suspicion’

• The intention of stop and search is about a police officer confirming their suspicions about a person without having to use their power of arrest

Power of Arrest

• The police have the power to arrest a person anywhere and at any time - on the street at home or at your workplace

  • If you try to avoid arrest, the police can use reasonable force

  • You can be restrained by being handcuffed

  • The police also have powers to search you when you are arrested

• There are safeguards to protect citizens during arrest

  • The police must identify themselves as police officers

  • You must be told that you are being arrested

  • You must be told why you are being arrested

  • If the arrested person is under 18, a parent, guardian or carer must be informed as soon as possible

Entry, search and seizure

• The police normally have to obtain a warrant to be able to enter and search premises

  • The search must treat occupants with respect 

  • The police need to ensure that they are not engaged in unlawful discrimination

  • The use of reasonable forces must be proportionate to the circumstances

• Safeguards are in place to ensure the police act fairly and reasonably

Role and powers of the judiciary

• The judiciary describes those involved formally in the courts and tribunal system

  • They are responsible for upholding the rule of law.

Elements of the judiciary

• Judges use their legal expertise to oversee cases in both criminal and civil court cases

  • Differing courts deal with a particular aspect of the judicial process

  • Examples are the Crown Court, High Court of Justice with differing divisions, the Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court

  •  There are also Civil Courts like the County Court, the Family Court and the Court of Protection

• Magistrates are citizens from the community who agree to decide cases in local Magistrates Courts

  • They are also known as Justices of the Peace (JP’s)

  • They receive some legal training but are supported in court by legal advisors

  • By tradition they are called ‘the bench’ as they sit as a panel of 3 to decide cases

• Tribunal Members are specialists in a specific topic that relates to their Tribunal

  • Examples include Employment Tribunals and the Land Tribunal

  • Tribunal members form a panel, chaired by a legally-qualified Tribunal judge, when deciding a case

• Coroners investigate certain kinds of deaths

  • They typically have experience as lawyers or doctors with legal experience and are appointed by local authorities

The role of a judge

• Preside over court proceedings

  • Judges manage court cases, trials or tribunals to ensure they are fair, follow legal procedures, and allow both sides to present their cases properly

• Interpret evidence and advise the jury on points of law

  • While the jury decides the facts, judges explain how the law applies, clarify legal terms, and help the jury understand the rules they must follow when reaching a verdict

• Decide the sentence following the jury's decision but based on sentencing guidelines

  • Once a defendant is found guilty, the judge chooses an appropriate sentence by considering the seriousness of the offence, the impact on victims, and the official sentencing guidelines

• Where the law is unclear they establish ‘case law’ by their decisions, which is then used or altered by future judges

  • If a case raises a new legal issue, a judge’s ruling can set a precedent that helps guide how similar cases should be decided in the future

• Judges are often called to chair public enquiries, for example, about the Covid pandemic

  • Their independence and expertise mean judges are trusted to lead major investigations into national issues, gather evidence and make recommendations

• Judges sitting on the Supreme Court have the ability to challenge the actions of the government

  • Supreme Court justices can rule that government actions or laws are unlawful if they break the constitution, exceed legal powers, or violate rights

Role of legal representatives

• Most of us have minimal contact with the legal system

  • We write a will, purchase a house or have a dispute with a neighbour, and we contact a local solicitor

• However, a range of legal representation is available for different situations