## Learning Outcomes

- Identify the main duties and standards expected of the police in the UK
- Understand how criminal and civil courts are organised across the UK
- Explain what judges (the judiciary) do and why they are independent
- Describe how juries are selected, how they reach verdicts, and key UK differences

## Life in the UK Test Syllabus

For the Life in the UK Test, you are expected to understand how the UK maintains law and order and how cases are decided in court, with a focus on the following syllabus points:

- Know the core duties of the police and the role of Police and Crime Commissioners (PCCs) in England and Wales (introduced in 2012)
- Identify which courts deal with minor, serious, and youth criminal cases in England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland
- Understand the role of judges (the judiciary), including judicial independence from government
- Know what a jury does, how jurors are chosen, and the different jury sizes in Scotland (15) and in England, Wales and Northern Ireland (12)
- Recognise the Scottish verdict options, including “not proven”
- Know how to complain about the police and which bodies deal with complaints in different UK nations

## Test Your Knowledge

_Attempt these questions before reading this article. If you find some difficult or cannot remember the answers, look more closely at that area during your revision._

1. What are the three main duties of the police in the UK?
2. Which court usually deals with most minor criminal cases in England and Wales, and what is the equivalent in Scotland?
3. In which court are serious offences tried in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, and who decides guilt?
4. How many people are on a jury in Scotland, and what extra verdict can Scottish juries return?
5. Who decides the sentence after a guilty verdict in a jury trial?

## Introduction

Police and courts are central to the rule of law in the UK. The Life in the UK Test expects you to know who investigates crime, how cases move through the courts, and how decisions are made fairly and independently.

You also need to understand the roles of judges, magistrates, and juries—and how these roles differ between England and Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland.

> **Key Term: criminal law**
> The area of law that deals with crimes investigated by the police (or other authorities) and punished by the courts.
>
> **Key Term: civil law**
> The area of law used to settle disputes between individuals or organisations, usually involving compensation or court orders rather than punishment.

### The police: duties, standards, and local accountability

The police in the UK are a public service. Their job is not only to deal with crime after it happens, but also to prevent crime and keep the public safe.

The main duties of the police are to:

- protect life and property
- prevent disturbances (keep the peace)
- prevent and detect crime

Police forces are organised regionally and are led by senior officers (Chief Constables). Police forces are independent of the government, which matters because policing must be impartial.

Police officers must obey the law themselves. They must not:

- misuse their authority
- make false statements
- be rude or abusive
- discriminate (including racial discrimination)

If officers are corrupt or abuse their powers, they can be punished severely.

> **Key Term: Chief Constable**
> The senior officer who leads a local police force (titles vary in some forces), responsible for operational policing.

Police officers are often supported by Police Community Support Officers (PCSOs). PCSOs typically patrol neighbourhoods, work with local communities, and support police at incidents and public events.

> **Key Term: Police Community Support Officer (PCSO)**
> A uniformed officer who supports the police, often focusing on neighbourhood patrols and community safety.

#### Police and Crime Commissioners (England and Wales)

In England and Wales, the public first elected Police and Crime Commissioners (PCCs) in November 2012.

PCCs are responsible for helping to ensure policing meets local needs. They:

- set local policing priorities
- set the local policing budget
- appoint the local Chief Constable

This is a key test fact because it links policing to local democratic accountability.

> **Key Term: Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC)**
> A directly elected official in England and Wales who sets local police priorities and budget and appoints the Chief Constable.
>
> **Test Tip:** If a question mentions PCCs, remember: they apply to **England and Wales**, and they were first elected in **2012**.

#### Helping the police and what happens after an arrest

Everyone is expected to help the police prevent and detect crime when they reasonably can (for example, reporting crimes or acting as a witness).

If you are arrested and taken to a police station, you must be told:

- the reason for your arrest
- that you can get legal advice

This supports the wider principle of a fair process.

#### Complaints about the police

Anyone can complain about the police. You can do this by:

- going to a police station, or
- writing to the Chief Constable of the force involved

There are also different complaint bodies across the UK:

- In England and Wales, complaints can be made to an independent body (the police complaints system includes independent oversight).
- In Scotland, you can contact the Police Investigations and Review Commissioner if you are unhappy with how your complaint was handled.
- In Northern Ireland, you can contact the Police Ombudsman’s Office.

For the test, you are not usually expected to memorise website addresses, but you should understand that there are formal routes for complaints and independent oversight.

### The judiciary: judges and fair trials

Judges (together called the judiciary) are responsible for interpreting the law and making sure trials are conducted fairly. A core idea for the test is that judges are independent: the government cannot interfere with their decisions.

> **Key Term: judiciary**
> The group of judges responsible for interpreting the law and ensuring trials and legal processes are fair and lawful.

Judges do several important things:

- manage court proceedings and make sure rules are followed
- decide points of law (how the law applies)
- decide outcomes in some cases (depending on court type)
- decide sentences when a defendant is found guilty (including after a jury conviction)

Judges can also review whether actions by the government or public bodies are lawful. If a judge decides a government action is illegal, the government may need to change its policy or ask Parliament to change the law. If a public body breaches someone’s rights, the court can order the body to change its practices and/or pay compensation.

> **Test Tip:** Many questions focus on the separation of powers: **police investigate**, **courts decide**, and **government does not control judges**.

### Criminal courts: where cases are heard across the UK

There are differences between the court systems in:

- England and Wales
- Scotland
- Northern Ireland

However, the general pattern is similar: minor offences are dealt with in lower courts, and serious offences are tried in higher courts, often with a jury.

#### Minor criminal cases: Magistrates’ Courts and Justice of the Peace Courts

In England, Wales and Northern Ireland, most minor criminal cases are dealt with in a Magistrates’ Court.

In Scotland, minor criminal offences are dealt with in a Justice of the Peace Court.

Magistrates and Justices of the Peace (JPs) are members of the local community. In England, Wales and Scotland they:

- usually work unpaid
- do not need legal qualifications
- receive training
- are supported by a legal adviser

They decide:

- the verdict (guilty or not guilty)
- the sentence, if the person is found guilty (within the court’s powers)

Northern Ireland is different at this level: cases are heard by a District Judge or Deputy District Judge, who is legally qualified and paid.

> **Key Term: Magistrate (Justice of the Peace)**
> A trained local volunteer who decides many minor criminal cases (and some family matters) in a Magistrates’ Court or Justice of the Peace Court.
>
> **Key Term: District Judge (Magistrates’ Courts)**
> A professional, legally qualified judge who hears cases in Magistrates’ Courts (used in Northern Ireland for these cases, and also used in England and Wales).

#### Serious criminal cases: Crown Court, Sheriff Court, and Scotland’s High Court

In England, Wales and Northern Ireland, serious offences are tried in the Crown Court, in front of a judge and a jury.

In Scotland, serious cases are heard in a Sheriff Court:

- either by a sheriff alone, or
- by a sheriff with a jury

The most serious cases in Scotland, such as murder, are heard at the High Court (High Court of Justiciary), with a judge and jury.

> **Key Term: Crown Court**
> The court in England, Wales and Northern Ireland that deals with serious criminal offences, usually with a judge and jury.
>
> **Key Term: Sheriff Court**
> A Scottish court that hears many civil cases and also serious criminal cases (with a sheriff, sometimes with a jury).
>
> **Key Term: High Court (Scotland)**
> Scotland’s highest criminal court (the High Court of Justiciary), dealing with the most serious offences such as murder.

A famous criminal court building in London is the Old Bailey (the Central Criminal Court). You do not need detailed history of it for the test, but the name is widely recognised as a major criminal court.

### Youth justice: Youth Courts and UK alternatives

The UK treats children and young people differently in the justice system, and the arrangements differ by nation.

#### England, Wales and Northern Ireland: Youth Court (ages 10–17)

If an accused person is aged 10 to 17, the case is normally heard in a Youth Court, in front of:

- up to three specially trained magistrates, or
- a District Judge

The most serious cases are sent to the Crown Court.

Key features of Youth Courts:

- parents or carers are expected to attend
- members of the public are not allowed in
- the young person’s name or photographs cannot be published by the media

> **Key Term: Youth Court**
> A specialist court dealing with most cases where the accused is aged 10–17 in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, usually closed to the public.

#### Scotland: Children’s Hearings System

Scotland uses the Children’s Hearings System to deal with children and young people who have committed offences. It is designed to decide what action is needed for the child’s welfare and behaviour.

> **Key Term: Children’s Hearings System**
> The Scottish system that deals with children and young people who offend, focusing on support and appropriate measures.

#### Northern Ireland: youth conferencing

Northern Ireland uses a youth conferencing system to consider how a child should be dealt with after committing an offence.

> **Key Term: youth conferencing (Northern Ireland)**
> A system in Northern Ireland used to decide how a child who has offended should be dealt with.

### Juries: how they are chosen and what they do

A jury is made up of members of the public chosen at random from the local electoral register. Jury service is part of civic responsibility: if you are summoned, you must do jury service unless:

- you are not eligible (for example, due to certain criminal convictions), or
- you have a good reason to be excused, such as ill health

> **Key Term: jury**
> A group of members of the public selected from the electoral register who decide whether a defendant is guilty or not guilty in certain serious cases.

Juries listen to evidence in court, then decide the verdict based on what they have heard. Their task is to decide the facts; they do not decide the sentence.

Jury sizes differ across the UK:

- England, Wales and Northern Ireland: 12 jurors
- Scotland: 15 jurors

Verdicts:

- In England, Wales and Northern Ireland, the jury’s verdict is “guilty” or “not guilty”.
- In Scotland, juries can also return a third verdict: “not proven”.

If the jury finds the defendant guilty, the judge decides the penalty (sentence).

> **Test Tip:** If you see “not proven” in a multiple-choice question, pick **Scotland**. Also remember jury numbers: **12** (England/Wales/NI) vs **15** (Scotland).

### Civil courts (quick contrast): where non-criminal disputes are decided

The test sometimes checks that you understand how civil courts differ from criminal courts. Civil cases are disputes, not crimes. Outcomes often involve compensation, repayment of money, or a court order.

In England, Wales and Northern Ireland:

- County Courts deal with many civil disputes (for example debt, personal injury, family matters, breach of contract and divorce).
- The High Court deals with more serious civil cases, such as large compensation claims.

In Scotland:

- Sheriff Courts deal with many civil disputes.
- The Court of Session in Edinburgh deals with serious civil cases.

For small claims (minor disputes):

- England and Wales: small claims procedure usually for claims under £10,000
- Scotland and Northern Ireland: small claims procedure usually for claims under £3,000

There is also an online alternative for making certain money claims: Money Claims Online.

> **Key Term: small claims procedure**
> A simpler court process for resolving lower-value civil disputes, usually without the cost of a full court case.

## Key Point Checklist

_This article has covered the following key knowledge points:_

- Police duties include protecting life and property, keeping the peace, and preventing and detecting crime
- Police forces are led locally (for example by Chief Constables) and are independent of government
- PCCs were first elected in England and Wales in November 2012; they set local priorities and budgets and appoint the Chief Constable
- Judges (the judiciary) interpret the law and ensure fair trials, without government interference
- Minor criminal cases go to Magistrates’ Courts in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, and to Justice of the Peace Courts in Scotland
- Serious offences go to the Crown Court in England, Wales and Northern Ireland; Scotland uses Sheriff Courts and the High Court (High Court of Justiciary) for the most serious cases
- Juries are selected at random from the electoral register; jury size is 12 in England/Wales/NI and 15 in Scotland
- Scottish juries can return “guilty”, “not guilty”, or “not proven”
- Youth cases (ages 10–17) usually go to Youth Court in England/Wales/NI; Scotland uses the Children’s Hearings System; Northern Ireland can use youth conferencing
- Civil courts and small claims procedures deal with disputes rather than crimes, often involving money or family matters

## Key Terms and Concepts

- criminal law
- civil law
- Chief Constable
- Police Community Support Officer (PCSO)
- Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC)
- judiciary
- Magistrate (Justice of the Peace)
- District Judge (Magistrates’ Courts)
- Crown Court
- Sheriff Court
- High Court (Scotland)
- Youth Court
- Children’s Hearings System
- youth conferencing (Northern Ireland)
- jury
- small claims procedure


Law, courts, and justice - Police, courts, judges, and juries