1.1
Evaluate the effectiveness of the roles of personnel involved in criminal
investigations
The crime prosecution service
The crime prosecution service (CPS) was set up in 1986 and it is composed of over 2,000
solicitors, barristers and support staff. They are a separate and independent organisation
from the police, responsible for their own decisions, this leads to fairness. Their job roles
include deciding if there is enough evidence for a case to be prosecuted, and therefore
deciding which cases should go through for prosecution. For example, in the brief it says “
the case was put forward for prosecution by the CPS”. This shows how it is down to the CPS
to charge criminal cases. They will also apply the full code test and prepare legal cases
ready for prosecution and pass on information to the defence before hearing.
One strength to the use of the CPS in a criminal investigation that makes them effective is
that they are available 24/7. This is because they have a 24 hour line of enquiry for the
police, whereby the police can call them to get information on whether they should focus
their attention on collecting evidence to prosecute a suspect. Therefore, this has a positive
impact in a criminal investigation because it can help the police to save valuable time and
resources, as they know if they should focus their attention on a suspect. Moreover, another
strength is that as the CPS is an independent and separate organisation from the police,
they can make unbiased decisions as cases are viewed independently, and it is down to the
evidence given that determines if they should prosecute a suspect. Therefore, this is a
strength because it leads to fairness for the suspect as they are treated in an unbiased way,
as a result this is helpful in a criminal investigation by making sure the right suspect is
charged.
On the other hand, one limitation to the CPS that does not make them effective in a criminal
investigation is linked availability. This is because funding for the CPS has been declining
over the years, leading them to being understaffed and underfunded. Therefore, this means
that only some criminal cases can be prosecuted and therefore this is not effective in a
criminal investigation because it wastes the police valuable time in conducting a criminal
investigation that may not even be prosecuted. Moreover, another limiting factor that the
CPS have which makes them ineffective in a criminal investigation is linked to their
expertise. This is because, whilst the CPS is made up of highly technical barristers and
support staff, they can still make a mistake which could result in a miscarriage of justice or a
whole case could collapse which is not effective in a criminal investigation because it doesn't
lead to justice for the victims of crimes. For example, this can be illustrated in the case of
Damilola Taylor. Here, the eye witness, Bromley was giving evidence in court for the murder
of Taylor. However, due to human error, the CPS failed to realise that Bromley was not a
reliable witness as she had lied about her whereabouts. Therefore, in court, none of the four
suspects were prosecuted for the death of Damilola Taylor as the judge scrapped the whole
case. This therefore shows how if the CPS make a mistake, they can be ineffective in a
criminal investigation.
To conclude, the CPS are very useful in a criminal investigation as it is down to them to
prosecute cases, which is the whole point of a criminal investigation, therefore meaning the
victims of crimes can get justice.
Evaluate the effectiveness of the roles of personnel involved in criminal
investigations
The crime prosecution service
The crime prosecution service (CPS) was set up in 1986 and it is composed of over 2,000
solicitors, barristers and support staff. They are a separate and independent organisation
from the police, responsible for their own decisions, this leads to fairness. Their job roles
include deciding if there is enough evidence for a case to be prosecuted, and therefore
deciding which cases should go through for prosecution. For example, in the brief it says “
the case was put forward for prosecution by the CPS”. This shows how it is down to the CPS
to charge criminal cases. They will also apply the full code test and prepare legal cases
ready for prosecution and pass on information to the defence before hearing.
One strength to the use of the CPS in a criminal investigation that makes them effective is
that they are available 24/7. This is because they have a 24 hour line of enquiry for the
police, whereby the police can call them to get information on whether they should focus
their attention on collecting evidence to prosecute a suspect. Therefore, this has a positive
impact in a criminal investigation because it can help the police to save valuable time and
resources, as they know if they should focus their attention on a suspect. Moreover, another
strength is that as the CPS is an independent and separate organisation from the police,
they can make unbiased decisions as cases are viewed independently, and it is down to the
evidence given that determines if they should prosecute a suspect. Therefore, this is a
strength because it leads to fairness for the suspect as they are treated in an unbiased way,
as a result this is helpful in a criminal investigation by making sure the right suspect is
charged.
On the other hand, one limitation to the CPS that does not make them effective in a criminal
investigation is linked availability. This is because funding for the CPS has been declining
over the years, leading them to being understaffed and underfunded. Therefore, this means
that only some criminal cases can be prosecuted and therefore this is not effective in a
criminal investigation because it wastes the police valuable time in conducting a criminal
investigation that may not even be prosecuted. Moreover, another limiting factor that the
CPS have which makes them ineffective in a criminal investigation is linked to their
expertise. This is because, whilst the CPS is made up of highly technical barristers and
support staff, they can still make a mistake which could result in a miscarriage of justice or a
whole case could collapse which is not effective in a criminal investigation because it doesn't
lead to justice for the victims of crimes. For example, this can be illustrated in the case of
Damilola Taylor. Here, the eye witness, Bromley was giving evidence in court for the murder
of Taylor. However, due to human error, the CPS failed to realise that Bromley was not a
reliable witness as she had lied about her whereabouts. Therefore, in court, none of the four
suspects were prosecuted for the death of Damilola Taylor as the judge scrapped the whole
case. This therefore shows how if the CPS make a mistake, they can be ineffective in a
criminal investigation.
To conclude, the CPS are very useful in a criminal investigation as it is down to them to
prosecute cases, which is the whole point of a criminal investigation, therefore meaning the
victims of crimes can get justice.
