by TheJusticeofthePeace @ 01.
Oct. 2010. – 13:07:40
Later this month the Coalition will announce how U.K. plc is going to save itself from going into administration. In the usual manner of preparing the ground for the cutting process we have been hearing proposed scenarios which truly appear to be “worst case”. Within the criminal justice system some “cuts” will be more deep than others.
Those familiar with the workings within magistrates` courts are well aware, and have been for some time, of the ever reducing efficiency of what can no longer be reasonably be called a system.
In my court eg the shortage of ushers can cause serious problems. These unsung heroes and heroines are important to the smooth running of courts, especially trial and remand courts. They are to the courts as WD40 is to a squeaking door hinge……the item will function without the lubrication but will work slower, noisier and be a distraction to users. A few months ago my bench on being aware that we had no usher for our morning non CPS court refused to sit until one was provided. Court began at 10.30am! These people are, I believe, paid little over minimum wage. Vacancies are not being filled.
Our CPS area is not top of the heap as far as the CPS Inspectorate is concerned. Vacancies there are not being filled so much work is delegated to lower level staff and those at the top have more work than they can reasonably cope with to the higher standards which operated perhaps ten years ago.
Whilst in the past Legal Aid might have been a milk cow for a minority of lawyers who exploited the system to their pecuniary advantage it has now become a road to bankruptcy for a number of the ever decreasing legal fraternity which still undertakes such work. The quality of second applications for legal aid initially refused by legal advisers has in my opinion fallen considerably judging by those I have considered in the last few months; another pointer to the probable lower level within the organisation of the writer cf a few years ago.
And so to the police; our first defence against criminal behaviour. Today October 1st not one of the police forces in England and Wales is accepting applications for new full time entrants. However twenty, just under half of forces, are recruiting special constables. Successful appointees will not be paid but of course their training costs are considerable. For the specials themselves it has always been a large shiny gold star on their C.V…….much the same as J.P. I suppose. It has also been a helpful stepping stone to a career as a professional police officer. The Metropolitan Police has now taken this career progression a stage further and announced that henceforth the only way into the force is via becoming and working successfully as a special. I must applaud this innovation. Although it has been precipitated by the dire financial position in which all public services find themselves it is putting into practice what has been common for the networking middle classes and business and professions since the year dot;- the unpaid intern or for the working class; the apprenticeship. Prior to and even for a few years after World War 2 the host lawyer, accountant or even barber would not only not pay a wage to his teenage aspirant but would expect a stipend for his troubles.
With the police service steadfastly refusing to return to officer entrance at inspector or above and requiring all ranks to begin at the bottom sifting applications to full time professionals from a cadre who have had twelve or more months on the streets part time must surely provide the force with an opportunity to weed out those who would be deemed unsuitable before they can do real trouble to themselves and us; the public they must serve although of late the service part is often lost in translation. Well done the Met!
Those familiar with the workings within magistrates` courts are well aware, and have been for some time, of the ever reducing efficiency of what can no longer be reasonably be called a system.
In my court eg the shortage of ushers can cause serious problems. These unsung heroes and heroines are important to the smooth running of courts, especially trial and remand courts. They are to the courts as WD40 is to a squeaking door hinge……the item will function without the lubrication but will work slower, noisier and be a distraction to users. A few months ago my bench on being aware that we had no usher for our morning non CPS court refused to sit until one was provided. Court began at 10.30am! These people are, I believe, paid little over minimum wage. Vacancies are not being filled.
Our CPS area is not top of the heap as far as the CPS Inspectorate is concerned. Vacancies there are not being filled so much work is delegated to lower level staff and those at the top have more work than they can reasonably cope with to the higher standards which operated perhaps ten years ago.
Whilst in the past Legal Aid might have been a milk cow for a minority of lawyers who exploited the system to their pecuniary advantage it has now become a road to bankruptcy for a number of the ever decreasing legal fraternity which still undertakes such work. The quality of second applications for legal aid initially refused by legal advisers has in my opinion fallen considerably judging by those I have considered in the last few months; another pointer to the probable lower level within the organisation of the writer cf a few years ago.
And so to the police; our first defence against criminal behaviour. Today October 1st not one of the police forces in England and Wales is accepting applications for new full time entrants. However twenty, just under half of forces, are recruiting special constables. Successful appointees will not be paid but of course their training costs are considerable. For the specials themselves it has always been a large shiny gold star on their C.V…….much the same as J.P. I suppose. It has also been a helpful stepping stone to a career as a professional police officer. The Metropolitan Police has now taken this career progression a stage further and announced that henceforth the only way into the force is via becoming and working successfully as a special. I must applaud this innovation. Although it has been precipitated by the dire financial position in which all public services find themselves it is putting into practice what has been common for the networking middle classes and business and professions since the year dot;- the unpaid intern or for the working class; the apprenticeship. Prior to and even for a few years after World War 2 the host lawyer, accountant or even barber would not only not pay a wage to his teenage aspirant but would expect a stipend for his troubles.
With the police service steadfastly refusing to return to officer entrance at inspector or above and requiring all ranks to begin at the bottom sifting applications to full time professionals from a cadre who have had twelve or more months on the streets part time must surely provide the force with an opportunity to weed out those who would be deemed unsuitable before they can do real trouble to themselves and us; the public they must serve although of late the service part is often lost in translation. Well done the Met!
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