had a unique organisation, and were uniquely organised. The prevention and control of civil disorder and rioting had always been a most important element of the police function, and still was. But the job of the police was becoming more difficult, if not impossible, because of the proliferation of criminal offences and the drawing in of practically everybody into the scope of the criminal law, e.g. the motorist. The criminal law should either be strictly enforced or repealed.
The English system of police prosecution was nearly unique in the civilised world. It would be better if the responsibility for bringing and presenting the charges in court did not lie upon those responsible for the preliminary investigation and the selection of the accused.
The current phrase "assisting police with their inquiries" was odious because it concealed the truth. What was needed was a form of interrogation under magisterial or impartial supervision, electrically recorded. The present unsatisfactory situation poisoned police-public relations and led to over-reaction on both sides.
In relation to youth, Lord Kilbrandon said that most crime was committed by young males under 17, most of whom fortunately did not progress to adult crime. So this was the nature of the problem. Following the Kilbrandon recommendations as enacted in the Social Work (Scotland) Act 1968, in Scotland juvenile courts had been replaced by hearings conducted by lay persons. Scottish experience had shown that the fact of the commission of a crime by a young person was largely irrelevant or fortuitous, the real problem was frequently a family problem calling for the intervention of the social services, who alas often lacked the necessary organisational support. But this was not to say that the juvenile liaison scheme had not an important role still to play. Close and informal contact between the police and the juvenile and his parents could bring both juvenile and parents to realise that the police, especially local police, were on their side, and relationships could be greatly improved.
"We must demand, and be prepared to pay for, the necessary legal, technical and social machinery, without too much reliance on traditional methods. This must be the common objective of police and public, to be pursued in partnership. Otherwise we threaten the protection of society, a condition precedent to any concept of human rights."
Annual Members' Conference
The annual conference of members and invited representatives of governmental and professional bodies was held in the Lord Chief Justice's Court on Saturday, 12th March 1977. Mr. Justice Bristow presided and the theme was "Casualties of the Legal System".
The morning session was devoted to civil matters and was opened by Master Jacob. He said that there were many ways in which a person who had suffered misfortune at the hands of the legal system needed to be helped. He might be unaware of his rights, unable to find access to a solicitor, or to a solicitor well versed in housing or welfare matters. The litigation process involved delay, expense and technicality which should be constantly reviewed. Settlement at the door of the court, "on
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