Probably slots in there somewher go back to the arresting officer attending cort with his arrest Report book, and a copy of the prisoners property list, for restoration at court should they plead guilty. If a not guilty plea or remnd then the hearing date is set to give the OIC plenty of time to create a full file if needed. Old school but it worked for decades

IM(not so)HO, there is only one thing to do that would have a major beneficial impact. I agree with dangermouse but would go further. Just abolish the CPS.

Yes. All backup is most welcome. I have seen them rip apart the job I loved and created a massive rise in crime. 

CPS;- Are they worth the 9p far a bullet ?

It works in Australia.  The Police do the prosecuting for all offences in the Magistrates Court and the DPP (the analogue to your CPS) do it for all offences in the District Court.

I'm not going to say that it's perfect, but, when you talk to a Police prosecutor, you can be assured that as a Police Officer he/she has done the following:

- Seen victims covered in their own blood
- Fought with angry people
- Jumped over fences at 0300 chasing crooks
- Been covered in their own blood
- Typed a complete arrest file at 0930 after locking up some crook at 0230 and is longing just to go home and get to bed
- Seen defendants in their natural environment, not just in Court with a suit on

It's not perfect, but, it works.  And, if you don't like how it's done, there is nothing stopping you from doing the course and becoming a Prosecutor yourself and doing a better job, if you can.  No need for a law degree.

I agree but would go even further and question the very need for CID / traffic units / NPT / SNT etc  to remain in their current guises.

I can see where there is a need for a robust investigative remit for homicides / major conspiracies and cross border criminality etc, but rather than putting detectives all in one unit, I would trim CID back drastically. As a matter of routine I think we should put more officers through the ICIDP programme because it can only broaden officers knowledge and increase officers ability to deal crimes and victims more effectively. Let a smaller CID take a more consultative role and deal with only the most serious crimes such as murder.

In my view we need a major re-think - lets go back to larger teams where you have a mix of skills and abilities - for example having qualified detective officers working shoulder to shoulder in uniform with probationers - ds working alongside ps - you would break down barriers or this age old silo mentality - you would ensure that there would be a sharing of experience and knowledge - for more serious offences, problems that may be anticipated by ex cid types but maybe not younger officers would be identified at an earlier stage. Oh, and I would have them in uniform. IMHO and experience most of the time the attire of the officer doesn't compromise the integrity of an investigation or add value to it - I don't believe anyone can convince me otherwise! Obviously where a witness / victim / informant etc doesn't want a uniform presence for genuine operational / welfare reasons, it is not beyond the wit of man for such a need to be accomodated.

There will be arguments about stats and ability to cope with demand / workload etc, but I reckon that the work that many forces have been through (management speak - not my words...) workforce modernisation projects in creating a leaner approach to investigations can be continued and developed further. It is no secret that CID / major incident units investigate crimes by methodically delegating actions or specific tasks to be completed - it is not rocket science or dark art with the knowledge shared by only a few enlightened or specifically invited individuals - it is organised and considered policing. We have the systems already for the  rationale can be continued but if you extend the ICIDP programme, there would be a larger pool of people qualified to investigate more serious crime.

Advanced drivers / traffic qualified officers on the team would remove need for most force level traffic resources. As someone who has spent time in different specialist roles, I obviously see the value in the support that they can provide, but in essence we would not be losing that capacity per se - they would be working as part of a team and pulling together to provide a better service to the public and helping colleagues. Why have traditional traffic officers only dealing with traffic matters - why cant they go to violent domestics or lock up shoplifters where appropriate?

To use a football analogy, at the moment we are like a team that plays with strict zonal marking in the box - the attitude is something like if the ball is not in my area it is not my problem - if the other team score and it didn't come near me its not my fault. To continue this ridiculous analogy we need to move away from this and move towards a quasi-Ajax style of total football where everyone is happy in possession in most situations. So for the job it means that if for example I was a traffic officer I would have the skills to be able to interview effectively for something like robbery , or deal with police protection orders under the childrens act etc, or detain someone under sec 136 of mental health act, or be happy with dealing with speeders etc. Just in the same way that a traditional response officer should be happy to deal with the scene of a RTC and the subsequent investigation.

As for neighbourhood policing, - yes there are good aspects such as diversionary projects etc, but IMHO these would be more suited to the youth / social services. All the partnership / strategy / comprehensive area assessment meetings that basically take cops away from their main role of dealing with the public by using warranted police powers are actually diluting the service provided to the public and perpetuating the bureaucratic machine that we have become. We need to get back to basics and our core business.

I am sure I have said it before but we have to be realistic about what we can achieve in this financial climate - we cant be all things to all men, and we cant keep on accepting more and more areas of responsibility ad-infinitum. We have to work more as a cohesive team with a defined common goal - we are under threat from all sides and we need to get our house in order. Productivity is a dirty word in most walks of life, but we have to accept that we will be asked do more with less - simple fact. If the Audit Commission have their way and have the goal posts shifted, more and more of our colleagues will be stacking shelves in aisle 3 before long .

Oh, and computer based learning packages are rubbish!!!

I have to agree with some of  threaders comments, but it is impossible to be masters of everything. Specialisation was brought in (excluding empire building of course) as legislation and impositions on officers increased. To go back to your football analogy if you play your team out of their best positions you lose a world cup.

far more eloquent then my feeble attempt, and no I've never been CID nor Traffic.

NBB yep FLO's for certain, not sure about Prison or Court Liaison Officers, "back in the day" (whatever that means) when we prosecuted our own cases at Mgt court the CLO, an experienced PC or Sgt would help ensure you were on track with court protocols & procedures and didn't make an ass of yourself.