Police Chief Calls for Equal Justice and Focused Policing Priorities

Nick Smart, the newly appointed head of the Police Superintendents' Association (PSA), has expressed significant concerns about the disparities in the treatment of criminals within the UK justice system. Speaking ahead of the PSA's annual conference scheduled for September 10, 2024, Smart emphasized the need for swift and decisive justice for all victims of crime.

The PSA, established in 1920, represents senior police officers and has been a key voice in shaping law enforcement policies. Smart's comments come in the wake of recent far-Right riots that occurred approximately four weeks ago, resulting in 1,380 arrests and over 860 charges. While commending the rapid response to these incidents, Smart highlighted the frustration among police officers regarding the inconsistent handling of other criminal cases.

"We looked at how quickly offenders were brought to justice over the riots and it is not lost on the police service or anybody else within the criminal justice system how swift and effective that was and we would like to see that for all victims. It is a massive frustration for the police that they are not."

This disparity in case processing is particularly striking when considering that the average time from offense to completion for Crown Court cases is about 230 days. The UK's criminal justice system, which includes 43 territorial police forces and processes approximately 20,000 missing person reports annually, is facing significant challenges in delivering timely justice.

Smart emphasized the need for comprehensive investment across the entire criminal justice system, which currently costs the UK government about £18 billion annually. He argued that improving one aspect of the system without addressing others would not yield the desired results.

The PSA head also raised concerns about the expanding role of police officers, who are increasingly required to handle non-policing duties. This issue is exemplified by the fact that mental health-related calls account for about 20% of police time in the UK. Initiatives like the Right Care Right Person, launched in 2022, aim to address this by limiting police involvement in mental health call-outs unless there's an immediate risk to life.

With over 120,000 police officers in the UK, maintaining a ratio of about 210 officers per 100,000 people, Smart stressed the importance of allowing law enforcement to focus on their core responsibilities. He called on the government to clearly define police priorities, enabling officers to deliver more effective services within their available resources.

As the UK grapples with these challenges, the upcoming PSA conference is expected to be a platform for further discussions on reforming the criminal justice system and enhancing its efficiency. The goal remains to improve outcomes for victims and ensure that the police can fulfill their primary duty of protecting the public and bringing offenders to justice.