Law, police and courts

This page is about the legal system.

Learn it in this order

• Criminal law vs civil law
• Police duties
• Terrorism and extremism
• Judges
• Criminal courts
• Civil courts

The idea

This page is about the legal system.

First split criminal and civil law. Then learn who does what: police investigate and protect, judges interpret law, juries decide facts in some cases.

Test facts to know

• Everyone in the UK receives equal treatment under the law.
• Criminal law deals with offences investigated by police or authorities and punished by courts.
• Civil law settles disputes between individuals or groups.
• Examples of criminal law topics include weapons, drugs, racial crime, tobacco age limits, smoking restrictions and alcohol age rules.
• Police duties are to protect life and property, keep the peace and prevent and detect crime.
• Police forces are independent of government and are led by Chief Constables.
• Police and Crime Commissioners were first elected in England and Wales in November 2012.
• PCSOs support police officers in community roles.
• People arrested at a police station must be told the reason and can seek legal advice.
• Terrorism and extremism are treated as threats to safety and British values.
• Judges interpret the law and must be independent of government.
• Minor criminal cases are heard in Magistrates’ Courts in England, Wales and Northern Ireland and Justice of the Peace Courts in Scotland.
• Serious criminal cases are heard in Crown Courts in England, Wales and Northern Ireland and Sheriff or High Courts in Scotland.
• A jury is made up of members of the public selected at random.
• Civil courts handle disputes such as contracts, property, employment and compensation.

How questions may test it

• Distinguish criminal law from civil law.
• Identify duties of the police.
• Recognise PCCs, PCSOs and police complaints routes.
• Understand judicial independence.
• Distinguish Magistrates’ Courts, Crown Courts, Sheriff Courts and juries.
• Recognise extremism as opposition to fundamental British values.

Key terms

criminal law, civil law, Chief Constable, Police and Crime Commissioner, PCSO, terrorism, extremism, judiciary, Magistrates’ Court, Justice of the Peace Court, Crown Court, Sheriff Court, High Court, jury.