Police Scotland is updating a warning scheme which deals with some low level crimes and offences in communities.
Previously known as the Formal Adult Warning scheme, the revised system is now known as the Recorded Police Warning Scheme.
From January 11 2016, it means officers will be able to deal with low level crimes by giving an on the spot Recorded Police Warning in a more consistent manner across the country than was previously the case.
The scheme aims to provide those who receive warnings with a more proportionate disposal and speed up justice outcomes for the public.
The scheme, which is being introduced following close liaison across criminal justice organisations, builds on the previous Formal Adult Warning framework and aims to address offending behaviour which Police Scotland can report to the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS) and which is very likely to result in a non-court disposal from COPFS.
It means crimes at the lower end of the offending scale which would otherwise be the subject of a police report to COPFS may now be formally dealt with immediately at the point at which the offender is traced. It will not be applicable for serious crime, such as violence.
The circumstances of each incident will be fully assessed by officers when deciding on whether to issue a recorded warning or take another course of action such as issuing an Anti Social Behaviour Fixed Penalty notice or submitting a formal prosecution report.
Under the new scheme, officers will be able to issue Recorded Police Warnings to anyone above the age of 16 based upon the circumstances of each incident and each individual.
Chief Superintendent Brian McInulty, Divisional Commander for Police Scotland’s Criminal Justice Division said: “Recorded Police Warnings will provide a consistent, swifter, more effective and proportionate way of dealing with low level offences earlier in the process than the current processes allow for.
“Many incidents are capable of quick resolution without the need to submit a formal report to the Procurator Fiscal. Officers will be able to deal with incidents and offenders there and then, which is beneficial to everyone.
“Recorded Police Warnings provide frontline officers working in our communities with the ability to address low level crime they are called upon to deal with through an on the spot disposal.
“The disposal options now open to them start with a verbal warning, a Recorded Police Warning, a Fixed Penalty Notice and ultimately officers may still submit a formal Standard Prosecution report to the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service, depending on the circumstances and nature of each incident or crime.
“The Recorded Police Warnings significantly shorten the length of time that it can take for the same disposal to be achieved, by reducing the volume of formal reports in the criminal justice system and giving officers the ability to exercise their professional discretion on the spot.
“Police Scotland is absolutely committed to working with all of our criminal justice partners to deliver a modern and more effective justice system.”
John graduated from Telford College in 2010 with an HNC in Practical Journalism and since then he worked for the North Edinburgh News, The Southern Reporter, the Irish News Review and The Edinburgh Reporter. In addition he has been published in the Edinburgh Evening News and the Hibernian FC Programme.
