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Year 7

What is the role of the police in dealing with crime?

I can identify who the police are and explain the role of the police in tackling crime.

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New
New
Year 7

What is the role of the police in dealing with crime?

I can identify who the police are and explain the role of the police in tackling crime.

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Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. The police are one part of the justice system of the UK.
  2. The police protect life and property, maintain order, bring offenders to justice and prevent crime.
  3. The three main police powers to tackle crime are stop and search, arrest and entry, search and seizure.

Keywords

  • Crime - an illegal act that is punishable by law

  • Law - rules, usually made by Parliament, that are used to order the way in which a society behaves

  • Police - a public force that helps keep the community safe; they work to prevent and investigate crimes, enforce laws and maintain order in society

Common misconception

The police make up the whole of the justice system.

The police are part of the justice system. There are three layers to the justice system: laws, courts and the police.

Help pupils see the police as a key part of the justice system. Use real-life examples to show how they protect people and property, and discuss why powers like stop and search or arrest are important for safety and justice.
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Equipment

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Content guidance

  • Depiction or discussion of sensitive content
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Supervision

Adult supervision recommended

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Licence

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2025), licensed on
Open Government Licence version 3.0
except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).

Lesson video

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6 Questions

Q1.
What is it called if you break the rules in an Act of Parliament?
Correct Answer: A crime, crime
Q2.
Who can potentially be a criminal?
only people with bad intentions
Correct answer: anyone, depending on the circumstances
only those with a history of crime
only people from certain backgrounds
Q3.
Which of the following is not one of the three main factors that impact criminal behaviour?
social
environmental
Correct answer: technological
psychological
Q4.
One of Parliament’s key purposes is to make ...
Correct Answer: laws, law, the law
Q5.
Match the part of Parliament to its description.
Correct Answer:House of Commons,made up of 650 MPs
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made up of 650 MPs

Correct Answer:House of Lords,made up of over 700 peers
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made up of over 700 peers

Correct Answer:Monarch,the Head of State (King or Queen)
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the Head of State (King or Queen)

Q6.
Which one of the following describes the key word illegal?
It is allowed by law, especially criminal law.
Correct answer: It is not allowed by law, especially criminal law.
It is not allowed by law, especially civil law.
It is enforced by law.

6 Questions

Q1.
Complete this sentence by selecting the correct answer below: Police ...
make the laws that they enforce or decide if someone is guilty or not.
Correct answer: enforce the laws and gather the evidence for the courts to use.
break the laws and gather the evidence for the courts to use.
Q2.
Match the role to its description.
Correct Answer:Police Officer,uniformed officers who make up most of the police force
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uniformed officers who make up most of the police force

Correct Answer:Police Community Support Officers,uniformed staff who support police officers in the community
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uniformed staff who support police officers in the community

Correct Answer:Special Constables,volunteer officers who work in the same way police officers do
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volunteer officers who work in the same way police officers do

Q3.
The police are part of the justice system. How many layers are there to the justice system?
Correct Answer: three, 3
Q4.
There are different types of police. These include:
Correct answer: Police Officers
Correct answer: Police Community Support Officers
Correct answer: Special Constables
Judges
all of the above
Q5.
The College of Policing identifies how many key roles of the police?
one
two
three
Correct answer: four
Q6.
Match the word to the definition.
Correct Answer:crime,an illegal act that is punishable by law
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an illegal act that is punishable by law

Correct Answer:laws,rules, usually made by parliament
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rules, usually made by parliament

Correct Answer:police,a public force that helps keep the community safe
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a public force that helps keep the community safe