Vacancy Information
Division / Department - Operations Command
Grade - Grade 9
Status - Full Time
Contract Type - Permanent
Salary Grade Range - £23,946 - £26,208
Working Hours - 37.0 Hours per Week
The starting salary for this role will usually be at the bottom of the salary range and will be pro-rata if the working hours are less than full time.
The Role
An exciting opportunity has arisen for a full time Court Presentation Officer within the Case Direction office in Operations Command Partnerships. Although the role will be based at Shoreham Police Station, there is a requirement to travel to different courts.
You will be required to examine and review all files submitted for consideration of prosecution by means of postal requisition procedures and ensure that each file meets the evidential and public interest tests set out in the Code for Crown Prosecutors and in accordance with established National and Force policy directives.
You will have to make decisions on such files as to prosecution or otherwise except in those case where the decision to prosecute rests solely with the Crown Prosecution Service.
The Court Presentation Officer will be required to present cases in the Magistrates Court where the prosecution function falls to the police including guilty plea cases, proof in absence and exceptional hardship cases.
The post holder must be able to work to a high standard with minimal supervision and must have strong interpersonal and communication skills. Being able to build and maintain relationships with stakeholders is essential. Experience of Niche, File Build and use of other Sussex Police computer systems is considered highly desirable.
Key Responsibilities
• Review, advise and make decisions on prosecution cases, ensuring that the law is properly applied and the two stages in the decision to prosecute are passed, acting in the interests of justice.
• Liaise with other prosecuting agencies, e.g. CPS, the DVLA, HMRC, and telephone queries from defendants where necessary and to resolve queries.
• Maintain an up to date knowledge of criminal/road traffic law, attending courses and seminars where necessary.
• Provide accurate advice to the Force on criminal/road traffic legal issues, raising awareness of new legislation.
• Liaise with CPS and courts to ensure that correct process is followed at all times to achieve best possible outcomes at court.
• Prepare all case papers prior to attending court, liaising with the courts over the workload listed and any queries relating to the cases.
• Attend court to present all specified offence cases, ensuring compliance with the Data Protection legislation, checking validity of all documents produced, dealing with any legal arguments, liaising with attendees at court over potential trial issues, resulting case files including driving disqualification, arranging any trials and adjournments dates and ensuring that costs are applied for on behalf of Sussex Police.
Skills & Experience
The following ESSENTIAL skills, knowledge and experience are sought:
• Experience of working in the Criminal Justice system and particularly court procedures and protocols.
• Knowledge and experience of Criminal and Traffic Law sufficient to assess the quality of evidence and satisfactory file composition.
• Experience of and knowledge of application and interpretation of Criminal and Traffic Law.
• Experience in the operation of computerised word processing and database systems.
• Excellent written and oral communication, including by telephone, face to face and in writing.
• Be able to back up legal arguments with evidence and be able to present same in court if required.
• Must be able to make decisions based on sound judgment.
• Must be flexible to travel to alternative locations to attend court and adhere to court liaising times as required.
The following DESIRABLE skills, knowledge and experience are sought:
• A competent knowledge of Force information systems e.g. NICHE and other police computer systems.
Contact Details
For further information or to arrange an informal discussion please contact Kim Clarke, Senior Case Director or Paul Wood, Case Director using extension 582367.
Additional Information
Following submission of your application you will receive a confirmation email with a copy of your application attached. Occasionally emails from this address can fall into spam/junk folders so please ensure this is checked regularly. You may wish to consider adding noreply@surreysussexpolice.as.recruitmail.com to your address/contact list to ensure you receive all communications.
This post is being advertised in parallel with Force redeployment processes. Any redeployees who are identified will be given preference. This may result in the post being withdrawn at any point during the recruitment process.
If you are an internal candidate looking to apply for this role, please ensure that you discuss your application with your line manager before submitting an application. If you are conditionally offered the role your attendance record and any reasonable adjustments already in place will be discussed with yourself and your current line manager.
Please note that not all jobs are available for internal candidates across both Forces, the current agreed recruitment principles are;
- vacancies in collaborated units are available to all officers and staff across both Forces
- vacancies in non-collaborated units are only available to officers and staff within the Force with the vacancy unless it is advertised externally. If the vacancy is advertised externally and an officer or member of staff from the other Force is success it will result in a transfer of employment.
Surrey Police and Sussex Police Special Constables, Volunteers and Agency Staff (excluding self employed workers) covered under the Agency Worker Regulations (AWR) are eligible to apply for internal advertised posts.
Applications will only be accepted by clicking the 'Apply Now' button. CVs are not accepted as part of our recruitment process.
Diversity Statement
We are only as good as our people. It's really important to us that our officers and staff can be themselves in the workplace and we believe that as an organisation we'll benefit from the variety of thinking, approach and skills that diversity can bring; all of which helps us to deliver a better policing service.
We have worked really hard to create a safe, open and inclusive culture. We have a range of staff networking groups to provide specific support and advice and we are proud to be members of Stonewall and Disability Confident, and to be aligned with the Armed Forces Covenant and the HeForShe movement.
We value the differences that people bring from all backgrounds and communities so, regardless of age, gender, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression, disability, social status or religious beliefs, we would love to hear from you.
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