Criminal Justice
As the name implies, the various responsibilities of the Criminal Justice department centre around the wider criminal justice system, from making sure cases are prepared and evidence presented ready for court to managing the evidential property that forms part of an investigation.
The Criminal Justice team has a direct role in the prosecution of offenders and achieving justice for victims of crime. The department is led by the Head of Criminal Justice, Mandy, who tells us more about their work and the police staff who make it happen.
Mandy said: “I’m proud to lead an amazing team of police staff and consistent high performance is testimony to the hard work, commitment and most importantly the expertise of all our staff.
“From Evidential Property to Out of Court Disposals and onward to Crime and Traffic, their performance is second to none, and the entire department rises to any challenge they are faced with.
“The Administrative and Business Support function is the backbone of the team, and our Audio Copy Typists produce timely and quality summaries of interviews with suspects, victims and witnesses.
“Our Case Builders have been praised for the quality of their case files, which play such an important part in the justice process and enable lawyers to present the best possible evidence in court.
“Everyone in the CJ department takes personal and accountable pride in their work, I’m proud to lead such an incredible team of people and remain in awe of their consistent brilliance.”
We asked three members of the CJ team to tell us why they enjoy working in the Criminal Justice Department and what their work means to them.
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Ryan – Evidential Property Officer
The Evidential Property Team is made up of 12 property officers and three property administrators, led by two team leaders and a cash and income generation officer. The team is responsible for the safe storage any evidence that has been seized in relation to a crime.
Ryan said: “With many of my family working for the Force, I’ve always had an interest in joining Northamptonshire Police and keeping the family tradition going. I’d heard so many positive things about the Criminal Justice Department and the teams that make up this crucial part of the justice system.
“As soon as a vacancy arose in Evidential Property Team, I grasped it with both hands, seeing this as my opportunity to contribute to a successful sector, serve the public of Northamptonshire and provide the best service I could to victims.
“My role involves taking responsibility for one of our property stores, and I advise officers about the various processes and procedures. It’s important to ensure the integrity and continuity of exhibits is maintained to the highest standards, which is essential for a positive outcome for victims of crime.”
“The Evidential Property team is, in my opinion, the best department in Northamptonshire Police. We are more like a family than colleagues. We work hard as a team to achieve our objectives, supporting one another and providing solutions rather than problems to our supervisors. I can honestly say I look forward to coming to work each and every day. I have had interactions with other departments within CJ and always find them helpful and approachable.
“As I move through my career within the Force, I will always look back with affection at my time in the Evidential Property Team and will recommend working in the department to anyone who is looking to work with a great team with some challenging and rewarding experiences.”
Paul - Evidential Review Officer
Paul said: “I work on a small team of four evidential review officers and there is a wider team of case builders and managers. We are all supportive of each other, and it’s a relaxed atmosphere to work in and a good department to be a part of.”
“As an Evidential Review Officer, I am essentially a gatekeeper for files sent to the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) for a charging decision. A core part of my role is to review these files and ensure there are no missing elements. The aim is to minimise returns and prevent delays on charging decisions, and ultimately improve victim confidence in the police service.
“I’ve always lived in Northamptonshire and also served as a police officer in the county before retiring March 2023. I care about the county and its people, and believe I can help make it a better place for everyone by helping victims of crime and trying to ensure we give the best service we can to vulnerable people.”
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Olivia – Case Builder
Case builders play a vital role in ensuring prosecution files are processed through the criminal justice system. It’s a fast-paced environment and the team works tirelessly to process a huge number of cases with accuracy and dedication.
Olivia said: “Case building can be a very demanding but rewarding role. We see and deal with things in case files that most members of public will not see in a lifetime, and this makes the team feel like family as we all understand the pressures and triumphs of the role.
“Being part of the Criminal Justice (CJ) team means always having someone willing to help and support you. It makes me feel like I have a purpose and an important role within the Northamptonshire policing family as a whole.
“I chose to work for Northamptonshire Police because I’ve grown up in the county, and feel proud of the police force that has always kept me safe. My first memories of Northamptonshire Police were when officers would come into my school and give career talks. I always really looked up to them and found them inspiring.
“I knew then that I wanted to be part of the Northamptonshire policing family. I joined as a Special Constable and found a love for investigations and case-building, which is why I chose to work in Criminal Justice.
“The part of my role I’m most proud of is that I get to play a significant part in helping victims of crime every day. I’m proud that my job helps to prosecute offenders, keeping Northamptonshire a safe place, and I’m proud of the working relationships I’ve formed with officers and other teams across the Force.
“My role also allows me to work alongside and support the officers that inspired me, to build evidential files that assist in securing successful prosecutions and justice for victims.”
Find out more
To find out more about a role in our Criminal Justice department and to view all our current vacancies, please use the link below.
