Operational partnerships - Non court disposals policy (O32)

1. Summary of changes

1.1. This policy has been reviewed in April 2021. No amendments to content have been made.

1.2 This document incorporates any existing guidance and policy on all non-court disposals. This includes the previous policies.

2. What this policy is about

2.1. This policy provides guidance and information on the application of non-court disposals. Each individual standard operating procedure (SOP) provides information on the appropriate use of the disposal, the process for administering a non-court disposal and provides links to guidance and useful information.

Compliance with this policy and any linked procedures is mandatory.

3. Statement of policy

3.1. This policy is to ensure that there is appropriate and consistent use of non-Court disposals across the force. The non-Court disposal provides the police the opportunity to swiftly and proportionately deal with low level and first time offences.  

3.2. They should be used where it is a more appropriate response to the offender and seriousness of the offending, rather than prosecution in Court.  

3.3. Using a non-court disposal allows:

• provision of reparation, restorative opportunities and quick resolution for victims
• offenders to be directed to rehabilitative, restorative or educational opportunities to deal with offending behaviour
• officers more time on front-line duties and tackling serious crime

4. Risk assessment

4.1. This policy has been assessed as medium risk. 

5. Equality Impact Assessment (EIA)

5.1. An EIA has been carried out and shows the proposals in this policy would have no potential or actual differential impact on grounds of race, ethnicity, nationality, gender, transgender, disability, age, religion or belief or sexual orientation.

6. Consultation

• Investigation Management Unit
• Force Registrar
• Partnerships and Communities
• Divisional Senior Management Teams
• Strategic Criminal Justice Department
• Finance
• Human Resources
• IT Security
• Equality and Diversity Co-ordinator
• Health and Safety
• Estates
• Legal
• Freedom of Information

7. Monitoring and review

7.1. Monitoring and review of SOP will be completed by the Victim Justice Department. Regular reviews will be completed as required in response to changes to legislation and/or national guidance.  

7.2. This policy will be reviewed every two years with the next review scheduled for April 2023.

8. Other source documents

None listed.

9. Security

9.1. Kent Police have measures in place to protect the security of your data in accordance with our Information Management policy.

10. Retention and disposal of records

10.1. Kent Police will hold data in accordance with our Records Review, Retention and Disposal policy.