Our Legal Services Department provides a comprehensive legal service to the Chief Constable and his officers and staff on all matters of law and legal representation. The department does not, however, undertake criminal proceedings for the Force as this is the remit of the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS).

 

The department’s main areas of business are:

• Operational legal advice (all aspects of policing)
• Civil Orders in the Magistrates Court (Proceeds of Crime Act applications, Crack House Closures, Dogs Act, Police Property Act, Sex Offender Prevention Orders, Anti-social behaviour orders etc)
• Civil actions against the police (including Employment Tribunals and Judicial Review)
• Police Discipline
• Inquests
• Support services legal advice (Employment, commercial, policy, collaboration etc)
• Disclosure
• Firearms Appeals

Our aim is to assist the Force to meets its vision, pledge and principles by assisting police officers and police staff to reduce crime and anti-social behaviour, increase detections and improve confidence and satisfaction in the police service.

The department is regulated by the Law Society. As it is an in-house department, our staff are not permitted to give legal advice to members of the public.

The department has five employed lawyers and four administrative staff and is based at police headquarters in Wymondham.

 

Your contact with the department
Whilst the majority of work undertaken by the department is for internal staff and officers, we do have contact with members of the public, particularly in the following capacities:

• Victims of crime (e.g. evidence in anti-social behaviour cases, civil proceedings, police discipline hearings etc)
• Claimants – if you make a civil claim against the Force, it will be dealt with by the department
• Witnesses
• Respondents (i.e. parties in legal proceedings such as Proceeds of Crime Act Orders)

Our aim is to treat all people with courtesy and respect and within the time frame set for response by the Constabulary and/or in accordance with the law.