New
New
Year 10

What are rights in relation to the police?

I can explain the role of the police, including their powers and a citizen’s rights in relation to the police.

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New
New
Year 10

What are rights in relation to the police?

I can explain the role of the police, including their powers and a citizen’s rights in relation to the police.

Link copied to clipboard

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Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. Police enforce laws, prevent crime, protect the public, and maintain order while building community trust.
  2. Police respond to emergencies, investigate crimes, and ensure justice while safeguarding people and property.
  3. Police can arrest suspects, search properties with warrants, or stop and search based on reasonable suspicion.
  4. Citizens must be treated with dignity, informed of their rights, and given access to legal support during arrests.
  5. Vulnerable individuals need an appropriate adult present during questioning and have rights to basic care.

Keywords

  • Enforce - to make sure laws or rules are followed

  • Police powers - the legal authority given to police to maintain order, prevent crime and protect the public

  • Dignity - being treated with respect and fairness

Common misconception

Police are just authority figures who punish people.

Police protect communities, prevent crime, and ensure safety, not just enforce punishment. They also help in emergencies.


To help you plan your year 10 citizenship lesson on: What are rights in relation to the police?, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...

Make links with your community policing team to invite a police officer into your class to talk through police powers in more detail.
Teacher tip

Equipment

Content guidance

  • Depiction or discussion of sexual violence

Supervision

Adult supervision required

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 the main role of the legislature in the UK?
to enforce laws
Correct answer: to create and pass laws
to resolve civil disputes
Q2.
Why is legislation important?
Correct answer: It provides fairness and clarity in society.
It makes rules that people can ignore.
It replaces decisions made by judges.
Q3.
Match the word to the correct definition.
Correct Answer:criminal law,law that punishes individuals who break the law

law that punishes individuals who break the law

Correct Answer:civil law,law that deals with disputes between individuals or groups

law that deals with disputes between individuals or groups

Correct Answer:common law,law made by the decisions of judges over time

law made by the decisions of judges over time

Q4.
The legislative process ensures that laws reflect society's __________ and values.
wants
Correct answer: needs
crimes
Q5.
What is the purpose of precedent in common law?
to allow judges to make random decisions at will
to give Parliament more control over judge-made laws
Correct answer: to ensure future cases follow consistent legal decisions
to make laws less adaptable to new situations
Q6.
ensure justice, fairness, safety, and clarity, protecting rights and providing rules for society.
Correct Answer: laws

6 Questions

Q1.
Match the word to the correct definition.
Correct Answer:enforce,to make sure laws or rules are followed

to make sure laws or rules are followed

Correct Answer:police powers,the legal authority given to police to protect the publicc

the legal authority given to police to protect the publicc

Correct Answer:dignity,being treated with respect and fairness

being treated with respect and fairness

Q2.
Which set of words correctly completes this sentence? Police can arrest __________ , search properties with __________ , or stop and search based on __________ .
Correct answer: suspects / warrants / reasonable suspicion
victims / orders / authority
witnesses / warrants / court orders
Q3.
individuals need an appropriate adult present during questioning and have rights to basic care.
Correct Answer: vulnerable
Q4.
How must citizens be treated during arrests?
with force and intimidation
without any communication
Correct answer: with dignity and access to support
Q5.
__________ law resolves disputes and ensures justice when people's rights are affected, like family or work issues.
criminal
Correct answer: civil
corporate
Q6.
Who is common law created by?
Parliament
Correct answer: judges
citizens