The Evidence Review Officer (EROs) Out of Court Resolution Hub is a small team that reviews investigations to make decisions around the outcome of a crime, and whether an Out of Court Resolution (OoCR) is an appropriate disposal.
The principal responsibility of the EROs are responsible for reviewing investigations to determine a realistic prospect of conviction and an appropriate resolution, either at Court, or an Out of Court Resolution, or whether a case should not be proceeded with.
- To gatekeep occurrences that are submitted from Police Officers across the force and tasked through to the ERO OoCR hub to decide on the appropriate investigative outcome.
- Undertake evidential reviews of the evidence, offending history, risk and severity of the offence, to decide on the suitable outcome of an investigation.
- Apply the Adult Gravity Matrix and accurately assess the Gravity Matrix Score as part of a comprehensive and detailed rationale that must be recorded
- Undertaking eligibility reviews to ascertain and confirm the eligibility criteria has been met to divert an offender towards Deferred Prosecution
- To undertake timely and effective decision making and ensure this is fully recorded on all relevant CMS systems.
- To liaise with Officers and Supervisors, particularly to identify and challenge when there have been failures in process or the investigation, such as a non-admission of guilt, or self defence that would exclude the use of an Out of Court Resolution, and must proceed with a different outcome for example Charge to Court
- To act as a single point of contact for advice and guidance on the use of all Out of Court Resolutions, including the appropriate use of Community Resolutions.
- To ensure all policies, including relevant authority levels have been sought and recorded to progress to an Out of Court Resolution. This includes direct liaison with Inspectors or Superintendents when required.
- To provide feedback to Officers and their Supervisors on areas for specific improvement, ensuring improvements in the quality of investigation and submissions for consideration of an Out of Court Resolution
- To be able to manage a caseload within both core hours and respond to demand that accumulates across each 24 hour period, ensuring swift access to justice for victims.
- To liaise closely with the Out of Court Resolution Team to problem solve cases as they progress through to the team.
- On non-compliance of Deferred Prosecution (both Deferred Caution and Deferred Charge) to undertake an independent evidential review to determine if there has been a breach and to proceed to Court. In cases where the decision has been made outside of the ERO OoCR hub, to liaise with the original ERO to progress towards breach and ensure next stages of process are followed to completion
- To support monthly tracking and recording of performance data on the activities of the ERO OoCR hub
- To be the ERO representative on the Local Criminal Justice Board Scrutiny Panels, with direct liaison with CPS and Magistrates, in order to provide expert knowledge and insight into the appropriateness of decisions made in relation to Out of Court Resolutions and influence partners around their perception of the legitimacy of policing decisions.
- To attend briefings across the force (virtual or in person) and produce guidance to upskill Officers in relation to not only the activity of the ERO OoCR hub, but also increase knowledge around Out of Court Resolutions
- To engage with other departments across the force to input into training, including ERO Training and other opportunities, in order to answer questions around decision making.
- To ensure a working understanding of Diversion and the interventions that are in place across Out of Court Resolutions to ensure targeted response to reduce reoffending.
- To attend daily and weekly briefings with the ERO Sergeant, OOCR Manager and Senior Manager of Reducing Reoffending to discuss issues, and support CPD.
- To undertake any other specific function that may arise from time to time at the direction of the Managers.
This list of duties is not restrictive or exhaustive and the post-holder may be required to carry out duties from time to time that are either commensurate with/or lower than the grade of the post. In some posts this might include the ad-hoc provision of guidance and informal training of new colleagues.
