Professional Policing BSc (Hons)

From being a relatively marginal political issue, modern policing and security has risen rapidly up the social and political agendas of western societies. As inequalities have increased, so the actual and perceived risks of crime and other social ills have grown rapidly for all sections of society: the management of crime has become a central concern.

In this module you will develop your critical understanding, analysis and interpretation of the key themes, theories, issues and political debates concerning the development and contemporary nature of modern policing and the delivery of security in England and Wales. Where appropriate, you will be directed to comparative material from other countries and our discussions will draw upon these comparative dimensions to contemporary policing and security.

Given the ‘contemporary’ nature of this module and the continually evolving nature of policing and security, the content of this module is revised each year. Examples of topics covered in previous years include:
• The changing role and function of the police
• Policing and Mental Health
• Terrorism and Insecurity
• Technology, Surveillance and Society
• Policing Globalisation
• Victimology and Policing
• Conducting Research in Policing and Security Settings

This will meet the following learning outcomes:

The module provides an opportunity for students to independently pursue a self-selected research project on a topic related to professional policing. Students will: identify, understand, and interpret information about their chosen topic; organise that information in order to arrive at and answer a focused research question; and make appropriate use of theory and methodology. On successful completion of the module, the students will be able to demonstrate the following in relation to a particular topic: an extensive knowledge; awareness and understanding of the range of information; an ability to arrive at a grounded and focused research question; a capacity for structured and analytical argument in a written form; an aptitude for the use of theory and methodology; and an understanding of the ethical considerations of conducting research.

Independent learning is supported by a series of workshops in Semester 1, and supervisory tutorials across Semester 1 and Semester 2.

CoP pre-join curriculum learning outcomes: CoP February 2023 curriculum v6.0:

Problem Solving: 1.2, 1.3, 3, 4

Research Methods and Skills: 6.2, 9, 13

Decision Making and Discretion: 6, 7

Response Policing: 1.5, 3

Policing Communities: 1.3a, 1.3b, 1.9, 1c, 5a

Roads Policing: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11

Information and Intelligence: 1.7, 2, 3.5, 8.2, 9

The module will explore the contemporary police officer role in terms of the overall strategic context of policing and relevant national strategies (such as Policing Vision 2025) as applied in the context of complex policing challenges. The nature of ‘professional practice’ in current debates is considered. The module will encourage students to consider how to deliver effective policing outcomes in relation to diverse (and sometimes contradictory) stakeholder groups with different social, political and strategic demands. Meeting community demand might be an effective outcome, but might be in tension with providing for, for example, victim and witness care. Strategies (such as EBP and transparent decision-making) that might enhance police legitimacy are explored as methods to provide for professional policing. The role of the College of

Policing, HMICFRS, the Home Office, National Police Chief's Council and the Association of Police and Crime Commissioners in shaping strategic priorities for policing is explored.

CoP pre-join curriculum learning outcomes: CoP December 2023 v1.1
Core National Learning

Victims and Witnesses: 1.6a, 5.1-5.4


Response Policing: 5.1-5.3 joint emergency services incident (2.1) evolve strategies (1.1, 1.2) analyse the role of the police (2.1)



Core National Supporting Information
Supporting/Supplementary Material
Prevention and problem solving (incorporating evidence-based policing)
Victims and witnesses
Community policing and partnership working
Response Policing

Legislation/Reference Material
Charter for Families Bereaved through Public Tragedy
Children and Young Persons Act 1933 s1 Mental Health Act 1983: Code of Practice s40, s42, s135, s136
National Operating Model for the investigation of rape and serious sexual offences (RASSO): Investigator’s journey
Working Together to Safeguard Children National guidance for Public Protection Public Protection Authorised Professional Practice Vulnerability and Risk Guidelines Authorised Professional Practice
Victims’ Right to Review (VRR) Scheme available from www.cps.gov.uk

Is there a relationship between violence against animals and violence against humans? Why is it okay to kill certain animals, but a crime to kill others? How do large corporations get away with polluting the planet? How can we address crimes against animals and the environment? These are all questions we will attempt to address on this module. As part of your studies you will learn about the emerging and competing perspectives and frameworks regarding the neglected topic of crimes and harms against animals and the environment. In a module offered at very few universities, you are introduced to the philosophies and perspectives of Green Criminology and Critical Animal Studies. You will develop skills that enable you to critically analyse notions of crime and harm, and social and ecological justice in relation to animal abuse, deforestation, wildlife, pollution and many other areas that pertain to green and environmental crime and victimisation. While honing verbal and written skills, this module will give you the working knowledge to discuss the type, scope, and impacts of green and animal-related crimes and harms and how this is different from street and ‘traditional’ volume crimes. This module provides a fresh new area of criminological scholarship which you will contribute to in discussion and debate with the module tutors and fellow students - examining crime from new and cutting edge perspectives.

The module provides an opportunity for you to independently pursue your own piece of research based on work experience with an agency or organisation such as a police force, prison, youth offending team or voluntary sector organisation. You can also gain experience of research by working with a member of academic staff. With the support of a dissertation supervisor, you will seek to answer a research question either by collecting your own data, using existing data sets or by engaging in an analysis of the research literature. Your chosen topic will be linked to your work experience, which should last normally 80 hours. You will draw on and develop your research skills and on completion of the module you will be able to demonstrate the following: an extensive knowledge on your chosen dissertation topic, successful execution of a research project, the ability to set and explore a focused research question, the capacity to develop a structured and analytical argument; an aptitude for the application of theory and methodology; and an understanding of the ethical considerations of conducting your own research.

CoP pre-join curriculum learning outcomes: CoP February 2023 curriculum v6.0:

Problem Solving: 1.2, 1.3, 3, 4

Research Methods and Skills: 6.2, 9, 13

Decision Making and Discretion: 6, 7

Response Policing: 1.5, 3

Policing Communities: 1.3a, 1.3b, 1.9, 1c, 5a

Roads Policing: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11

Information and Intelligence: 1.7, 2, 3.5, 8.2, 9

Do children who break the law always turn into adult offenders? What might help someone change their behaviour? Is it always the impact of a criminal justice intervention that makes someone desist from crime? This module will look at all of these questions.

The first part will track the nature and complexity of criminal careers. It will demonstrate different ways in which offenders come to be engaged in crime and the extent to which starting early is a predictor of a criminal career. After considering the different ways in which criminal careers are sustained and developed, you will look at the interventions criminal justice and aligned organisations put in place to change offenders’ behaviour.

We will investigate forms of restorative justice and reparation, and question whether, and how, they might fit within different criminal justice systems around the world. For example, what might the role of ‘circles of support’ be in a risk adverse society? The module will also look at whether some activities in prison might have a role in desistance after release. For example, are creative, artistic, spiritual and sporting activities a hook for changing offending behaviour after release?

Throughout the module we will consider UK and international criminal justice practice, and question the impact of social, political and cultural contexts of restoration, rehabilitation and desistance. You will be encouraged to explore all of these elements from cultural and critical criminological perspectives.

This module will focus on cybercrime within society and will explore different types of cybercrime, victims, offenders, and legal, societal, and policing approaches to tackling this form of criminality. You will explore different forms of cybercrime to understand how they affect society generally, as well as develop an understanding and appreciation for how cybercrime can disproportionally affect certain societal groups. You will explore cybercrime offenders to better understand the drivers towards this form of criminality. You will obtain insights into proactive and reactive cybercrime policing approaches and explore some of the societal challenges that different policing approaches can cause (e.g., privacy, security, and freedom of speech).

CoP pre-join curriculum learning outcomes: CoP December 2023 v1.1
Core National Learning
Conducting Investigations: Liaise with specialists (3.1)


Core National Supporting Information
Supporting/Supplementary Material
Wellbeing and Resilience
Protecting the Public
Community policing and partnership working
Response Policing
Information, Intelligence and Evidence

Legislation/Reference Material
CPIA Code of Practice
Extraction of Material from Digital Devices (2021) Authorised Professional Practice

You will learn about the range of laws, case law and practice developed in England and Wales to deal with matters arising from the breakdown of family relationships, including divorce, dissolution of a civil partnership, financial relief remedies, child maintenance, children, domestic abuse and cohabitees.
These areas will involve a range of activities including : reading, interpreting and applying statute and case law to practical scenarios, drafting court documents and developing writing skills in essay style questions.

In this module you will develop critical understanding of substantive criminal law of the major legal systems of the world. You will learn different methods and techniques of comparative law and its significance to the development of domestic criminal law as well as to the work of the International Criminal Tribunals, namely, the International Criminal Court (ICC), the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia and the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda. The module will take a critical look at the elements of crimes, individual criminal responsibility, and modes of participation from comparative and international criminal law perspectives.

This module covers the following topics:

• Introduction to Comparative Criminal Law;
• Comparative Analysis of Mens Rea Standards in Common Legal Systems, Romano/Germanic Legal Systems, Islamic Legal Traditions and International Criminal Law
• Comparative Analysis of Different Modes of Participation in Criminal Offences with Particular Focus on Joint Criminal Enterprise in Common Law Systems and Co-Perpetration & the Control Over the Crime Theory in German Criminal Law and their Application by International Criminal Courts and Tribunals
• Elements of International Crimes, i.e. Genocide and Crimes against Humanity
• General Principles of Law in the Jurisprudence of the ICTY, ICTR and ICC: Examining the Relevant Case Law of these Tribunals and the Techniques adopted by International Judges in their Search of General Principles of Law Derived from National Legal Systems of the World

You will learn about the theory, law and practice of sports law in England and Wales (including EU law and the World Anti-Doping Code). The module builds on knowledge gathered in the compulsory subjects of Contract, EU law, Criminal Law and Tort but also introduces students to other legal disciplines such as Employment Law. You will study the role of consent as a defence to what would otherwise be criminal liability for injuries incurred in the context of contact sports (such as football, ice hockey and rugby) and combat sports. You will study the causes and implications of the major 20th century sports stadium disasters including Valley Parade and Hillsborough. You will learn about the law applicable to football hooligans and consider the compatibility of some of these measures with the Human Rights Act. You will study the civil liability of (i) sports participants to each other and (ii) match officials, sports club owners, event organisers and governing bodies to sports participants, spectators and people living in close proximity to sports venues, which will engage your knowledge of negligence, nuisance and occupiers’ liability. You will examine the impact of EU Law on sport (in particular the right of free movement of workers in football and challenges to nationality quotas), the role of the Equality Act 2010 in tackling discrimination in sport, and the legal implications of doping in sport. Although the module has a UK focus it has a global scope and reference will be made to important developments overseas.

This module will look in depth at different types of policing including roads policing, the policing of major incidents and complex investigations. It will include:

MAJOR INCIDENTS: Explain the role and responsibilities of the police at a major incident including the differences between a critical incident and a major incident and who can declare a major incident and the command structure. It will analyse the role of the police within a joint emergency services operation including examining the effectiveness of joint interoperability between the emergency services, JESIP principles and the role of police at an incident.

ROADS POLICING: Explain how to apply a problem-solving process to investigate small-scale incidents and collisions on the roads. Understand the more prevalent criminal activity facilitated by the road network. Methods of gathering intelligence and information including stopping a vehicle, and follow up actions. Reviewing prevention and disruption options available, to target criminal activity on the road network: understand the impact of organised crime activity and how criminal activity on the road can be targeted. Review the evidence base associated with serious road policing offences, and strategies associated with reducing the number of collisions.

COMPLEX INVESTIGATIONS: Review the roles and processes associated with conducting complex investigations including relevant legislation and community considerations. Understanding the role of internal specialists and additional investigative processes that may be required e.g. inquest and coroners. Explain additional professional considerations to be taken into account in relation to specific complex investigations and specific legislation applicable.

CoP pre-join curriculum learning outcomes: CoP December 2023 v1.1
Core National Learning
Criminal Justice System: 2.2-2.5
Information, Intelligence and Evidence: 2.1-2.5; explain the considerations regarding gathering and handling information (1.1-1.3)
Conducting Investigations: Understand the additional investigative actions (1.1-1.4); Apply guidance and processes (2.1, 2.2); Understand the additional actions in relation to specific complex investigations (1.1-1.7); Understand the importance of specialist knowledge when conducting interviews (2.1, 2.2)


Core National Supporting Information
Supporting/Supplementary Material
Protecting the Public
Suspect/offender management
Response policing
Roads policing
Information, intelligence and evidence
Conducting Investigations


Legislation/Reference Material
N/A