Professional Policing BSc (Hons)

This module will allow students to develop their academic skills focusing on presentation skills, writing skills and referencing skills. Students will be introduced to academic research  related to policing, and how to access research from a range of different databases.

The module will then provide students with an introduction to policing, starting from looking at policing from a historical perspective and how the organisation has evolved up to the present day, how it links into partnership working with other law enforcement and partner agencies and addresses concepts of culture, ethics and values in addition to policing legitimacy and discretion.

Students will analyse the role of the police in both a social and professional context. It will enable the student to consider the effects of police action or inaction with regards upon diverse communities, individuals and how the public perceive the police.

Students will understand the necessity for maintaining professional standards required when policing by consent. Students will focus on the core principles/concepts of ethics, equality, diversity and human rights in professional policing - demonstrating fairness, ethics and integrity/ the necessity for maintaining organisational standards in policing and the importance of incorporating research/using research informed practice in policing.

This module develops an understanding of the role of a response incident police officer, in exercising police powers of stop and search, powers of arrest and powers of entry. It will consider the complexities of dealing with diverse incidents as a first responder, common high-risk incidents, effective partnership working and identifying critical and major incidents.

Students will describe examples of high-profile critical and major incidents to establish best policing practice, including attending incidents of domestic abuse, public order incidents and people missing from home. Students will identify how response policing maintain effectiveness of interoperability within a joint emergency services operation. Students will identify how technology can assist response policing to remain effective in an increasingly challenging environment.

Students will study the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 Codes of Practice, and will learn how the police identify suspects involved in criminal activity, how the police make an arrest, why the police search premises and what happens when an arrested person arrives at custody. Students will also learn why police officers are able to search people without the need to arrest them first, under Code A of the Codes of Practice and Section 1 of the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984.   

Students will attend a series of role plays, regarding initial attendance at incidents and provide the initial response. Students will visit the tactical training Unit at Cheshire Constabulary Headquarters and will be able to participate in public order training.

This module introduces the role of front-line local policing in the gathering of intelligence and information in respect of criminal investigations whilst recognising the importance of data protection legislation and the rights of an individual. Students will also gain a comprehensive understanding of how intelligence plays an integral link in implementing effective law enforcement through tactical and strategic decision-making and problem solving and the importance of the correct handling, dissemination, storage and retention of intelligence. Finally, they will begin to develop and understand the specific skills required to manage intelligence in an operational setting.

Students will take part in group activities during lectures in relation to the National Intelligence Model producing intelligence products such as a subject profile and discuss how police forces and law enforcement agencies make decisions regarding crime priorities Identifying the importance of partnership working and intelligence sharing in combatting crime. They will also take part in practical activities such as developing a surveillance plan and briefing their peers. This will develop written and communication skills. They will also form an intelligence cell for a counter terrorism operation managing intelligence in real time. These activities will introduce and develop teamwork and decision making skills together with understanding the importance of the retention, storage and dissemination of intelligence whilst also understanding cultural, legal and vulnerability issues.

Students will develop skills in relation to brevity of information highlighting key elements in relation to covert gathering activities and putting them in a visual manner in the form of a poster. Academic skills will be developed in the use of PowerPoint skills in producing an academic poster including use of pictures, fonts and colours to make information visible and informative Presentation skills will be developed group activities to support students to produce an academic poster and conduct a professional discussion in relation to the contents.

The aims of this module are to provide students with an introduction to the law relating to driving and traffic offences, core policing powers/functions and strategies associated with reducing the number of collisions. The module introduces students to the specific skills needed to manage the scene of a road traffic collision effectively with partner agencies. Students will develop their understanding of the complexity and investigation of road fatalities, including the use of specialist support and the impact that road offences have on victims and families. The impact of road anti-social behaviour is discussed, linking to the National Road Policing Strategy. 

Students will develop an understanding of Policing the Strategic Road Network, associated serious criminal behaviour and the complex implications of Police Pursuits. Students will develop their skills and understanding of prevention and disruption options and opportunities to target criminal activity on the roads, how prevalent criminal activity is facilitated by the road network and how policing can disrupt serious and organised crime.

To aid students understanding, students will visit Chester Magistrates Court, to witness the prosecution of road traffic offences, which will enhance students’ knowledge of court processes which is taught on the module. Students will take part in practice role plays, putting the new knowledge into practice, using a role play focusing on a serious and complex road traffic incident, which will enable students to prepare for their role play assessment. The knowledge of road traffic law will be tested in both the role play assessment, as well as the online exam, which mirrors assessments within the Police Constable Entry Route. 

This module combines the essential aspects of policing, criminal law, decision making and police powers and procedures. It is designed to introduce you to the principles and application of legislation in relation to crime and the criminal justice system. You will be taught relevant legislation to the activities of a police officer and how to break down the legislation into points to prove. Practical scenarios and discussions will allow you to understand how to apply the law at police incidents, as well as considering the different agencies that make up the criminal justice system and how these reflect our understanding of 'crime' and the purpose of punishment.

In addition, you will begin to understand the various functions of the criminal justice system including the courts and supporting vulnerable victims and witnesses. Academic skills of notetaking and revision skills will be developed to assist in identifying the relevant aspects of lectures for the online exam. Revision sessions and knowledge checks will be utilised to cement knowledge and introduce techniques to assist in retaining information. Students will then develop the skill of applying the law at policing incidents together with the National Decision Model, utilising a structured approach to decision making in policing. Videos of incidents and scenarios will be used to allow students to apply decision making and provide rationales during group discussions. Key documentation such as the Core Investigative Doctrine will be used to develop ethically recorded rationales and how discretion, accountability, ethical behaviour, risk and bias can potentially impact on professional and objective decision making.

You will be taught essential skills such as communication skills and the importance of the types of questions to elicit information from a victim or witness. The purpose and structure of a statement will be discussed together with decision making and the recording of information at policing incidents. A series of practical role plays will provide you with the opportunity to witness an incident and then write your own statement before taking statements from victims and witnesses using authentic documentation. You will then combine these skills in immersive exercises using our Visual-reality (VR) cave and in a series of role play scenarios. This will be the opportunity to make and develop decision making skills and your rationales for those decisions. Students will be taught reflective practices and theories such as Gibbs reflective cycle, together with research skills to find relevant academic sources. Essay writing skills will be developed during the module and these skills will be used to reflect on decisions and actions during the role plays to produce a reflective piece of work as the second assessment of the module. The practical workings of a court will be witnessed through visiting and observing their Chester Magistrates Court and Chester Crown Court.

The overall aim is to provide the student with the knowledge and understanding on how policing may be delivered in the future by developing decision making, where policing takes responsibility to ensure that there is a credible evidence base to operational and business decisions in policing. Students will be equipped to understand public expectations and techniques to identify predictable demand, while understanding the need to manage high risk occurrences.

Students will study the use of Artificial Intelligence in modern day policing. Additionally, students will be given an understanding of evidence-based principles and the importance of practical outcomes that will reduce demand on policing services and increase public confidence. Students will be given an insight into how practitioners and academics can develop new research and how to develop the skills required to disseminate and promote police-based research.

This module aims to provide students with knowledge to enable them to critically evaluate the effectiveness of community policing in the United Kingdom. Students will be able to articulate the importance of effective community engagement and partnership working with the police to retain policing legitimacy and community cohesion. Students will analyse and discuss how community problem solving effects various crime and disorder issues in society. Students will evaluate the changing communities and discuss contextually what arguably was a catalyst for change and be able to critically articulate topics connected such as the fear of crime, crime reduction, and the links to the needs of victims, offenders and locations in relation to incidents of crime and disorder. Students then focus on what aspects can reduce effectiveness of key strategies such as austerity, the media, police structures, poverty and certain criminological factors. 

The aim of this module is to focus on the Anatomy of a Crime and allow the students to apply learning in a safe teaching environment and to develop employability skills as criminal investigators. The intention is for students to investigate a reported crime from its initial report, up to presenting evidence at court. This module builds on knowledge relating to criminal decision making and the responsibilities of a response officer.

An investigative journey will include the Hydra Immersive Suite, where students will receive the report of the crime and develop a hypothesis of the cause and develop intelligence to identify a suspect. They will then attend the Crime Scene House, where they will develop skills in implementing witness and forensic strategies and digital forensic strategies, as well as create ongoing decision logs to effectively record their decision-making processes. Having gathered all available sources of intelligence and evidence, the students will plan and execute a search warrant culminating in the arrest of a suspect along with Investigative interviewing of the identified suspect. Finally, the students will prepare their evidence in a case file that will ultimately be presented at court. Students will also attend sessions in Chester Crown Court to witness police officers and witnesses present their evidence. This will allow students to apply prior learning and develop skills in criminal investigation, teamworking, public speaking and communication skills.

This module  takes both a theoretical and practical approach to criminology and sociology. It examines the relationship between victims and those who commit crime and how to apply sociological, historical, psychological, criminal and cultural perspectives to the study of crime and punishment and how societies respond to such offending.

Students will learn several Crime prevention principles and theories, and examine and discuss the role of the public, the Police and both statutory and statutory Authorities role in crime prevention.

This module builds upon knowledge from the study of evidence based policing and aims to introduce students to the foundations of social scientific research by enabling them to distinguish between, and to apply, a variety of ontological, epistemological and methodological approaches. Students will assess the strengths, weaknesses and 'fitness for purpose' of research methodologies and methods and understand the significance of, and to choose between, the methods in a variety of contexts. The student will gain a comprehensive understanding of the significance of ethical practice when planning and conducting research, enabling them to choose between different forms of research analysis and be able to critique research and to select different forms of research design. Their knowledge gained in this module, forms the foundation of their research dissertation, which they will undertake in Year 3 (IP6105).

This module builds on Level 5 modules relating to research methods and skills and evidence based policing provide an opportunity for students to carry out an in-depth study of a topic or issue based in, or closely allied to Policing by independent study. The module will continue to develop students skills in the role of research in Policing and examine some of the main theories and methodologies used in social science and develop an understanding of the application of theory and methodology to research practice.

The student will then develop their ability to understand and define clearly a problem or area for further study. The students will develop the ability to extract relevant material from an in depth literature review using primary and secondary sources and to design and undertake an original investigation using acceptable research methodologies. Finally, the student will critically analyse and interpret results, to present a coherent and critical account of the work developing time management skills and achieving a measure of independence, demonstrating proficiency in academic writing/referencing.

This module builds upon knowledge from the Level 4 module Information and Intelligence and aims to enable students to understand and identify legislative, ethical and professional considerations and demonstrate the application (through a case study) of the highly technical skills required when conducting digital crime investigation evaluating the relevant legislation, national policy and specialist support structures available to investigators and the support of vulnerable victims and witnesses. The student will also recognise and acknowledge community and business considerations when conducting digital crime investigations whilst keeping a balanced, professional and objective approach. Elements of the Module will be taught in a computer laboratory allowing for a  real world experience of examining digital evidence and intelligence.   

Students will review a crime scene in the Virtual Reality immersive cave, to assess initial actions and evidence gathering from a crime scene. A visit to Chester Crown Court for sentencing of offences connected to the use of digital technology will assist in understanding of the role of digital evidence in criminal investigations.

This module builds on teaching delivered at Level 4 and Level 5 modules relating to police investigations and safeguarding. The module will provide students with knowledge of serious and organised crime, and the investigation of serious and complex crime and multi-agency working in the context of protecting vulnerable children and adults. The module focuses on all aspects of public protection and how police and agency partners manage investigations to reduce the risks to individuals and communities. The student will learn about the identification and mitigation of risk and the planning and delivery of interventions to tackle dangerous offenders to protect the public.

Students will assume the role of detective to investigate a serious incident provided by way of a case study. Learning will be supported by a range of practical activities such as workshops, role play, and the use of the Hydra Immersive Learning Suite, which allows the student to develop their decision making, teamwork and construction of investigative strategies.

Students to gain knowledge to enable them to critically articulate key theories in relation to leadership and management skills and to evaluate and analyse how these skills are applied to policing leadership in the United Kingdom. Students will apply theories around teamwork, motivation, change management, toxic leadership including power and conformity and be able to articulate how these effect police leadership. In addition, the student will be able to discuss issues which arguably effect successful leadership including the media. austerity, force structure and criminological aspects.

Students will be able to articulate the professional importance of self-evaluation, self-improvement and reflective practice, as they take part in an immersive tabletop leadership scenario as they take on the role as a match commander at a large sporting event.

Students will apply their knowledge to complete a 4000-word written assignment about the skills and qualities required to be successful in police leadership.