BSc (Hons) Professional Policing (Including Foundation Year)

Foundation Year: Professional Policing degree

• Serious and Violent Crime - 20 credits
• Introduction to Police Sciences - 20 credits
• Careers in the Criminal Justice System - 20 credits
• Foundation Performance and Development - 20 credits
• Police Law and Crime Investigation - 20 credits
• Contemporary Issues within Policing and Crime - 20 credits

As part of this foundation police course we will teach you to become an independent thinker and to develop your skills to match those required for a career in the Police Service. Your study across a range of modules such as crime investigation, critical analysis of policing, criminal justice processes and practical skills for police officers will give you a solid foundation to progress on to our BSc (Hons) Professional Policing degree.

Year One: Professional Policing degree

• Law, Governance and the Criminal Justice System - 20 credits
  This module introduces students to the role and duties of a police officer; the role of law enforcement agencies such as Special Branch, National Crime Agency, National Counter Terrorism Policing, MI5 and MI6 and the Criminal Justice System, how legislation is created and the roles of the Police and Crown Prosecution service in prosecuting crimes.
  
  
• Neighbourhood and Community Safety - 20 credits
  This focuses on neighbourhood policing and policing communities and covers such topics as the development of community policing; understanding neighbourhoods and communities; preventing and responding to anti-social behaviour; partner agencies and effective problem solving and community engagement and community impact assessments.
  
  
• Understanding Vulnerability, Risk and Threats in Society - 20 credits
  You will examine terms and offences associated with public protection policing - including child abuse; adults at risk; domestic abuse; modern slavery and human trafficking; sexual offences and hate crime - and develop an understanding of strategies for dealing with these situations.
  
  
• Technology in Policing - 20 credits
  This module looks at how criminals engage in complex digital-related crimes. Students will learn about legislation and offences associated with digital-facilitated crimes such as hate crime; sexting/revenge porn; abuse, bullying or harassment online; online fraud and child grooming. You will learn to identify individuals who may be more vulnerable to digital-facilitated crimes, how digital-facilitated crimes may be reported to the police and the impact on the individual and family.
  
  
• Policing, Criminology and Victimology - 20 credits  
  Students will be introduced to criminology and sociology and will cover such topics as crime, victimisation and harm; policing powers; trends, patterns and causes of crime; offenders and offending and risk and vulnerability.
  
  
• Practical Forensics for Policing - 20 credits
  Using the University’s Forensic Crime Scene Training Facility, students will learn about securing and preserving a crime scene and gain skills in forensic record keeping; briefing and debriefing; handling and transporting evidence; forensic report writing and forensic tools and techniques such as DNA analysis, finger prints and footprints and blood splatter.
  
  
• Academic and Professional Skills for Police Officers

Year Two: Professional Policing degree

• Research Methods for Policing and Security - 20 credits
  Students will learn to conduct reliable and credible research and to plan it and present it effectively and professionally by learning and developing their research skills. In this module they will cover topics such as academic writing and critiquing; developing critical analysis and arguments and working in teams but within a policing and security context.
  
  
• Using Intelligence in Police Investigations - 20 credits
  In this module students will develop key skills relating to gathering intelligence and interviewing people. You will cover the role of specialist agencies including the National Crime Agency; Special Branch; Interpol and MI5 and MI6 and establish how information differs to intelligence and the different forms of intelligence.
  
  
• Contemporary Operational Policing - 20 credits
  This module will examine key cases and their outcomes. It will scrutinise such key concepts as the effect of using a 'default position' for decision making, based upon previous approaches; the benefit of reviewing example case studies;
  risk assessment, risk aversion and risk avoidance and the concept of 'constabulary independence'.
  
  
• Vulnerability and Public Protection - 20 credits
  This builds on the work covered in the first year relating to the vulnerable in our society. Student will develop their knowledge and understanding of topics that include potential forms of abuse/harm, including digital-related abuse; the range of situations and locations in which abuse can take place; the Home Office definition of domestic abuse and why incidents of abuse often go under-reported.
  
  
• Cyber Crime and Forensic Investigation - 20 credits
  This simulation-based module has been designed in conjunction with the Regional Organised Crime Unit and offers students the opportunity to learn the skills and knowledge of an officer responding to cyber-facilitated crime. Students will develop skills in applying and executing a search warrant under PACE; searching premises and seizing evidence; analysing evidential exhibits; expert witness reporting writing and testimony and court room cross examination.
  
  
• Simulated and Immersive Learning - 20 credits
  This module offers students a practical simulated policing environment, as a means of contextualising policing concepts into operational practice, promoting the development of key decision making and problem solving skills.

Year Three: Professional Policing degree

• Police Duties and Law - 20 credits
  This module covers the legislation police officers will use in dealing with typical policing incidents such as Offences Against the Person Act 1861; Criminal Damage Act 1971 and the Public Order Act 1986.
  
  
• Roads Policing and Investigation - 20 credits
  This module covers legislation, police powers and the most common offences associated with policing the roads. It covers such topics as how to prevent and disrupt high-level crime on the road network; the relevant case law and legislation in relation to drink/drug driving and stopping a vehicle, using the powers provided by Section 4 of Police and Criminal Evidence Act (PACE) 1984.
  
  
• Investigation of Serious and Organised Crime - 20 credits
  Students will study the fundamental principles, legislation and powers related to conducting investigations including entry powers; powers of arrest; ethical considerations when conducting investigations and the investigative mind-set.
  You'll also study the legislation to be considered during interviews.
  
  
• Leadership and Professional Development - 20 credits
  This module examines the necessity for maintaining professional standards in policing and relevant governance, roles and responsibilities. They will typically cover fair, ethical and unbiased delivery of policing services; professional standards and the roles and responsibilities of disciplinary procedures and the IOPC ( formerly IPCC) in serious cases.
  
  
• Dissertation - 40 credits
  In their final year students have the opportunity to conduct research into a topic area of their choice related to policing and security. They will be supported and guided through this process by an assigned supervisor.

The foundation police course delivers a curriculum set by The College of Policing, but you will not be on the Policing Education Qualifications Framework (PQEF) course until you progress to year one of the BSc (Hons) Professional Policing degree.

It will introduce you to the key areas of knowledge required by a contemporary police officer and develop your personal and practical skills.

During an average week, you'll have lectures and blended learning activity before attending tutorials in assigned tutorial groups.

Each module has on average around 36 hours contact time and 12 hours using our blended learning facilities.

Every student studying a 20 credit module will be expected to complete 200 notional hours of study.  

We work in partnership with Dyfed Powys Police, Devon and Cornwall Police; Gloucestershire Police; Wiltshire Police; Dorset Police and work closely with South Wales Police and Gwent Police.

Students will be assessed through a combination of approaches including coursework; vlogs; academic posters; presentations; essays; reports; interviews; portfolios; laboratory reports; written examinations; multi-choice questions and interactive assessment exercises.