FP1H99 - Practical Forensics for Policing 18 Feb 2019 - 31 Aug 2028 | Version 1

Associated Module Information

Module Code: FP1H99
Module Title: Practical Forensics for Policing
Faculty: Faculty of Computing, Engineering and Science
Faculty Group: Biological and Forensic Sciences
Faculty Sub Group: Biological Science
Module Leader: Beth Nurse, Helen Martin
Module Team: Jacqueline Spicer, Sheri Murrell, Paul Jones, Helen Higgins, Katie Bird
First Intended Intake: FEB 2019 Final Year of Intake:
Date Closed:
Credit Value: 10 Credit Level: 4
Language: English
Percentage of Module Taught in Welsh: 0
Equivalent Module:
HECOS codes: 100388 - forensic science
HECOS Code Weighting: 100

Document Version Information

Version 1
Valid From 18 Feb 2019
Valid To 31 Aug 2028

Module Aims

To provide policing and security students with a comprehensive awareness of crime scene protocol and crime scene evidence from an operational perspective as first officer on scene.

To provide an understanding of essential forensic principles for operational policing.

Content Summary

Introduction to the crime scene, scene security and preservation, evidence types, evidence integrity and recovery, anti-contamination approaches, documentation and standard operational procedures. Importance of evidence and intelligence-led forensic investigations.

Focus upon specific evidence types (physical, chemical, biological, digital, other etc) and evidential value.

Crime Scene Management, Crime Scene Processing and the role of the operational police officer, CSI, CSM, SIO etc.

Greater detailed focus upon systematic searching of the scene, scene safety and hazards, written and photographic/image/video-based documentation .

Basic technical equipment for crime scene investigation

Basic interpretation of crime scene evidence. Investigation focus and cognitive bias.

Learning and Teaching Methods

Activity Type Hours
Lecture 10
Practical classes and workshops 8
Independent Study 62
Directed Study 18
Formative Assessment - Scheduled 2
Total Hours Selected 100

Learning Outcomes

# Learning Outcome
LO1 Demonstrate an understanding of crime scene operations and crime scene management and the relative actions of all police and other personnel who may be in attendance and/or in evidence recovery operations.
LO2 Demonstrate an understanding of the importance of crime scene evidence in criminal investigations, including key principles, and demonstrate practical capabilities with selected crime scene operation techniques as may be utilised by first officers at scene and thereafter.

Module Requisites

N/A

Assessment Criteria

Assessment Category Assessment Type Description Duration Word Count Weight (%) Best of? Pass Mark
Synchronous Online Assessment Classroom Test - Time Constrained (Online) 1 Class Test 60 N/A 100 No 40

Assessment Matrix

Assessment Type Learning Outcomes
LO1 LO2
Classroom Test - Time Constrained (Online) 1

Reading List

I Pepper, Crime Scene Investigation: Methods and Procedures, Blackwell.

A and J Jackson, Forensic Science, Pearson.

R Saferstein, Criminalistics – An Introduction to Forensic Science.

Reference to key websites.