Curriculum Information

Topic A – Roads Policing

This choice will focus on developing knowledge and understanding around strategies and professional practices associated with reducing the number of collisions and tackling criminal activity on our roads.

Specifically:

• To critically evaluate arguments, assumptions, abstract concepts and the evidence base associated with serious roads policing incidents, analysing professional practices and strategies used to tackle criminal activity and reduce the number of collisions on the road networks.

In this Specialism students will demonstrate a critical understanding of safely policing the roads and demonstrate how they utilise current roads policing strategies and legislation to successfully disrupt criminal activity. Within this Specialism, students will engage in online collaboration and team working, and through reflective exercises will analyse the effectiveness of relevant strategies in the context of roads policing recognising the ambiguity of their subject area. Through an asynchronous and synchronous learning approach that includes challenge-based discussion, case studies and self-led research, students will explore the ‘what works’ approach as it applies to roads policing, identifying best practice and lessons learned, considering causes and statistics of road collisions and strategies associated with reducing them. Through immersive learning and associated set exercises, students will critically explore the potential for disrupting criminal activity facilitated by the road network. In doing so they will also review professional practice in relation to road pursuits and demonstrate deeper knowledge of law and regulations relating to vehicles and drivers. Through work-based learning they will have further opportunity to apply the appropriate procedures when dealing with road related incidents.

Topic B – Investigations

This choice will focus on students demonstrating the principles of complex criminal investigations, and critical examination of current strategies, policies and procedures relating to the additional requirements of such cases. Students will develop an understanding of the benefits and potential pitfalls of utilising modern technology in both internal and external communications strategies and demonstrate this within their practice.

Specifically:-

• To Identify and apply modern technological opportunities for internal and external communication strategies in an operational policing context.

• To critically evaluate arguments, assumptions, abstract concepts and identify strategies to effectively deal with complex investigations in a wide range of policing contexts.

In this Specialism students will develop a deeper understanding of the principles of investigation of complex incidents and crimes, as well as the utilisation of modern technological advances to aid both internal and external communications. Within this option, that will include the opportunity for online collaboration, students will engage in team working, and through reflective exercises will analyse the effectiveness of relevant strategies in the context of investigation. Through an asynchronous learning approach that includes synchronous online discussion, case studies and self-led research, students will explore the ‘what works’ approach as it applies to investigations, identifying best practice and lessons learned, considering principles of effective communication and investigative strategies in relation to complex investigations. Through immersive learning and associated set exercises, students will critically explore the use of modern technologies to improve internal and external communications. In doing so they will also review professional practice in relation to complex investigations and demonstrate deeper knowledge of legislation, policies and procedures relating to rules of evidence and disclosure. Through work-based learning they will have further opportunity to apply their learning when responding to or assisting with more complex incidents.

Topic C – Community Policing

This option will focus on developing knowledge and understanding of Community Policing, how to promote community cohesion, and the future role of the community constable.

Specifically: -

• To critically evaluate arguments, assumptions, abstract concepts and emerging issues faced by communities and problem-solving approaches that can be used to overcome these issues.

This Specialism will develop students growing understanding of community policing. Using online collaboration students will engage in team working and through reflective exercises will analyse the effectiveness of problem-solving approaches in reducing community tension and building effective cohesion. This will be achieved through group sessions and online discussion boards. Through an asynchronous learning approach that includes online synchronous discussion, case studies and self-led research, students will examine the key emerging issues faced by our communities, considering the range of academic literature, strategic priorities and operational factors. Through immersive learning and associated set exercises, students will evaluate the impact of potential challenges to community policing and the future role of the community constable. They will also review professional practice in relation to community policing and demonstrate deeper knowledge of the impact that effective community policing can have. Through continuous on-the-job learning students will relate their academic study to their professional practice as community constables.

Topic D - Intelligence Led Policing

This Specialism will focus on developing an understanding of the strategic role that information and intelligence plays in shaping the police response in partnership to tackling criminal activity within the community. Specifically: -

• To critically evaluate arguments, assumptions, abstract concepts related to police intelligence and how the National Intelligence Model (NIM) shapes the strategic police response to tackling criminal activity within the community through the preparation of a case study based tactical assessment.

This intelligence Specialism provides student officers with an opportunity to further develop their knowledge and understanding of the strategic importance that intelligence plays within policing as a vital tool to enable the protection of communities and vulnerable individuals in order to seek to keep them safe. Enabling students to specialise and enhance their knowledge and direct their graduate opportunities in their chosen specialisms. This Specialism will utilise case-based study as part of a field folio assessment to critically evaluate and prepare a ‘Tactical Assessment’ in line with the National Intelligence Model (NIM), College of Policing APP guidance, The National Decision-Making Model (NDM), The Code of Ethics, The Human Rights Act 1998 and other relevant legislation. Through delivery of a prepared lecture, online collaboration and the provision of an intelligence package case study students will critically examine, evaluate and, prepare an appropriate tactical response plan gaining a greater understanding of the process and relevant legislation. Students will be asked to extend their knowledge in the subject matter area and look to gain a critical understanding of Intelligence and its function within policing and specialist roles. Students will further explore relevant public sector agencies, government strategy and the socio-political and economic factors that impact on the Intelligence gathering process and the successful utilisation of intelligence data. Through continuous on-the-job learning students will relate their academic study to their professional practice in intelligence gathering.

Topic E - Response Policing

This choice will focus on developing students’ ability to evaluate police strategies and operational effectiveness with a view to how this affects public confidence and review the approaches to equality and fairness in a professional policing context. To develop students’ ability to evaluate the process of risk management when making decisions in an operational policing environment.

Specifically: -

• To critically evaluate arguments, assumptions, abstract concepts analyse how effective response policing impacts upon public perceptions and confidence.

• To critically evaluate arguments, assumptions, abstract concepts within the process of risk management during the decision-making process in an operational policing context.

In this option students will cover the key elements associated with critically evaluating the drivers for operational response policing, the ability to respond to complex incidents, and analysing public perception of police actions. Through an asynchronous learning approach that involves a range of methodologies, including online discussion, immersive case studies, work based learning and self-led research, learners will explore the terms ‘profession’ and ‘professional’ as it applies to policing. In doing so they will critically evaluate the Policing Vision 2030 and consider the role of the College of Policing in the professionalisation of the police in England and Wales and police education and training. They will review theories relating to ethical approaches to policing and through their work-based learning, apply this to demonstrate the integrity required of the police service. Through case studies learners will evaluate the effectiveness of policing decisions, reviewing the importance of the risk assessments within this context. In doing so, they will further explore the psychology of communication and critically review methods for communicating and disseminating information in a response policing context. Using immersive learning and simulation exercises, students also can explore multi agency working in the context of a major or critical incident. In doing so, and particularly following reflective exercises thereafter, they will consider the integral roles and responsibilities within such an incident, and critically evaluate public perceptions of response policing. Through work-based learning the learners will have further opportunities to apply the theories and concepts studied, as well as the correct procedures learned when responding to incidents.