Curriculum Information

This module will introduce the history of modern policing in England and Wales and offer students with an understanding of the role of the Police Service in England and Wales.  

The module will cover a number of strategic elements such as the roles of those charged with setting the strategic direction of the police service, for example the responsibilities of Home Secretary and the Police and Crime Commissioners’ (PCC). Students will become familiar with how the PCC holds Chief Constables to account for the delivery of the service on behalf of the public. The module will also explore: 

• Principle of policing by consent 

• The role, responsibilities and powers of a Police Constable 

• The Office of Constable 

• The organisation and structure of policing in England and Wales 

• The role of the police within the criminal justice system.  

• The creation of the police (e.g. Peelian principles) 

• The policing mission 

• Role of His Majesty's Inspector of Constabulary and Fire and Rescue Services (HMICFRS) 

• Role of the NPCC (National Police Chiefs Council) 

• Role of the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) (formerly Police Complaints Commission) 

• Role of the College of Policing 

• Staff Associations 

• Police Rank Structure 

• Policing Roles, such as: Response based policing, Police Specialists, Special Constables, Community Support Officers, Non-operational police staff, etc. 

The module will also explore many police duties, as well as key legislation which includes: 

• Stop and Search 

• Warrants 

• Arrests 

• Powers to Enter a property 

• Extent of powers applicable to: Police Officers, Special Constabulary, PCSOs, Police staff 

• Legal requirement to use the least level of power necessary to achieve a proportionate, legal, accountable and necessary: Human Rights Act 1998, Mnemonic JPLANE 

This module will also explore the importance of Neighbourhoods and Community Safety. The module will explore the following content: 

• The importance of partnership working 

• Introduction of Community Safety Partnerships (CSPs) and 1998 Crime and Disorder Act. 

• The structure, membership and function of CSPs - the role of component parts of CSPs. 

• Information sharing. 

• Audits, strategies and strategic assessments.  

• Community engagement and consultation. 

• Examine the roles of: Police and Crime Commissioners, Police Community Support Officers. 

• Styles of Policing: Community policing, Problem Oriented Policing, Neighbourhood policing, Zero Tolerance Policing, Signal Crimes Initiative, Reassurance policing, Intelligence-led Policing.  

• Anti-Social Behaviour (ASB) and its impact upon communities 

• Definitional problems around ASB 

• The development and range of sanctions to tackle ASB. 

• The ‘community trigger’. 

• Legislation governing ASB. 

• Problem solving – Social and situational crime prevention. 

• Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design 

• Policing the night-time economy 

• Fear of crime