PC1U011 - Policing Behaviours (PCSO) 01 Apr 2025 - 31 Mar 2031 | Version 0

Associated Module Information

Module Code: PC1U011
Module Title: Policing Behaviours (PCSO)
Faculty: Faculty of Life Sciences and Education
Faculty Group: Operational Policing
Faculty Sub Group: Operational Policing
Module Leader: Michael Chard
Module Team: Rebecca Voice, Gareth Evans, Gordon Blake, Christijan Boyle, Claire Evans, Leanne Thomas, Roger Phillips, Victoria Wall, Joanne Mercurio, Michelle Lamont, Kirsty Hyland, Neil Harvey, Ruth Bushby, Kevin Bushby, Paul Searle, Jack Moss, Bethan Shellard-Dedman, Tina Avey-Hebditch, Richard Law, Colette Chilcott, Rezbi Duffield, Michael Chard, Rachael Lugg, Tiffany O'Connor, David Maundrell, Fiona Webb, Barry Murphy
First Intended Intake: APR 2025 Final Year of Intake: 2030
Date Closed:
Credit Value: 30 Credit Level: 4
Language: English
Percentage of Module Taught in Welsh: 0
Equivalent Module:
HECOS codes:
HECOS Code Weighting:

Document Version Information

Version 0
Valid From 01 Apr 2025
Valid To 31 Mar 2031

Module Aims

To develop the students' knowledge and understanding of the role and purpose of the PCSO within policing, analyse the importance of professional standards, and valuing diversity and inclusion, fostering an inclusive environment within Policing. Students will explore strategies to develop personal resilience and wellbeing.

To improve the understanding of how police behaviours affect the relationship and trust in communities, public protection and partnership working especially those most vulnerable in society.

Content Summary

In this module, utilising a blended learning approach, students will gain understanding of professionalism within policing, the associated responsibilities for delivering and maintaining a professional service and standards.

Students will explore the importance of self-evaluation, self-improvement, and reflective practice in professional policing, with a focus the significance of effective teamwork, and outline the responsibilities of supervisors and managers in addressing inappropriate behaviour and language.

The student will adopt core principles through exploring, applying, and demonstrating professional approaches to ethics, values, equality, and diversity. In addition, the student will gain understanding of their responsibility to challenge bias, prejudice, discrimination, and stereotyping when performing the role of Police Community Support Officer.

Students will explore personal resilience and management of wellbeing through employment of strategies that foster an awareness of associated considerations of being a member of the police family.

Using immersive learning, the student will consider vulnerability examining considerations associated with abuse, public protection, especially violence against women and girls.

Through case study analysis and review of key events and policing practices, the student will explore the damaging effects of key incidents/events on community engagement with the police, reviewing strategies to improve relationships between the police and black communities, and evaluate problem-solving approaches with PCSOs to reduce community tension and promote cohesion.

Learning and Teaching Methods

Activity Type Hours
Lecture 54
Seminars 10
Tutorials 8
Work-based learning 90
Independent Study 20
Direct Study (including online independent learning) 42
Formative Assessment Scheduled 2
Formative assessment Independent 4
Active/Simulation based 26
Groupwork 24
Problem-challenge based learning 20
Total Hours Selected 300

Learning Outcomes

# Learning Outcome
LO1 Evaluate the ethics, values, skills and behaviours required of a Police Community Support Officer and the importance of maintaining professional standards in both professional and personal life.
LO2 Evaluate the core principles associated with valuing diversity and inclusion and challenging unprofessional behaviour in policing.

Module Requisites

N/A

Assessment Criteria

Assessment Category Assessment Type Description Duration Word Count Weight (%) Best of? Pass Mark
Asynchronous Assessment Essay 1 Essay on a moral dilemma exercise 0 2000 100 No 100

Assessment Matrix

Assessment Type Learning Outcomes
LO1 LO2
Essay 1

Reading List

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Bottomley, J. (2020a) Communication skills for your policing degree. St Albans: Critical Publishing.

Bottomley, J. (2020b) Critical thinking skills for your policing degree. St. Albans: Critical Publishing.

Bottomley, J., Pryjmachuk, S. and Wright, M. (2020) Academic writing and referencing for your policing degree. St Albans: Critical Publishing.

Casey, L. (2023) Baroness Casey Review. Final Report. An independent review into the standards of behaviour and internal culture of the Metropolitan Police Service. Available at: https://www.met.police.uk/SysSiteAssets/media/downloads/met/about-us/baroness-casey-review/update-march-2023/baroness-casey-review-march-2023a.pdf

College of Policing (2015) Professional Standards.  Available at: https://www.college.police.uk/app/professional-standards.

College of Policing (2023) Code of Practice for Ethical Policing. Available at: https://www.college.police.uk/ethics/code-of-practice.

College of Policing (2024a) Code of Ethics. Available at: https://www.college.police.uk/ethics/code-of-ethics.

College of Policing (2024b) Competency and Values Framework (CVF). Available at: Competency and values framework (CVF) | College of Policing.

Copley, S. (2011) Reflective practice for policing students. Exeter: Learning Matters.

Driscoll, J. (2007) Practising clinical supervision: a reflective approach for healthcare professionals. 2nd ed. Edinburgh: Baillie

Gibbs, Graham. (1988) Learning by doing: a guide to teaching and learning methods. London: FEU.

Home Affairs Committee (2021) The Macpherson Report: Twenty-two years on. Available at: https://committees.parliament.uk/publications/7012/documents/89144/default/#:~:text=twenty-two%20years%20ago%20in%20February%201999,%20was%20truly.?

House of Commons (2024) The Angiolini Inquiry Part 1 Report. Available at: https://www.angiolini.independent-inquiry.uk/reports/

Independent Office for Police Conduct (2022) Operation Hotton. Learning Report. Available at https://www.policeconduct.gov.uk/publications/operation-hotton-learning-report-january-2022.?

Jasper, M. (2003) Beginning reflective practice. Cheltenham: Nelson Thornes

Kingshott, B. F. (2013) ‘Revisiting gender issues: continuing police reform’, Criminal justice studies, 26(3), pp. 366–392. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1080/1478601X.2012.735004.

Kolb, D. A. (2015) Experiential learning experience as the source of learning and development. Second edition. Upper Saddle River, New Jersey: Pearson Education, Inc.

Lee, H., Lim, H., Moore, D.D. and Kim, J. . (2013) ‘How police organizational structure correlates with frontline officers’ attitudes toward corruption: a multilevel model’, Police practice & research, 14(5), pp. 386–401. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1080/15614263.2011.635483.

Levine, M. and Crowther, S. (2008) ‘The Responsive Bystander: How Social Group Membership and Group Size Can Encourage as Well as Inhibit Bystander Intervention’, Journal of personality and social psychology, 95(6), pp. 1429–1439. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1037/a0012634.

Lister, S. and Rowe, M. (2016) Accountability in policing. 1st ed. Abingdon, Oxon?; Routledge. Available at: https://doi.org/10.4324/9781315881898.

Love, C. T. (2015) ‘Using Reflective Practice To Understand Our Differences’, Journal of family and consumer sciences, 107(4), pp. 56–57.

Macpherson, W. (1999) The Stephen Lawrence Inquiry. Report of an Inquiry. Available at: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/5a7c2af540f0b645ba3c7202/4262.pdf.

Nixon, J., Wooden, K., and Corbo Crehan, A. (2012) ‘Policing Students’ Understanding of Obedience to Authority’, Policing?: a journal of policy and practice, 6(4), pp. 335–343. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1093/police/pas030.

Paterson, C. and Pollock, E. (2022) Criminology for the police. Abingdon, Oxon: Routledge

Pears, R. and Shields, G. J. (2022) Cite them right: the essential referencing guide. 12th edition. London?; Bloomsbury Academic.

Police (Conduct) Regulations 2020 (SI2020/4). Available at: https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2020/4/made.

Ratcliffe, J. (2023) EVIDENCE-BASED POLICING the basics. S.l: ROUTLEDGE. Available at: https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003145684.

Rolfe, G., Freshwater, D. and Jasper, M. (2011) Critical reflection in practice: generating knowledge for care. 2nd ed. Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan.

Rolfe, G., Freshwater, D. and Jasper, M. (2001) Critical reflection for nursing and the helping professions: a user’s guide. Basingstoke: Palgrave.

Rowe, M. (2007) Policing beyond Macpherson: issues in policing, race and society. Cullompton, Devon?; Wilan Publishing. Available at: https://doi.org/10.4324/9781843926504.

Schön, D. A. (2016) The reflective practitioner?: how professionals think in action. Abingdon, England; Routledge. Available at: https://doi.org/10.4324/9781315237473.

Spooner, E. and Cooper, B. (2023) Dilemmas and Decision Making in Policing.  Critical Publishing.

Sheldon, B. and Williams, P. (2022) Understanding policing and professional practice. 1st ed. St Albans, England: Critical Publishing.

Spooner, E. and Cooper, B. (2023) Dilemmas and decision making in policing. St Albans: Critical Publishing.

Taylor, O. E.V., Philpot, R., Fitton, O., Walkington, Z. and Levine, M. (2024) ‘Police whistleblowing: A systematic review of the likelihood (and the barriers and facilitators) of the willingness of police officers to report the misconduct of fellow officers’, Journal of Criminal Justice, 91. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jcrimjus.2024.102170.

Tejeiro, R., Shortland, N., Paramio, A., Alison, L and González, J.L. (2024) ‘\\\"Should I stay or should I go”: experience does not make the expert in police snap decision-making’, Policing: an international journal of police strategies & management, 47(4), pp. 709–719. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1108/PIJPSM-10-2023-0139.

Turner, A. (2024) ‘Sexism and misogyny as traits of police culture: Problems, red flags and solutions’, International Journal of Police Science & Management, 26(2), pp. 279–291. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1177/14613557241228736.

Westmarland, L. and Conway, S. (2020a) ‘Police ethics and integrity: Keeping the “blue code” of silence’, International Journal of Police Science & Management, 22(4), pp. 378–392. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1177/1461355720947762.

Westmarland, L. and Conway, S. (2020b) ‘Police ethics and integrity: Keeping the “blue code” of silence’, International Journal of Police Science & Management, 22(4), pp. 378–392. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1177/1461355720947762.

Westmarland, L. and Rowe, M. (2018) ‘Police ethics and integrity: can a new code overturn the blue code’, Policing & Society, 28(7), pp. 854–870. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1080/10439463.2016.1262365.

Wood, D., Bradshaw, S.J., Dickens, T., Parker-McLeod, J. and Davis, C. (eds.) (2024) Blackstone’s Handbook for Policing Students, 18th edn.  Oxford: Oxford University Press  (also available online)