PC1U014 - Policing Skills (PCSO) 01 Apr 2025 - 31 Mar 2031 | Version 0

Associated Module Information

Module Code: PC1U014
Module Title: Policing Skills (PCSO)
Faculty: Faculty of Life Sciences and Education
Faculty Group: Operational Policing
Faculty Sub Group: Operational Policing
Module Leader: Michael Chard
Module Team: Gareth Evans, Gordon Blake, Christijan Boyle, Claire Evans, Leanne Thomas, Roger Phillips, Victoria Wall, Joanne Mercurio, Rebecca Voice, 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, , 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 examine methods of intervention and prevention through community policing, and to emphasise the importance of partnership working that can lead to effective community policing,  enhancing students' understanding of the issues impacting the communities they police.

To develop strategies, tools, and investigative techniques for effective crime prevention and problem-solving, enhancing students' understanding of the role of the police community support officer in fostering community engagement and tackling crime.

Content Summary

Through a blended learning approach utilising taught sessions, group work and some case studies, students will explore the Police community support officer role and  key elements and challenges associated with effective community policing.

Students will enhance their knowledge and understanding of the important of developing and promoting effective partnerships and the methods utilised to intervene and prevent community issues escalating.  Students will explore the challenges associated with this and how they can be overcome.

Students will also develop their understanding of the issues faced within communities which influence behaviours, including community trauma, which can impact on the relationship with the police.

Students will consider the evidence based strategies, tools and approaches available for effective community issue problem solving alongside techniques for improving community engagement.

Students through immersive and blended learning will review the protect and prevention strategies for dealing with organised crime and approaches to reducing community tensions, considering the use of information and intelligence within the process.

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 Identify and analyse, research and problem-solving models in evidence-based community policing, and crime prevention, focusing on the role and responsibilities of a PCSO.
LO2 Review and Evaluate strategies for neighbourhood policing collaboration between partner agencies and community organisations, developing effective communication skills to engage with diverse communities.

Module Requisites

N/A

Assessment Criteria

Assessment Category Assessment Type Description Duration Word Count Weight (%) Best of? Pass Mark
Asynchronous Assessment Project 1 A detailed analysis of a community Policing issue. 0 2500 100 No 40

Assessment Matrix

Assessment Type Learning Outcomes
LO1 LO2
Project 1 ✔ ✔

Reading List

Bullock, K., Sidebottom, A., Armitage, R., Ashby, M. P. J., Clemmow, C., Kirby, S., & Tilley, N. (2021). ‘Problem-oriented policing in England and Wales: barriers and facilitators’. Policing and Society, 32(9), 1087–1102. Available at: doi 10.1080/10439463.2021.2003361

College of Policing. (2020) Partnership Working. Available at: https://www.college.police.uk/app/major-investigation-and-public-protection/hate-crime/partnership-working

Gold, J. (2022) ‘Improving community relations in the police through procedural justice – an action learning initiative’, Action Learning: Research and Practice, 19(3), 230-247. Available at: doi:10.1080/14767333.2022.2129586

Hanway, P. and Hambly, O. (2023). Public Perceptions of Policing: A Review of Research and Literature. London: Home Office

O’Reilly, C. (2024) Neighbourhood Policing: Context, Practices and Challenges. Project Muse. Available at: https://muse.jhu.edu/book/118957

Signori, R., Heinrich, D. P., Wootton, A. B., and Davey, C. L. (2023). Relational Continuity in Community Policing: Insights from a Human-Centred Design Perspective. Policing: A Journal of Policy and Practice, 17, paad038

The Police Foundation (2023). Neighbourhood Policing: Past, Present and Future. London: The Police Foundation

Wilson, B. L., Wolfer, T. A., Wooten, N. R., Pitner, R., Moore, S. E., & Anders, A. D. (2023). ‘Black and Blue: An integrated conceptual framework for understanding the trauma and mental impacts of police violence exposure in Black communities’. Journal of Human Behavior in the Social Environment, 34(8), 1374–1397. Available at: doi:10.1080/10911359.2023.2281961

Wood, D. et al. (2024) Blackstone’s handbook for policing students. 18th edn. Edited by D. Wood, S. Bradshaw, T. Dickens, and J. Parker-McLeod, with C. Davis. Oxford: Oxford University Press. Available at: https://findit.southwales.ac.uk/permalink/44WHELF_USW/g0kpe7/alma9910072336780242.