3B011E - Inside the Investigation: Understanding Crime and Policing Practice 01 Sep 2026 - 31 Aug 2032 | Version 0

Associated Module Information

Module Code: 3B011E
Module Title: Inside the Investigation: Understanding Crime and Policing Practice
Faculty: Faculty of Life Sciences and Education
Faculty Group: Policing and Criminology
Faculty Sub Group: Criminology
Module Leader: Carl Davies, Cheryl Allsop
Module Team: Daniel Welch, Helen Martin, Janine Vickery, Alun Davies
First Intended Intake: SEP 2026 Final Year of Intake: 2031
Date Closed:
Credit Value: 30 Credit Level: 3
Language: English
Percentage of Module Taught in Welsh: 0
Equivalent Module:
HECOS codes: 100484 - criminology
HECOS Code Weighting: 100

Document Version Information

Version 0
Valid From 01 Sep 2026
Valid To 31 Aug 2032

Module Aims

The main aims of the module are: 

  •  Develop students’ understanding of the key investigative processes, policies, and professional considerations that underpin police investigations. 

  •  Enable students to apply investigative thinking and problem-solving skills to different types of crime through realistic, scenario-based learning. 

Content Summary

This module introduces students to the principles, processes, and people involved in criminal investigations in England and Wales. It explores how police investigations are structured and managed, examining investigative processes, decision-making frameworks, and the policies that guide professional practice. Students will consider ethical and procedural considerations across different types of crime, from volume and acquisitive offences to more serious and complex cases. Using realistic scenarios, the module develops an understanding of how investigations are conducted.  

Learning and Teaching Methods

Activity Type Hours
Lecture 4
Practical Classes and Workshops 36
Demonstration 7
Problem/Challenge based learning 7
Groupwork 20
Formative assessment 30
Summative Assessment 60
Guided Study 136
Total Hours Selected 300

Learning Outcomes

# Learning Outcome
LO1 Analyse the key processes, policies, and professional considerations that shape police investigations across a specified crime.
LO2 Apply investigative reasoning and communication skills to analyse and present findings from a simulated crime scenario.

Module Requisites

N/A

Assessment Criteria

Assessment Category Assessment Type Description Duration Word Count Weight (%) Best of? Pass Mark
Asynchronous Assessment Practical Written Work 1 Students are guided through weekly activities that reflect the investigative process, from initial response and evidence management to ethical decision-making and case presentation. These cumulative experiences enable them to produce a portfolio that demonstrates both applied knowledge (Learning Outcome 1) and investigative reasoning and communication skills (Learning Outcome 2). 0 4000 100 No 40

Assessment Matrix

Assessment Type Learning Outcomes
LO1 LO2
Practical Written Work 1

Reading List

Week 1: Understanding Investigation: Purpose, Principles and Process 

Stelfox, P. (2013) Criminal Investigation: An Introduction to Principles and Practice. Routledge. (Ch. 1 ‘The Purpose of Criminal Investigation’) 

Week 2 – The Initial Response: Scene Management and Evidence Preservation 

College of Policing (2020) Authorised Professional Practice: Investigation – The Initial Response. 

Week 3 – Evidence and Intelligence: From Collection to Analysis 

Innes, M. (2014) Signal Crimes: Social Reactions to Crime, Disorder and Control. Oxford University Press. (Ch. 5 ‘Intelligence-Led Policing’) 

Week 4 – Vulnerability, Victims and Ethical Considerations 

College of Policing (2020) Code of Ethics and National Decision Model. 

Week 5 – Linking Cases and Building the Investigative Picture 

Tilley, N. & Sidebottom, A. (2017) Handbook of Crime Prevention and Community Safety. Routledge. (Section on “Problem-Solving Policing”) 

Week 6 – Presenting the Case: Communication and Professional Reporting 

Stelfox, P. (2013) Criminal Investigation: An Introduction to Principles and Practice. Routledge. (Ch. 8 ‘Case Files and Communication’) 

College of Policing (2021) Investigative Interviewing and Case File Preparation Guidance. 

Week 7 – Assessment and Reflection 

Gibbs, G. (1988) Learning by Doing: A Guide to Teaching and Learning Methods. Oxford Polytechnic. (Reflective Cycle)