BSc (Hons) Professional Policing

This module is designed to equip you with essential skills and knowledge to excel in your criminal justice studies. It focuses on developing study skills specific to criminal justice specialisms (for example, how to create an argument, how to use specialist resources, or the importance of reflective practice), understanding the progression of knowledge throughout your academic journey, and appreciating the interconnectedness of various criminal justice fields. The module provides a comprehensive foundation for you as well as grounding for knowledge development, presenting a holistic view of your chosen specialism and its links to other areas within the criminal justice system. Depending on specialism, core knowledge base is developed (e.g. NPC benchmarks for policing, investigation from start to finish for criminal investigation, or understanding current context of terrorism and extremism) which enables the building of knowledge in subsequent modules. 

The aim of this module is to provide you with a thorough understanding of the Criminal Justice System (CJS) in England and Wales. You will acquire foundational knowledge of the CJS, including essential definitions, key concepts, and underlying principles. The module covers the roles and responsibilities of major CJS organisations such as the courts, police, and prisons, exploring how these entities interact and the challenges they face in cooperation. Central to the module is the examination of the impact of law, politics, and social contexts on the CJS and policing. You will explore how political and societal factors shape the functioning and policies of the CJS. Discussions will include relevant and contemporary issues such as equity and diversity, or the complexities surrounding sexual offending. The module emphasizes the significance of research and data in informing CJS policy, highlighting the importance of evidence-based practice. By the end of the module, you will have a comprehensive understanding of the interconnected nature of the CJS and the dynamic environment in which it operates 

This module explores key roles, values, behaviours, skills and knowledge required by modern day police officers and how they each interact with the Criminal Justice System of England and Wales.

This module will introduce you to key principles in scientific research, approaches and practice that relate to the prevention and detection of crime and problem solving techniques. You will critically explore the development of science over the years as a crime fighting tool, developing into today's modern evidence-based policing approach. The module will also introduce you to the basics of crime scene forensics and digital policing (including digital forensics) and the scientific techniques utilised in each.

These are bite size modules designed to help you settle in and obtain core skills such as critical thinking, digital literacy, and sustainability. You’ll engage with contemporary, thought-provoking topics and issues whilst maximising your chance of success right from the start of your studies. Your Journey to Success at CCCU is compulsory and you then choose two more of these modules (from a choice of 8) in your first year.

The module will allow you to examine the philosophy and practice of criminal investigation. You will trace the history of criminal investigation from its early roots of the Bow Street Runners. Ethical issues relating to practice will also be explored, testing you to consider the rule of law, human rights, the legal process, and investigative failings. You will identify key investigative skills required of detectives, focusing on the structure of an investigation, investigative principles and influences, as well as investigative decision-making. The module also develops your understanding of human decision making which relates to all elements of criminal investigation, such as the rationale underpinning the National Decision Making Model (NDM) used in policing, exploring key concepts of code of ethics, information, assessment, powers & policy, operation, action and review. You will develop your understanding of decision making from a psychological perspective and in the context of discretion, accountability, legitimacy or human rights. You will consider the significance and importance of recording decisions and associated rationale, and considering contextual, social and psychological factors which can influence the decision-making process within investigations. 

Contemporary security challenges including terrorism, human trafficking, organised crime and cyber-attacks cross state borders, making it more difficult for states to solve them on their own. In addition to policing cooperation, combatting these complex issues demands political and diplomatic responses, ranging from intelligence gathering and extradition agreements, to the mandates of international organisations and treaties. In this module different conceptual approaches will be used to analyse the origins and evolution of contemporary security issues, and how international relationships have developed to respond multilaterally. For example, you will explore UN, EU, Interpol, and bilateral cooperation among criminal justice systems and police forces. This module will equip you with the skills to present arguments to practitioner audiences as well as offering you insights into the ‘real world’ of security challenges, including the need for convergence between the personal, the physical and the cyber, and international efforts to counter them. 

This module aims to build on Level 4 modules. You will explore how multi agency approaches support victims of crime together with how police work with other emergency services during major incidents. You will probe the world of information and intelligence and see how it is used effectively to address crime. 

With the use of our world-class facilities such as our justice and Hydra suites, you will gain hands-on experience and you will be exposed to a variety of typical police scenarios and walked through the steps involved in a criminal investigation. From taking a report from a victim to giving testimony in court, working individually or in teams, you will execute basic policing functions (e.g., arrest, search, interview, notetaking, report writing, testifying in court). 

This module will provide you with the opportunity to explore the importance of evidence based practice within your profession and the wider criminal justice system. You will learn about what evidence is, its strengths, as well as limitations, enabling you to gain a clear understanding of the different methodologies and methods used within the context of social and applied sciences, utilising case studies and examples from real contemporary research ongoing within the School. You will be supported in gaining applied transferrable digital and communication skills through navigating data analysis software and developing an ethical research proposal. The module will deepen your knowledge through focusing on specific research methods and methodologies throughout the module as relevant to your course or wider areas of interest. 

You have the option of selecting between two work-based experience. From a broad selection of industry partners you will select one and either: 1) engage in unpaid work related experience with an industry partner. Industry partners may range from police services, public or private organisations involved with security, community, courts or victims of crime, or 2) work on real-world task called Live-Briefs and develop for that industry partner a fresh and creative solution or ideas that can benefit that organisation. 

You will learn about miscarriages of justice from two different perspectives. The first perspective focuses on academic study of the existing literature on the topic. The theoretical underpinning literature will also be discussed, in addition to police investigative processes and sources and causes of miscarriages of justice. Additionally, you will learn about the effects of miscarriages of justice on victims, as well as the regime for compensation. Aspects of modern miscarriages of justice, such as the contentious ‘Joint Enterprise’ doctrine will also be considered. The second perspective relates to investigations of real-life cases where convicted prisoners claim they are victims of a miscarriages of justice. These kinds of cases are sometimes reported to Inside Justice, a national charity who investigate potential miscarriages of justice for free. CCCU and Inside Justice have an agreement where Inside Justice will provide real cases to CCCU for students to investigate. As part of this module, you are therefore offered a unique opportunity to investigate, and critically reflect upon, a real case and make recommendations to Inside Justice regarding its merits or otherwise. As such, the module is designed to build the skills and understanding to prepare you for your future career. 

The aim of the module is to provide you with the opportunity to develop the ability to research and analyse an aspect of a course specific topic in depth, and construct a well-reasoned argument based on your findings. Course specific topics are subject to your course director approval. The module aims to provide you with a degree of autonomy in your learning by allowing you the opportunity to choose your own area of interest. You will be supported to produce in-depth review of literature on your chosen topic, and construct a well-reasoned argument on your findings. The module further aims to provoke thought, encourage reflective learning practices, challenge preconceptions surrounding course specific practice and in so doing, introduce you to the challenges of decision making. All these aims can be achieved through a choice of a literature based review or an empirical piece (subject to successful completion of the appropriate research skills module). 

This module aims to develop the knowledge gained through the previous modules. Unprofessional behaviour is critically examined to identify the challenges it presents. Public protection and partnership opportunities are explored to support victims of crime in general, including how criminal organisation exploit vulnerable people. Finally, you will be exposed to the challenges of reducing crime associated with roads and initiatives aimed to reduce killed and seriously injured persons.