Professional Policing - BSc(Hons)

Program Overview

The Professional Policing degree at UWE Bristol provides a comprehensive understanding of the role of a Police Officer, covering core subjects from counter terrorism to response policing. Students will learn through a blend of online and face-to-face teaching, supported by hands-on practical activities and access to a bespoke simulation suite. Graduates will be qualified for various careers within the criminal justice sector, including police officers, police staff, and roles in prisons or other criminal justice agencies.

Program Outline

Outline:

Content:

The Professional Policing degree at UWE Bristol covers a range of core subjects, from counter terrorism to response policing, providing students with a comprehensive understanding of the complex role of a Police Officer.

Structure:

The course is structured as follows:

• Year one: Core Policing Functions: Culture and Structure, Core Policing Functions: Legislation and Powers, Introduction to Evidence-based Policing, Investigating Crime, Principles of Equality, Diversity and Inclusivity, Volume and Priority Crime.
• Year two: Analysing Police Trends, Core Policing Functions: Communities and Partnerships, Public Protection, Revealing Risk and Vulnerability, Serious and Organised Crime, Supporting Victims and Witnesses.
• Placement year (if applicable): Students on the four-year (sandwich) course spend a year away from the University on a work placement after Year two.
• Final year: Creating Change in the Criminal Justice System, Digital Policing, Ethical Policing: Conduct, Challenges, Consequences, Evidence-Based Research Project, Policing Threats, plus one optional module from Green Criminology: Environment, Crime and Justice, Illegal Drugs: Problems, Markets and Policy, Missing People: Lost Identities and Social Harm, Operational Policing, Punishment and Human Rights, Risk and Risk Management, Terrorism.

Individual Modules:

• Core Policing Functions: Culture and Structure: This module introduces students to the history, culture, and structure of the police service in England and Wales.
Students will learn about the different roles and responsibilities of police officers, the legal framework governing policing, and the ethical issues that police officers face. Students will learn about the different types of offenses that police officers can investigate, the powers of arrest and detention, and the use of force.
• Introduction to Evidence-based Policing: This module introduces students to the principles of evidence-based policing.
Students will learn how to collect, analyze, and interpret evidence to inform their decision-making.
• Investigating Crime: This module provides students with the skills and knowledge necessary to investigate crimes.
Students will learn how to interview witnesses, collect evidence, and prepare case files.
• Principles of Equality, Diversity and Inclusivity: This module explores the principles of equality, diversity, and inclusivity in policing.
Students will learn about the different types of discrimination that can occur in policing, and how to create a more inclusive and equitable police service.
• Volume and Priority Crime: This module examines the nature and extent of volume and priority crime.
Students will learn about the different types of volume and priority crimes, the factors that contribute to these crimes, and the strategies that can be used to prevent and reduce them.
• Analysing Police Trends: This module provides students with the skills and knowledge necessary to analyze police trends.
Students will learn how to collect, analyze, and interpret data to identify trends in crime and policing.
• Core Policing Functions: Communities and Partnerships: This module explores the role of the police in working with communities and partners to prevent and reduce crime.
Students will learn about the different types of community policing initiatives, the benefits of community policing, and the challenges that police officers face when working with communities.
• Public Protection: This module provides students with the skills and knowledge necessary to protect the public from harm.
Students will learn about the different types of public protection issues that police officers face, the strategies that can be used to prevent and reduce public protection issues, and the legal framework governing public protection.
• Revealing Risk and Vulnerability: This module explores the different types of risk and vulnerability that individuals and communities face.
Students will learn how to identify and assess risk and vulnerability, and how to develop strategies to prevent and reduce risk and vulnerability.
• Serious and Organised Crime: This module provides students with the skills and knowledge necessary to investigate and prevent serious and organized crime.
Students will learn about the different types of serious and organized crime, the factors that contribute to serious and organized crime, and the strategies that can be used to prevent and reduce serious and organized crime.
• Supporting Victims and Witnesses: This module provides students with the skills and knowledge necessary to support victims and witnesses of crime.
• Creating Change in the Criminal Justice System: This module explores the different ways in which the criminal justice system can be changed to make it more effective and just.
Students will learn about the different types of reforms that have been proposed, the benefits and challenges of these reforms, and the role that police officers can play in bringing about change in the criminal justice system.
• Digital Policing: This module provides students with the skills and knowledge necessary to use digital technologies to prevent and reduce crime.
Students will learn about the different types of digital technologies that police officers can use, the benefits and challenges of using digital technologies, and the legal framework governing the use of digital technologies in policing.
• Ethical Policing: Conduct, Challenges, Consequences: This module explores the ethical issues that police officers face in their work.
• Evidence-Based Research Project: This module provides students with the opportunity to conduct a research project on a topic related to policing.
Students will learn how to develop a research question, design a research study, collect and analyze data, and write a research report.
• Policing Threats: This module explores the different types of threats that police officers face in their work.
Students will learn about the different types of threats, the factors that contribute to these threats, and the strategies that can be used to prevent and reduce threats to police officers.

Assessment:

Students will be assessed through a range of practice-oriented methods that reflect policing in the real world. All assessments will be based on typical types of work or skills that students will experience in a professional policing environment.

Assessment methods include:

• Sitting multiple-choice exams based on the same tests that police officers take
• Reflecting on simulated learning experiences
• Creating blogs or podcasts to explain aspects of police work to different types of audience
• Developing an evidence-based policing mindset through a research project

Teaching:

Students will learn through a blend of online and face-to-face teaching, including lectures and seminars. Teaching will be supported by hands-on practical activities to prepare students for policing in the real world.

Faculty:

Students will be taught by policing experts with a wealth of experience working in the police force and criminal justice system.

Unique Approaches:

• Students will integrate with criminology students and police apprentices to benefit from a diverse learning community.
• Students will have access to a bespoke simulation suite, fully equipped with domestic and commercial spaces, to apply their skills to different mock settings.
• Students will experience scheduled days of cultural emersion, where they will visit local charities and community groups to gain insight into community policing and working with the public.

Careers:

Graduates of the Professional Policing degree will be qualified to enter various careers within the criminal justice sector and beyond. While many graduates will go on to become police officers, they could also take on a role as police staff, work in prisons or for another criminal justice agency, charity or social enterprise.

Other:

• The Professional Policing degree at UWE Bristol is accredited by the College of Policing.
• Students will have the opportunity to collaborate with other police officers in practice through UWE Bristol's established industry links with Avon and Somerset Constabulary.
• Students will benefit from a range of professional opportunities throughout their policing degree, including placements, summer internships, voluntary policing work, and mentoring.

Full-time; Sandwich course

Fees Amount (£) Home Annual (Per Year) Fee 9250 Home Full Annual Fee Following Placement Year 9250 Home Module Fee (15 Credit) 1156 Home Placement Year Fee 1156 Home Reduced Annual Fee Following Placement Year 8094 International Annual (Per Year) Fee 15850 International Full Annual Fee Following Placement Year 15850 International Module Fee (15 Credit) 1981 International Placement Year Fee 1981 International Reduced Annual Fee Following Placement Year 13869 Offshore Annual (Per Year) Fee 9250 Offshore Full Annual Fee Following Placement Year 9250 Offshore Module Fee (15 Credit) 1156 Offshore Placement Year Fee 1156 Offshore Reduced Annual Fee Following Placement Year 8094

Part time course

Fees Amount (£) Home Module Fee (15 Credit) 1156 Offshore Module Fee (15 Credit) 1156

Indicative Additional Costs

Fees Amount (£) Additional Course Costs 300