The module takes a holistic look at violence and violent crime in society, considering more routing and everyday forms of violent behaviour, through to extreme forms of criminal violence such as serial killing and mass homicide.

Both homicide and the multiplicity of violence (be it direct, structural, or symbolic) manifest themselves in a variety of contexts, and both the media and public interest and understanding of these forms of violence differ immensely. Whilst most media, public, and criminal justice understandings of violence involve an identifiable agent, it is important to consider that harm can stem from, for instance, economic, historical, and cultural processes. This module will provide an in-depth account of this diverse “tapestry of violence”, demonstrating how harm and even death can stem from a variety of sources beyond the actions of individual, groups, societies and states.

Understanding Homicide and Murder
Murder in Britain Today
Serial Murder – Psychological Explanations
Serial Murder – Structural Explanations
British Serial Killers and their Victims
The Hitman and Contract Killings
Gang Violence and County Lines
Terrorism and Terrorist Violence
Spree Killing and Mass Murder
War Crimes and Genocide
Homicide in Prison
Women who Kill

1 - Case Study - Students will prepare a written case study that focuses on one of the core topic areas. They will use secondary research skills to examine the case in detail and then produce a comprehensive report on it as a form of factual report. The case study must show knowledge of the specific harms of violence. Hence, the case study must consider lessons it teaches concerning promoting peaceful and inclusive societies, providing access to justice for all and building effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels. It will critically analyse how the case under consideration highlights the challenges and complexities of people being allowed to be free of fear from all forms of violence and feel safe as they go about their lives whatever their ethnicity, faith or sexual orientation.

2 - MP4 Podcast Record – Students will work in pairs to record a Podcast (10 mins) that discusses and frames a socio-economic, political, cultural and technological ‘controversy’ in relation to one of the core topics covered in the Homicide or Violent Organised Crime module.

All sessions are taught in person with students a range of interactive lectures and workshops. Students are required to undertake brief preparation for each session pre-session, and short scaffold overview teaching then prepares learners for educational that moves beyond direct content delivery (like lectures via videos) so classroom time can be used for interactive, higher-order activities like, discussions, tasks and collaborative projects with facilitated academic guidance. This approach maximizes face-to-face time for deeper application and analysis. Formative assessment will include analysing similar case studies within classes and producing mini-live ‘podcasts’ to the class for tutor and peer feedback. You may submit a proportion of your summative case study for feedback prior to submission as well.

Recording hardware and software

1. Critically analyse how homicide and violence impact on individuals, the environment and society.

Knowledge and understanding

2. Reflect on the socio-economic, political, cultural and technological factors that underpin, transform, explain and frame violent behaviour both in the UK, and globally.

Reflection

3. Communicate effectively about contemporary issues in homicide and organised violent crime, based on evidence from literature and professional practice.

Communication

4. Critically evaluate how different forms of violence intersect with, challenge, or undermine the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

Knowledge and understanding

Brookman, F. (2022). Understanding Homicide (2nd ed.). SAGE Publications Ltd.

Ray, L (2018) Violence and Society, 2nd edition, London: Sage Publications Ltd.

Collins R (2008) Violence: A Micro-sociological Theory. Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press

Allely, C. (2020). The Psychology of Extreme Violence: A Case Study Approach to Serial Homicide.

Skott, S. (2023). Homicide: Towards a Deeper Understanding. London: Routledge.

Homicide and the multiplicity of organised violent crime manifest themselves variety of contexts. From drug trafficking, human trafficking, smuggling of migrants, trafficking in arms and money laundering organised forms of violent crime and homicide are frequent topics covered in the media.

The nature of these crimes is subject to a great deal of criminological debate, in some views, criminal actors have evolved to be professional criminal networks, elastic in its form and with the ability to move quickly, transform and be ruled from different locations. Communication and technology have facilitated the rapid change and adaptability of criminal networks and created greater sophistication. Other more sceptical and critical accounts suggest that much routine violent and organised crime stems from lower level and less sophisticated criminality. So too homicide is a much more complex concept than surface level accounts of murder alone understand.

This module will give you a comprehensive and critical introduction to the topics of Homicide and Organised Violent Crime and encourage you to actively research areas of interest toward assessment through the development of an assessed individual written case study portfolio and short recorded MP4 podcast on your case study.