Introduction to roads policing
Traffic legislation
Fatalities on the road
Flos
Driver distraction
Speeding
Not wearing a seatbelt
Drink/drug driving
Collision investigation
Scene investigation
Vehicle searches
Assisting investigation (road blocks etc.)
Senior Investigating Officer (SIO) principles
Data and intelligence (cameras, telematics)
ANPR
Denying criminals the use of roads.

1. Essay or Presentation
You can choose to either produce a short essay or produce a video recording with your response to one question from a range of possible choices. The topic areas will centre upon road traffic offences and investigative responses to them.

2. Scenario-based officer brief You will act as the first person on scene at a fatal road traffic collision. You will then brief a senior officer (assessor) about the incident, considering risk considerations, investigative evidence, roles and responsibilities of various people, and how intelligence and data could assist the investigation. You will have 10 minutes at the scene to make considerations before providing a 10-minute briefing to the senior officer.

The module will be taught through lectures, assessment support tutorials and practical sessions which will vary in length. Sessions will be interactive to promote engagement and support your learning. We will not only focus on theory but also real world practical application. The module will include delivery from guest lecturers who are practitioners from industry to enhance real world perspective. You will be given opportunities to provide drafts of your essay/ presentation for feedback prior to the deadline, and we will undertake practical sessions with similar scenarios for you to practice and get feedback on your briefing skills.

1. Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of roads policing roles, powers and legislation relevant to road crime and collisions.

Knowledge and understanding

2. Evaluate relevant considerations within the investigative process for a fatal road traffic collision, including scene management, collision investigation and evidential considerations.

Critical reasoning and collaboration

3. Analyse academic literature relevant to road crime and investigation.

Research skills

4. Formulate a response to support road crime detection and investigation using data, intelligence and policing tactics.

Application and problem solving

Goel, R., Tiwari, G., Varghese, M., Bhalla, K., Agrawal, G., Saini, G., Jha, A., John, D., Saran, A., White, H. and Mohan, D., (2024). Effectiveness of road safety interventions: An evidence and gap map. Campbell systematic reviews, 20(1). Available at: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1002/cl2.1367

Jeavons, S. and Runacres, A., (2020). International review of road collision investigation approaches. RAC. Available at: https://www.racfoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/International_review_of-road_collision_investigation_approaches_Jeavons_Runacres_December_2020.pdf

Hunter, R.F., Cleland, C.L., Busby, J., Nightingale, G., Kee, F., Williams, A.J., Kelly, P., Kelly, M.P., Milton, K., Kokka, K. and Jepson, R., (2023). Investigating the impact of a 20 miles per hour speed limit intervention on road traffic collisions, casualties, speed and volume in Belfast, UK: 3 year follow-up outcomes of a natural experiment. Journal of Epidemiological Community Health, 77, pp.17-25.

Although Great Britain has some of the safest roads globally, thousands are killed and hundreds of thousands are injured every year. Learn about some of the key factors influencing this, and how these incidents are investigated. This module will introduce you to road crime, traffic offending, and collision investigation. You will get to consider legal frameworks, police powers and the role of different agencies in responding to, investigating, and improving the harm caused by road crime.