The history, purpose and principles of the police service
Structure, functions and roles within the police service
Responsibilities of different law enforcement agencies
Powers and procedures used in policing
Legislation and key offences, including terrorism
Introduction to professional standards and their importance in policing
National policing directives and programmes
Concepts surrounding decision making

1. Students create a digital interactive timeline (using tools like Padlet or Canva) showing key milestones in policing history, including major reforms, legislation and societal impacts. The timeline should be informative and engaging; incorporating multimedia and reflective commentary, supported with academic evidence as to how each milestone shaped modern policing.

2. Students produce a written or verbally recorded reflection of a simulated role play they undertake as part of the module in which students will take a crime report. They will reflect on how and why they applied policing procedures, identify relevant legislation and offences, and the importance of professional standards and the decisions they made within them.

The taught content on this module will be taught through a range of sessions, including lectures, tutorials, workshops and practical sessions. Utilising case studies, simulated role play and an applied learning approach to support students learning. Assessment support workshops are built into the timetabled sessions on the module. Formative assessment will involve group tasks and discussions within classes around key milestones in history to support you in identifying points for your timelines. After practical and simulation based exercises, debriefs will take place providing you with aspects on which to reflect on for further reflective development. Workshops around reflective practice will be included in the module schedule to support the development of reflective practice skills.

1. Communicate to non-specialist audiences about the history, purpose, principles and societal role of the police service through engaging digital platforms.

Communication; Digital literacy

2. Describe the structure, functions and roles within the police service, and outline the responsibilities of different law enforcement agencies.

Knowledge & understanding

3. Apply key policing powers, legislation and procedures, to offences and other policing situations.

Application & problem solving

4. Reflect on the importance of professional standards and ethical decision-making in policing practice.

Reflection

Simulation suite
Virti
ThingLink
Padlet
Access to other engaging digital tools e.g. Canva

Archer, B. and Ellison, G. (2023) Police Procedure and Evidence in the Criminal: Justice System. 1st edition. Edited by T. Blockley. Oxford: Routledge. Available at: https://doi.org/10.4324/9781041056409.

Joyce, P. and Laverick, W. (2023) History of Policing, Crime, Disorder, Punishment. 1st edn. Cham: Springer International Publishing. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-36892-9.

Pepper, I.K. and McGrath, R. (eds) (2020) Introduction to professional policing : examining the evidence base. 1st ed. Abingdon, Oxon ; Routledge.

Rowe, M., Ralph, L. and Malik, A. (2023) Introduction to policing. Fourth edition. Sage Publications.

Sheldon, B. and Williams, P. (2022) Understanding policing and professional practice. St Albans: Critical Publishing. Available at: https://www.vlebooks.com/vleweb/product/openreader?id=StaffsUni&isbn=9781914171963

What is the police service all about? This module invites you to explore the foundations of policing, from its historical roots to its modern-day role. You will uncover the purpose and principles that guide the police service, and examine how its structure and functions support law enforcement and public protection across the UK. Focusing on legislation, powers, procedures and ethical principles that underpin policing in this country, you will develop a strong understanding of policing principles preparing you for a career in criminal justice.