- The overall scope of the response policing role
- Key types of incidents likely to be encountered by response and roads policing
- The legislation relevant to public order policing
- The grounds and authority for carrying out a lawful search/entry and search
- The appropriate powers to Stop and Search a person under Section 1 PACE 1984
- Specific challenges faced by response officers in more complex response situations and contexts
- Key social, political and strategic drivers impacting upon contemporary response policing
- The strategies for how those involved in response policing can remain effective in an increasingly challenging environment
- The significance of recording all decisions and associated rationale
- The importance of accountability in assessing risk
- Core policing functions and strategies relating to policing of the roads
- Legislation and powers associated with the most common offences associated with the policing of the roads and more complex road investigations
- Police powers in relation to commercial vehicle enforcement
- The effect of roads-related anti-social behaviour offences on victims and families
- Problem solving processes for incidents and collisions on the roads
- Criminal activities facilitated by the roads network and police tactics for disruption and prevention
- Strategies associated with reducing the number of collisions

1. You will produce a reflection based on the role plays you have undertaken throughout the module where you have taken on the role of a police officer and applied legislation and powers in different situations. You may write your reflection or voice record it.

2. You will design a digital public awareness and safety campaign in a small group around a prevalent road safety issue. The format of this campaign can be decided on by you (e.g. infographic, video, series of social media posts, poster, advert, podcast).

This module will be taught through a range of lectures, tutorials, workshops and practical sessions. Students will learn to operate within the parameters of legislation and approved professional practice utilising role play to apply their knowledge and practice skills. Assignment support will be built into the timetabled sessions on the module. You will have the opportunity to receive feedback on your digital campaign prior to submission from both tutors and peers and will be guided to examples of best practice campaigns from industry to support ides for your own assessment. You will also receive a verbal debrief after all simulations, and set formative tasks to record these after the session, to support you in the creation of your reflection assessment.

1. Describe the scope and responsibilities of response and roads policing, including common incident types and associated challenges.

Knowledge and understanding

2. Reflect on your ability to apply key legislation and policing powers relevant to frontline policing roles.

Reflection

3. Apply policing powers and decision-making strategies to simulated scenarios.

Application & problem-solving

4. Collaboratively design a digital public awareness resource to communicate about road safety issues and their consequences.

Communication; Digital literacy; Critical reasoning and collaboration

Simulation suite – shop, bedsits.
Virti
ThingLink
BodyCams and Radios

College of Policing (2025) APP Content. Available at: https://www.app.college.police.uk/

College of Policing (2025) Roads Policing. APP Guidance. Available at: Road policing (college.police.uk)

College of Policing (2024) Code of Ethics. Available at: https://www.college.police.uk/ethics/code-of-ethics

Dyson, M. (2025) Blackstone’s Statutes on Criminal Law. Oxford University Press.

Wood, D. et al. (2025) Blackstone’s Handbook for Policing Students 2026. Oxford University Press.

Step into the fast-paced world of frontline policing. This module explores the critical role of response and roads policing in maintaining public safety and tackling crime. You’ll examine the scope of the response policing role, the types of incidents officers face, and the legal powers that underpin their actions. Through real-world scenarios, you’ll uncover the challenges officers encounter in complex situations, the importance of accountability and decision-making, and the challenges uniformed officers face in contemporary policing. You’ll also dive into the specialist area of roads policing, learning about enforcement powers, collisions, and tactics to disrupt criminal activity facilitated by the road network.