Foundations of Investigative Failure
Typologies of failure; case study overview; ethics and accountability; professional curiosity as a discipline.

Cognitive Bias & Decision Making
Confirmation bias, hindsight bias, outcome bias; mitigating strategies; structured analytics and red-teaming.

Intelligence
National Intelligence Model and Intelligence-Led Policing, Collection, evaluation, grading (e.g., source & content reliability), tasking/coordination; product integrity.

Interpreting Intelligence Products
Profiles, charts, timelines, hypotheses; practical interpretation; communicating uncertainty; avoiding overreach.

MIRSAP & Major Crime Investigation Manuals (MCIM)
Purpose, governance, roles, decision logs, investigative strategy, HOLMES; critique and applied exercises.

National Briefing Model and Conducting briefings
IIMARCH and other briefing models

Procedures, Policy, and Organisational Culture
SOPs vs. adaptive practice; supervision and review; recording rationale; procedural justice and legitimacy.

Case Study Critique: Murder/Manslaughter Reviews
Thematic analyses of review findings; escalation and de-escalation decisions; family liaison and victim focus.

Covert Policing & RIPA
Authorisations, necessity/proportionality, CHIS management, surveillance; evidential and ethical issues; case law.

Expert Witnesses & Forensic Evidence
Roles, standards, admissibility, Daubert/Frye considerations (contextual); cross-examination risks; misinterpretation.

Practical Interpretation of Analysis
Integrating analyst outputs into strategy; feedback loops; intelligence gaps; avoiding “analysis paralysis.”

Learning Lessons: From Failure to Advancement
Capturing lessons; organisational learning models; performance metrics; training and policy revision.

Presentation
Presentations; peer critique; reflective practice and personal development planning.

1. Case study critique – Critically evaluate a real-life UK serious / major investigation where investigative issues arose (an identified list will be provided to students to choose from). The critique should be focused on identifying the key aspects that contributed to these issues, identifying academic literature and investigative doctrine to analyse how it affected the case and what is available to investigators to avoid making the same errors.

2. Presentation / Briefing: Covert Policing or Expert Evidence; - Option 1: Present a tactical and operational briefing for a covert strategy into the case study researched, justifying the actions under UK law (Regulation of Investigatory Powers) and providing evidence for how it will progress the investigation. - Option 2: Present reasoning and direction for utilising the services of an expert witness. identify their contribution and admissibility into the case study and demonstrate how they will be instructed. The presentation should last 10 minutes with a 5-minute question and answer period.

Lectures covering identified indicative content and will include discussions and groupwork.
Tutorials – Identifying case studies for critique list / Assignment support sessions.
Guest Speakers (Senior Investigating Officer, Expert witness(s)) Holmes-style documented exercise.
Practical – Formative assessment opportunity for Oral Briefing using alternative information

1. Critically evaluate the causes and consequences of major incidents and the multi-agency approaches for dealing with them.

Critical reasoning & collaboration

2. Compare and contrast the roles of the personnel involved in the investigation of major incidents and the strategic intelligence requirements.

Knowledge & understanding

3. Analyse the techniques and methods utilised at the forefront of investigation.

Application & problem solving

4. Critique common modes of investigative failures and identify these within the case studies.

Knowledge & understanding

NPCC (2021). Major Crime Investigation Manual (MCIM 2021). [online] Available at: https://library.college.police.uk/docs/NPCC/Major-Crime-Investigation-Manual-Nov-2021.pdf.

NPCC (2021) Major incident room standardised administrative procedures (2021) Online. Available at: https://library.college.police.uk/docs/NPCC/MIRSAP_V1_Nov_2021.pdf

Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000 and relevant Codes of Practice.

College of Policing (2025) Authorised Professional Practice (APP) – Major Investigations, Intelligence, Covert Policing (online) Available at: https://www.college.police.uk/app

National guidance on expert witnesses (Criminal Procedure Rules/Practice Directions; CPS guidance).

Ever wondered what really happens behind the scenes of high-profile investigations? This module takes you inside the world of contemporary investigative practices, challenging you to think critically about how cases are handled in today’s criminal justice system. You’ll explore real-world examples of major investigations, examining the methods used, the ethical dilemmas faced, and the impact of media, technology, and globalisation on investigative strategies. From digital forensics to cross-border crime, you’ll learn to question not just what was done, but why—and whether it was effective, fair, and just. Learning where cases in the past have gone wrong and how lessons learned have shaped contemporary practice supports you in developing your own investigative practice ready for employment.