Key definitions, legislation and guidance associated with public protection policing
The breadth of abuse incidents
The links between serious and organised crime and public protection
The effect of media coverage on public protection strategy
The role of the police at major incidents including those involving other emergency services
Examples of high profile critical and major incidents
The difference between ‘volume and priority’ crime and ‘serious and complex’ crime
The roles and processes associated with conducting complex investigations including intelligence requirements
The intricacies associated with victim and witness care during complex investigations
The range of specialists who may be involved in complex investigations
The different approaches for supporting vulnerable people
The organisational structures within counter terrorism policing
Key legislation relevant to counter terrorism policing
Counter terrorism operations and the impact on front-line policing
Links between terrorism and other forms of criminality

1. Students will be given topics to research and will take part, in small groups, in a critical discussion around those topics. They will need to provide logical arguments and weigh up positives and negatives to those arguments. They will be marked during the discussion on their contribution showing knowledge and understanding, evidence of research, application of theories and evaluation.

2. Students will take part in a live interactive simulation of a major incident. The scenario for the simulation will replicate the complexity of policing using video, audio, and interactive tasks to simulate a critical incident and requiring students to assume key police roles/responsibilities, make real-time decisions on victim care, resource allocation, and inter-agency coordination and respond to evolving challenges, including media pressure, public safety concerns, and intelligence updates.

The module will be taught through a range of sessions, lectures, tutorials and practical sessions. It will utilise discussion and decision-making exercises throughout, reflective of the summative assessment for built in assignment support as part of the module.

Lectures will be led by the lecturer (and guest speakers where possible) and will be used to deliver key concepts and learning within the module content. During these sessions, there will be interactive elements such as knowledge checks, short discussions, students asked for their thoughts or viewpoint and opportunities to ask questions to the lecturer.

Tutorial sessions will be based around student centred learning, group discussions and case study exploration to aide students learning on the module.

Formative assessment will include a mock verbal critical discussion and a mock simulation to a major incident to support you in preparing for the summative assessment.

1. Critically evaluate the implications for contemporary police practice of legislation, organisational roles and structures, and strategic frameworks governing public protection, serious and organised crime, and counter-terrorism policing.

Critical reasoning and collaboration

2. Analyse the roles, responsibilities, and investigative processes associated with complex investigations.

Knowledge and understanding

3. Build research-informed arguments that critically analyse and critique approaches to complex policing scenarios.

Communication; Research skills

4. Demonstrate operational decision-making and professional judgement in responding to complex policing incidents.

Application and problem solving

Simulation suite
ThingLink
Virti

ACPO (2006) Murder Investigation Manual. Available at:http://library.college.police.uk/docs/APPREF/murder-investigation-manual-redacted.pdf

College of Policing (2025) Major Investigation and Public Protection. Available at:https://www.app.college.police.uk/app-content/major-investigation-and-public-protection/?s=

Henschke, A. et al. (2021) Counter-Terrorism, Ethics and Technology : Emerging Challenges at the Frontiers of Counter-Terrorism. 1st ed. 2021. Cham: Springer International Publishing. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-90221-6.

Home Office (2023) CONTEST: The United Kingdom’s Strategy for Countering Terrorism. Available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/counter-terrorism-strategy-contest-2023

NPCC (2025) Policing Vision 2030. Available at: https://www.npcc.police.uk/documents/Policing%20Vision.pdf

O’Neill, M. (2018) Key Challenges in Criminal Investigation. Bristol: Policy Press

Step into the challenging world of modern policing, where no two incidents look the same and every decision counts. Policing Complexity explores the realities of responding to today’s most demanding policing environments. Moving beyond the every day, this module will focus on the more challenging incidents, from public protection and major incidents to serious organised crime and counter-terrorism. Through real-world case studies, critical debates, and an immersive live simulation, you’ll uncover how officers navigate fastmoving information, vulnerable victims, interagency coordination, media pressure, and evolving threats. You’ll examine the legislation, organisational structures, investigative processes, and specialist roles that shape contemporary policing, while developing the analytical and decision-making skills essential for operating in high-risk situations. This module prepares you for the complexity, uncertainty, and responsibility of modern policing, giving you the confidence to think critically, act decisively, and understand the bigger picture behind frontline decision making.