This module focuses on five areas of policing which demonstrate the complexity of the policing landscape; public protection, response policing, police investigation, vulnerability and risk, and counter terrorism. Students will learn about different types of abuse including cultural considerations, the impact the media can have on serious crime investigation strategies, how emergency services work together at the scene of a major incident and the difference influences on police investigations. They will also evaluate case studies to assist understanding of complexity.

This module will cover:

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

College of policing curriculum content:
Public Protection – 1.2, 1.3, 2.5, 2.6, 2.7, 2.8, 2.9, 2.10, 6.1, 6.2, 6.3, 8.1, 8.2, 8.3
Response Policing – 6.1, 6.2, 6.3, 6.4, 7.1, 7.2, 7.3, 7.4, 9.1, 9.2, 9.3, 9.4, 10.1, 10.2, 10.3
Police investigations – 7.1, 8.1, 8.2, 8.3, 8.4, 8.5, 8.5a, 8.6, 9.1, 9.2, 9.3, 9.4, 9.5, 10.1, 10.2, 11.1, 11.2, 11.3, 11.14
Vulnerability and Risk – 11.1, 11.2, 11.3
Counter Terrorism – 2.1, 2.2, 2.3, 2.4, 2.5, 2.6, 2.7, 2.8, 3.1, 3.2, 4.1, 4.2, 6.1

Students will be given a title to address for this verbal critical presentation. They will need to show knowledge and understanding of key concepts and procedures, provide logical arguments and evaluate the appropriateness of different approaches. Students will need to conduct in depth research around the topic and communicate the information in verbal form before taking questions from the examiner.
This assessment will address learning outcomes 1,2,3,4,5.

Learning for this module will be based around students committing a total of 200 hours, split between 26 hours of direct contact with a tutor and 174 hours of directed study. Students will be taught in a mixture of lectures and tutorial sessions, each having either a two-hour lecture or a one-hour whole group lecture per week and a one-hour smaller group tutorial session per week. In the lectures, students will be introduced to the general concepts and theories. Tutorials will be linked to the lecture and involve subjects for discussion and case studies. The purpose of the smaller group sessions is to help students assess their understanding of a topic and to develop their analytical skills.

Formative assessment will include feedback during class discussions and debates.

1. Explain key definitions in public protection and analyse the links between public protection and serious and organised crime.

Analysis, Application, Enquiry

2. Evaluate and examine the police role at major incidents and the effectiveness of joint emergency service working.

Enquiry, Learning, Enquiry

3. Compare volume and priority crime with serious and complex crime and explain the differing intelligence requirements.

Knowledge & Understanding, Communication

4. Evaluate the appropriateness of different approaches in supporting or managing vulnerable people or people at risk of harm.

Analysis, Communication, Enquiry, Problem Solving

5. Explain counter terrorism structures and the links between terrorism and other forms of criminality.

Knowledge & Understanding, Communication, Analysis

Lecture room equipped for PowerPoint and whiteboard.
Tutorial room to allow group discussions. Module Handbook and suitably resourced library.

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

Blackstone’s Police Manuals - available online via the library website or via the following link:
http://www.blackstonespoliceservice.com.ezproxy.staffs.ac.uk/

College of Policing (2020) Major Investigation and Public Protection. Available at: https://www.app.college.police.uk/app-content/major-investigation-and-public-protection/?s=

Home Office (2011) CONTEST: The United Kingdom’s Strategy for Countering Terrorism. Available at: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/97994/contest-summary.pdf

Newburn, T. (2014) Handbook of Policing. Willan Publishing

NPCC (2017) Policing Vision 2025. Available at: https://www.npcc.police.uk/documents/Policing%20Vision.pdf

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

Spiller, K. (2017) ‘What does terrorism look like? University lecturers’ interpretation of their Prevent duties and tackling extremism in UK universities’, Critical Studies on Terrorism, 11(1), pp. 130-150. Available at: https://www-tandfonline-com.ezproxy.staffs.ac.uk/doi/full/10.1080/17539153.2017.1396954