This is a wide-ranging module that consolidates learning in relation to the concepts and practicalities of being a Police Constable, including:

The Police Constable Role & Professional Standards¿¿

Valuing Diversity and Inclusion¿¿

Wellbeing & Resilience¿¿

Communication Skills¿¿

Decision Making & Discretion¿¿¿

Protecting the Public¿¿

Victims & Witness¿¿

Suspect / Offender Management¿¿

Criminal Justice System¿¿

Community Policing & Partnership Working



This module descriptor was formulated with due reference to:

The required learning outcomes and indicate content set by the College of Policing in the National Policing Curriculum.

The Knowledge, Skills and Behaviours required by the National Apprenticeship Standard for the Police Constable role.

The subject benchmark statement for policing defined by the Quality Assurance Agency(QAA) for Higher Education.

Assessment 1: Operational Knowledge Check

An online knowledge check comprising of 50 multiple choice style questions to test knowledge of legislation and police procedures prior to operational deployment. (Learning Outcomes 1 – 4)

Assessment 2: A 15-minute audio visual team presentation within the context of policing, professionalism, resilience, and wellbeing. This will consider verbal, written and technological communication and link to force specific information on these topics. (Learning Outcomes 5 and 6)

Assessment 3: Written Report

Students are required to review Neighbourhood Policing priorities in their force area and complete a 1000-word essay that demonstrates understanding of evidenced based policing in conjunction with community partners. (Learning Outcomes 7 – 8)

Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of common legislation, and the fair, unbiased application of police powers.

Knowledge, Learning, and Understanding

Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of vulnerability and how to assess risk in a policing context.

Knowledge, Learning, and Understanding

Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of counter terrorism and policing responses to terrorist incidents.

Knowledge, Learning, and Understanding

Explain the role of police constable within the context of UK policing, the criminal justice system, and the importance of and methods to maintain professional standards.

Knowledge, Learning, and Understanding

Demonstrate communication skills, leadership, and team working skills and practices.

Knowledge, Learning, and Understanding, Communication

Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of strategies to develop resilience and maintain personal wellbeing within policing.

Knowledge, Learning, and Understanding, Application

Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of Community and policing partnership working.

Knowledge, Learning, and Understanding, Enquiry

Explore evidence-based policing and its application to policing in practice.

Knowledge, Learning, and Understanding, Problem Solving, Enquiry

Lectures, tutorials, and pre-prepared learning material facilitated through use of the Blackboard VLE and MS Teams, will be used, as appropriate, to develop learners and prepare them for the workplace. The delivery team will employ a range of learning and teaching methodologies which may include group work, problem-based learning, learner presentations, feedback, and online tutor/learner-led discussions. A blended approach to delivery will be taken and a mix of methods used for formative knowledge checks.

A module handbook and other detailed supportive material such as assessment briefings is available to learners and will set out requirements and expectations in more detail.

Blackboard VLE

MS Teams

University library and associated online learning materials.

Live streaming/recording equipment/software.

See Blackboard VLE for latest reading list. Key texts available through the library are:

Blackstone's Police Manual, Volume 1: Crime (2024)

Blackstone's Police Manual, Volume 2: Evidence and Procedure (2024)

Blackstone's Police Manual, Volume 3: General Police Duties (2024)

Please refer to any annual updates that supersede these editions. All are accessible through the University Library. The following is also reading that will be useful to students:

Centre for the Protection of National Infrastructure. (2020). Insider Risk Mitigation Framework | Public Website. [online] Available at: https://www.cpni.gov.uk/insider-risks/insider-risk-mitigation-framework

Charman, S. (2017) / Police Socialisation, Identity and Culture : Becoming Blue. Palgrave Macmillan.

College of Policing (2000) REDUCING DOMESTIC VIOLENCE...WHAT WORKS? POLICING DOMESTIC VIOLENCE [online] Accessed: 22/06/2020. Available at: http://library.college.police.uk/docs/hocrimereduc/poldv.pdf

College of Policing. (2014) Code of Ethics: [ONLINE]. Available at: https://www.college.police.uk/What-we-do/Ethics/Documents/Code_of_Ethics.pdf

College of Policing (2014) Missing from care – a multi-agency approach to protecting vulnerable adults [online] Accessed: 20/06/2020. Available at: http://library.college.police.uk/docs/APPREF/Protecting-Vulnerable-Missing-Adults-Framework-FINAL.pdf

College of Policing (2015) Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) for Domestic Violence [online] Accessed: 20/06/2020. Available at: https://whatworks.college.police.uk/toolkit/Pages/Intervention.aspx?InterventionID=28&src=%23filter%3D1

College of Policing (2015) Domestic Abuse sanctions [online] Accessed: 26/06/2020. Available at: https://whatworks.college.police.uk/toolkit/Pages/Intervention.aspx?InterventionID=27

College of Policing. (2017). Vetting Code of Practice Better Decisions for Better Policing TM. [online] Available at: http://library.college.police.uk/docs/appref/C553I0117-Vetting-Code-of-Practice-online-04.10.17.pdf

College of Policing. (2019). Authorised Professional Practice. National Decision Model [ONLINE] Available at: https://www.app.college.police.uk/app-content/national-decision-model/?s= .

College of Policing. (2019). Neighbourhood policing guidelines. [online] Available at: https://www.college.police.uk/What-we-do/Standards/Guidelines/Neighbourhood-Policing/Documents/NPG_supporting_material_frontline.pdf#page=24

College of Policing. (2019). Crime Reduction Toolkit | College of Policing. [online] Available at: https://whatworks.college.police.uk/toolkit/Pages/BubbleMode.aspx#filter=0#stage=Reoffending

Daigel, L. and Muftic, L. (2016) Victimology. Sage: London

Farrell, G. (2010) Repeat Victimisation, Theories Of [online] Encyclopaedia of Victimology and Crime Prevention (pp.769-774). Available at: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/274312291_Repeat_Victimization_Theories_of

Fletcher, M., Burnside, R. and Pink-Harper, S. (2019). ‘Determining the Level of Cultural Competence of College Police Departments: A Study of Three Different Campuses’. Journal of Public Management & Social Policy. Newark Vol. 26, Iss. 1. p73-88.

Greenberg, J. (1987). A taxonomy of organizational justice theories. The Academy of Management Review, 12(1), 9–22

Hackman, J. R. (2002). Leading teams: Setting the stage for great performances. Boston: Harvard Business School Press.

Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary. (2011). Without fear or favour: A review of police relationships. [online] Available at: https://www.justiceinspectorates.gov.uk/hmicfrs/media/a-review-of-police-relationships-20111213.pdf

Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary. (2017). Abuse of position for a sexual purpose - HMICFRS. [online] Available at: https://www.justiceinspectorates.gov.uk/hmicfrs/publications/abuse-of-position-for-a-sexual-purpose/

Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services. (2019). PEEL spotlight report Shining a light on betrayal Abuse of position for a sexual purpose. [online] Available at: https://www.justiceinspectorates.gov.uk/hmicfrs/wp-content/uploads/peel-spotlight-report-abuse-of-position-for-a-sexual-purpose-1.pdf

Home Office (2013). Integrated offender management (IOM). [online] GOV.UK. Available at: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/integrated-offender-management-iom

Home Office (2016) Modern crime prevention [online] Accessed: 23/06/2020. Available at: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/509833/6.1770_Modern_Crime_Prevention_Pamphlet_final_WEB_version.pdf

Home Office (2017). UK anti-corruption strategy 2017 to 2022. [online] GOV.UK. Available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/uk-anti-corruption-strategy-2017-to-2022

Home Office. (2020). Guidance Conduct, Efficiency and Effectiveness: Statutory Guidance on Professional Standards, Performance and Integrity in Policing. [online] Available at: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/863820/Home_Office_Statutory_Guidance_0502.pdf .

¿HM Government. (2018). Serious Violence Strategy. [online]. Available at: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/698009/serious-violence-strategy.pdf

HM Government. (2018). Working Together to Safeguard Children, A guide to inter-agency working to safeguard and promote the welfare of children. [ONLINE]. Available at: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/779401/Working_Together_to_Safeguard-Children.pdf .

HM Government. (2019). CONTEST, The United Kingdom’s Strategy for Countering Terrorism. [ONLINE] Available at: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/716907/140618_CCS207_CCS0218929798-1_CONTEST_3.0_WEB.pdf .

Human Rights Act. (1998). (c42). [ONLINE]. London: Available at: https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1998/42/contents . Karau, S. J., & Williams, K. D. (1993). Social loafing: A meta-analytic review and theoretical integration. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 65(4), 681–706. https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-3514.65.4.681

Ministry of Justice (2014). Multi-agency public protection arrangements (MAPPA). [online] GOV.UK. Available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/multi-agency-public-protection-arrangements-mappa--2

Police (Conduct) Regulations. (2012). [ONLINE]. London. Available at: http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2012/2632/contents/made

Rolfe, G., Freshwater, D. and Jasper, M. (2001). Critical reflection in nursing and the helping professions: a user’s guide. Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan.

Schein, Edgar H. (1988) Organizational culture and leadership. San Francisco : Jossey- Bass Publishers

Schinkel, M., Atkinson, C. and Anderson, S. (2018). ‘Well-kent Faces’: Policing Persistent Offenders and the Possibilities for Desistance. The British Journal of Criminology, [online] 59(3), pp.634–652. Available at: https://academic.oup.com/bjc/article/59/3/634/5149485

The British Association of Social Workers. (2018). County Lines Scoping Report, May 2018. [online] Available at: https://www.basw.co.uk/resources/county-lines-scoping-report-may-2018

Reading lists are continually update, see the Read List tab on your modules Blackboard site.

This introductory module provides an overview of the history, structure, governance, values and ethics of the police service in England and Wales. It focuses upon key legislation, with emphasis on human rights, equality, diversity, inclusion and the maintenance of professional standards. Criminal law and the Justice System, including the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 (PACE) are taught, together with aspects relating to the topics of terrorism and vulnerability. Wellbeing, resilience, teamwork and communication skills are also delivered.

The module is designed to equip learners with the necessary skills required to successfully complete programme. It provides students with the ability to resource and synthesise appropriate material; reference accurately and to think, read and write in a critical manner. It is designed to enhance problem solving skills and develop understanding of evidence-based practice in a policing context.

Indicative content reflects the College of Policing National Policing Curriculum stipulated for delivery at level 4 of the Police Constable Degree Apprenticeship