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

Protecting the Public¿¿¿

Victims & Witnesses¿¿¿

Suspect / Offender Management¿¿¿

Information, Intelligence & Evidence¿¿¿

Conducting Investigations¿



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.

Students will complete a 2000-word critical review in which they select a serious crime (identified as such by the National Crime Agency) and critically analyse the effectiveness of the current policing response against the module learning outcomes.

Demonstrate knowledge and critical understanding of the investigative response to serious and organised crime.

Knowledge and Understanding, Learning

Evaluate the effectiveness of legislation, policy, processes and strategies in delivering public protection.

Enquiry, Analysis

Evaluate the role intelligence sources and processes play in tackling crime.

Knowledge and Understanding, Learning, Reflection

Learning for this module will be based around students committing 50 hours of off-the-job learning this being split between 40 hours of direct contact with teaching staff and 10 hours of independent study and workplace learning.

The module will be delivered through a combination of lectures, workshops, and practical exercises. Students will be encouraged to engage in group discussions, peer review, and communication exercises. There will be regular sessions of formative assessment and academic support/tutorials will be available throughout the module. They will also have access to online resources and guidance for academic writing, data visualisation, and digital communication.

Blackboard VLE

MS Teams

University library and associated online learning materials.

Live streaming/recording equipment/software.

Antonopoulos, G. (no date) Trends in Organized Crime, Springer. Available at: https://www.springer.com/journal/12117 (Accessed: 24 June 2022).

Broad, R. and Turnbull, N. (2019) ‘From Human Trafficking to Modern Slavery: The Development of Anti-Trafficking Policy in the UK’, European Journal on Criminal Policy and Research, 25(2), pp. 119–133. doi:10.1007/s10610-018-9375-4.

Bryant, R. and Bryant, S. (2020) ‘Cybercrime’, in Blackstone’s Handbook for Policing Students 2021. 15th edn. Oxford: Oxford University Press, pp. 521–532.

Buil-Gil, D. et al. (2021) ‘Cybercrime and shifts in opportunities during COVID-19: a preliminary analysis in the UK’, European Societies, 23(sup1), pp. S47–S59. doi:10.1080/14616696.2020.1804973.

CPS (2021) Victims and witnesses: Care and treatment, Victims and Witnesses: Care and Treatment | The Crown Prosecution Service. Available at: https://www.cps.gov.uk/legal-guidance/victims-and-witnesses-care-and-treatment (Accessed: 11 June 2024).

Hallsworth, S. and Silverstone, D. (2009) ‘“That’s life innit”: A British perspective on guns, crime and social order’, Criminology & Criminal Justice, 9(3), pp. 359–377. doi:10.1177/1748895809336386.

HMICFRS (2022) Twenty years on, is MAPPA achieving its objectives? A joint thematic inspection of Multi-Agency Public Protection Arrangements. Manchester. Available at: https://www.justiceinspectorates.gov.uk/hmiprobation/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2022/07/A-joint-thematic-inspection-of-Multi-Agency-Public-Protection-Arrangements.pdf (Accessed: June 11, 2024).

HMICFRS (2024) An inspection of the West Midlands regional response to serious and organised crime, His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services. Available at: https://hmicfrs.justiceinspectorates.gov.uk/publication-html/inspection-of-the-west-midlands-regional-response-to-serious-and-organised-crime/#regional-findings (Accessed: 11 June 2024).

Home Office (2018) Serious and Organised Crime Strategy. Available at: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/752850/SOC-2018-web.pdf (Accessed: 9 June 2022).

Home Office (2018) Serious and organised crime: Home Office research priorities 2018/19 – 2020/21. Available at: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_d ata/file/901066/serious-and-organised-crime-research-priorities-horr105.pdf (Accessed: 9 June 2022).

Mantouvalou, V. (2018) ‘The UK Modern Slavery Act 2015 Three Years On’, The Modern Law Review, 81(6), pp. 1017–1045. doi:10.1111/1468-2230.12377.

NCA (2021) ‘National Strategic Assessment of Serious and Organised Crime’. Available at: https://www.nationalcrimeagency.gov.uk/who-we-are/publications/533-national-strategicassessment-of-serious-and-organised-crime-2021/file (Accessed: 9 June 2022).

Roman-Urrestarazu, A. et al. (2019) ‘Brexit threatens the UK’s ability to tackle illicit drugs and organised crime: What needs to happen now?’, Health Policy, 123(6), pp. 521–525. doi:10.1016/j.healthpol.2019.04.005.

Building on year one, this module enhances student’s understanding police investigations and the use of intelligence in an operational setting. The module explores serious and organised crime and the additional support and frameworks that guide investigations of this nature. Students will learn the processes concerned with European and International enquiries and their associated legislation and challenges. Regarding the operational aspect of intelligence gathering and management, this module examines the best practices for handling sensitive data, as well as the practical issues related to the sharing of information within domestic and international contexts.