Module Descriptors
ETHICAL POLICING AND ORGANISATIONAL LEGITIMACY
POLI70002
Key Facts
Health, Education, Policing and Sciences
Level 7
20 credits
Contact
Leader: James Holyoak
Hours of Study
Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activities: 36
Independent Study Hours: 164
Total Learning Hours: 200
Pattern of Delivery
  • Occurrence A, Stoke Campus, PG Semester 1
Sites
  • Stoke Campus
Assessment
  • Essay - 4000 WORDS weighted at 100%
Module Details
MODULE LEARNING OUTCOMES
1. On completion of this module, you will be able to critically evaluate the concepts, models and theoretical frameworks pertaining to the requirements of contemporary policing within a modern democracy
2. On completion of this module, you will be able to critically evaluate the effects of ethical leadership and decision-making to the practice of policing.
3. On completion of this module, you will be able to provide critical analysis of the models, structures and frameworks that can hold the police to account.
MODULE ADDITIONAL ASSESSMENT DETAILS
The assessment requires all LO’s to be addressed.
The module is assessed by summative coursework that accounts for 100% of the overall mark for the module. Candidates will be expected to develop an essay chosen from a choice of topics identified by the module leader and to develop it within the context of the module themes and learning outcomes.
MODULE INDICATIVE CONTENT
An exploration and critique of the role and function of policing in a modern democracy
Ethical theory and Human Rights and its application to police practice.
The relevance of social contract and policing by consent
An exploration of context and complexities of policing diverse communities
A critical examination of police discretion and its application
Police culture and the leadership challenges that it presents
Police corruption and its impact upon police legitimacy
The relationship with democratic and regulatory bodies as well as the strategies that secure police independence.
Identify and critique recommendations/learning lessons from public inquiries and scrutiny reports into police practice.
A critique of police performance and performance measurement
An exploration of Police/media relationships
An examination of organisational efficiency and effectiveness
Predict directions of travel for future police reform and development.
WEB DESCRIPTOR
This module will examine the complex political, legal, financial and operational challenges of working with local and national government and the community as stakeholders. This module explores the relationship with democratic and regulatory bodies as well as the strategies that secure police independence, the rule of law and due process in a society which aims to reflect human rights and liberal values such as representation, civil liberties, free expression and accountability.
Learning from this module will support students to apply theory in day to day tactical and strategic decision making in the workplace and enhance personal and professional practice.
MODULE LEARNING STRATEGIES
The module is delivered by way of online lectures (synchronous and asynchronous), which provides students with an overview of police ethics, decision making and accountability in theory and in practice.
Detailed pre-reading will be required before taught sessions, and students will be supervised as they seek to develop ideas for their Independent Studies
Students will gain formative feedback by a series of groups tasks that will be administered within the seminars.
Candidates will receive tuition on referencing technique in the social sciences, guidance on the avoidance of plagiarism, and all submitted coursework by MSc candidates will be expected to systematically follow the Harvard referencing system
MODULE TEXTS
Alderson, J. (1998) Principled Policing -Protecting the Public with Integrity. Winchester: Waterside Press
Johnson G, Scholes K, and Whittington R (2011) Exploring Corporate Strategy: text and cases, 9th Edition, FT London, Prentice Hall
Neyroud, P. & Beckley, A. (2001) Policing, Ethics and Human Rights. Willan Publishing

Recommended
ACPO (1990) Strategic policy document: setting the standards: meeting community expectations. London: ACPO.
Adlam, R. and Villiers, P (eds) (2004) Policing a Safe, Just and Tolerant Society. Winchester: Waterside Press.
Alderson, J. (1979) Policing Freedom. Plymouth: Macdonald & Evans
Alderson, J. C. (1998) Principled Policing: Protecting the Public with Integrity. Winchester: Waterside Press.
arker, T. and Roebuck, J. (1973) An Empirical Typology of Police Corruption. Springfield, IL: Bannerstone House
Barney, J.B. (1991) ‘Firm resources and sustained competitive advantage’. Journal of Management, 17(1), pp.99-120
Berry, G., Izat, J., Mawby, R., and Wally, L. (1995), Practical Police Management. London: Police Review.
Bittner, E. (2005) `Florence Nightingale in pursuit of Willie Sutton: A Theory of the Police` in Newburn, T. (ed.) Policing, Key Readings. Willan pp 150-172
Blair, I. (2009) Policing Controversy. London: Profile Books Limited.
Cain, M.E.(1973) Society and the Policeman`s Role, London: Routlidge
Clements,P. (2008) Policing A Diverse Society (2nd edn.) Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Conservative Party (2007), Policing for the People: interim report of the Police Reform Task Force. London: Conservative Party.
Critchley, T.A. (1978) A History of Police in England and Wales. London: Constable
Davis, M. (2002) Profession, Code and Ethics. Aldershot: Ashgate
Emsley, C. (1991) The English Police: A Political and Social History. Harlow: Addison Wesley Longman Limited.
Goldstein, H. (1977) Policing a Free Society. Cambridge, MA: Ballinger
HMIC (2012), Police and Crime Commissioners. Available from: http://www.hmic.gov.uk/pcc/.
Home Affairs Select Committee (2013) First Report – Police and Crime Commissioners: Register of Interests.
http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201314/cmselect/cmhaff/69/6902.htm.
Home Office (2010) Policing in the 21st Century: Reconnecting police and the people. London: Home Office
Innes, M. (2003) Investigating Murder. Detective work and the Police Response to Criminal Homicide. Oxford: OUP
Jones,T, Newburn,T. and Smith, D.J. (1994) Democracy and Policing. London:PSI
Klockars, C. (1981) The Idea of Police: Sage
Loveday, B. (2000) New Directions in Accountability, in Lieshman, F., Loveday., and Savage, S. (eds) Core Issues in Policing, (2nd edn) Harlow: L Longman
Loveday, B. and Reid, A. (2003) Going Local: Who Should Run Britain’s Police. London: Policy Exchange.
Lustgarten, L. (1986) The Governance of the Police. London: Sweet and Maxwell.
Miller, S., Blackler, J. & Alexandra, A. (2006) Police Ethics. Winchester: Waterside Press
Newburn, T. (ed., 2008) The Handbook of Policing (2nd Ed), Cullompton: Willan Publishing
Newburn, T. (ed., 2005) Policing: Key Readings, Cullompton: Willan Publishing
Pattern Report (1999) A New Beginning: Policing in Northern Ireland. The Report of the Independent Commission on Policing For Northern Ireland. http://cain.ulst.ac.uk/issues/police/patten/patten99.pdf
Pollock, J. (2004) Ethics in Crime and Justice: Dilemmas and Decisions. London: Thomson Learning
Macpherson of Cluny, Sir W. (1999) The Stephen Lawrence Inquiry (Cm 4262-1) London: HMSO
Mawby, R.I. and Smith, K. (2013) Accounting for the Police: The New Police and Crime Commissioners in England and Wales. The Police Journal, Vol 86:143-157
McLaughlin, E. (2007) The New Policing. London: Sage
Miller, S., Blackler,J., and Alexandra, A. ( 2006) Police Ethics (2edn.) Winchester: Waterside Press.
Newburn, T.(2008) Handbook of Policing. London: Willan
Newburn, T. (2011) Police and Crime Commissioners: The Americanization of policing or a very British reform? International Journal of Law, Crime and Justice. Vol 40: 31-46
Newburn,N., Williamson, T., and Wright, A. (2007) Handbook of Criminal Investigation. Collumpton, Devon.: Willan
Oakeshott,M. (1975) On Human Conduct. Oxford: Clarendon Press
Pollock, J.M. (1998) Ethics in Crime and Justice. (3edn). Belmont, California: Wadsworth
Popper, K. (1945) The Open Society and its Enemies. London: Routledge
Punch, M. (1985) Conduct Unbecoming. New York: Tavistock
Punch, M. (2009) Police Corruption: Deviance, Accountability and Reform in Policing. Cullompton, Devon: Routledge
Rawlings, P. (2002) Policing: A Short History. Cullompton, Devon: Willan
Reiner, R. (1991) Chief Constables. Oxford: OUP
Reiner, R. (2010) The Politics of the Police (4th ed.) Oxford: Oxford University |Press
Sampson, F. (2012) Hail to the Chief? – How far does the Introduction of Elected Police Commissioners Herald a US-Style Politicization of Policing for the UK? Policing, Vol 6(1):4-15
Savage, S. (2007) Police Reform: Forces for Change. Oxford: OUP
Savage, S., Charman, S., and Cope, S. (2000) Policing and the Power of Persuasion. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Scarman, Lord. (1981) The Scarman Report: The Brixton Disorders, 10-12th April 1981. Harmondsworth: Penguin
Sherman. L.W. ((1985) Becoming bent: moral careers of corrupt policemen, in Elliston and Feldberg (eds) Moral issues in Police work. Totowa, NJ: Rowman and Allenhead
Skolnick, J. (1966) Justice without Trial. New York, NY: Wiley
Stenning, P. (1995) Accountability for Criminal Justice: Selected Essays. Toronto: University of Toronto Press.
Villers, P. (1997) Better Police Ethics. London: Kogan Page
Waddington, P.A.J. (1991) The Strong Arm of the Law: Oxford: Clarendon Press
Waddington , P.A.J (1999) Police (canteen) sub-culture: an appreciation, British Journal of Criminology, 39(2): 286-309
Waddington, P.A.J. (1999) Policing Citizens: UCL Press
Walker, C. & Stramer, K. (Eds.) (2002) Miscarriages of Justice: A Review of Justice in Error. London: Blackstone
Williamson,T. (2005) Investigative Interviewing: Rights, Research, Regulation. Cullumpton: Willan.
Wright, A. (2007) Ethics and Corruption in Newburn,T. Williamson,T. and Wright, A (eds) (2007) Handbook of Criminal Investigation. Cullompton, Devon: Willan Publishing - Chapter 24 pp586-609
Young, M. (1991) An Inside Job. Oxford: Clarendon Press
MODULE RESOURCES
During this module, you will be encouraged to utilise Microsoft Teams and Blackboard Virtual Learning Environment (VLE) to support your learning. You will be invited to collaborate with students and academic staff virtually through Microsoft Teams. You will have access to a range of materials on Blackboard VLE including articles, lecture slides, and interactive activities. You will also be able to access a variety of digital material through our¿Library¿and¿specialist¿databases.