The Strategic Overview of Investigation

Defensible Decision Making

Using reflective practice in the investigation process

The strategic management of CPIA issues and disclosure

Auditable, ethical, and defensible policy writing

The development of strategy for senior leaders

Establishing communication between senior leadership and team by effective briefing



Strategic Partnerships in Investigation

Managing communications and media strategy

Strategic working with other agencies and multi-agency bodies

Prosecution Engagement, case management and court presentation

The importance of effective post charge investigations

Statutory Safeguarding Reviews



The Strategic Phases of Investigation



Each of the following Strategic phases of the Investigative process to be explored in relation the development of the overarching strategy within Serious and Complex, and Major Investigation.

Scene Management and the Forensic opportunities including Firearms and understanding reports

Instigation and initial response including golden hour and fast track actions

Victim and witness management in serious and complex investigations.

Search including warrants

Passive data and digital investigation

International Enquiries and post Brexit implications

The considerations around covert tactics and deployments including pre – trial issues

TIE Strategy

Interview Advisor

Suspect Strategy

The presentation will address all four learning outcomes. A formal briefing task will be set based on a case study of the student’s choice covering the strategic phases of investigation through the lens of strategic partnerships including the crown prosecution service and the media. The focus of a reflective part of the presentation will be the inclusion of critical evaluation of decision making within the development of strategy and partnership working with an additional evaluation of the issues raised from a fairness, diversity and inclusion point of view. The presentation will include a short Q&A session.

Critically assess the development of strategy and defensible decision making and policy writing for complex investigations.

Critically analyse the effectiveness of strategic partnerships in investigation including the crown prosecution service, prosecuting authorities and the media.

Demonstrate an understanding of and critically review the strategic phases of investigation.

Critically reflect upon the issues of fairness, diversity, and inclusion within the management of strategic leadership of investigations.

The module is delivered by way of online lectures (synchronous and asynchronous), which provides students with an overview of the strategic management of investigation with a focus on theory and investigative 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. The module will use a flipped learning approach from the outset which will encourage the students in the self-directed aspect of the learning in this module. Pre -reading, pre lecture study and pre lecture tasks will be a key feature of the flipped learning approach.

The lecture sessions will provide practically based scenario examples which will allow for group tasks for formative feedback.

College of Policing. (n.d.).¿Strategic planning. [online] Available at: https://www.college.police.uk/app/operations/operational-planning/strategic-planning. [Accessed 8th December 2022]



College of Policing (2022). Media relations. [online] College of Policing. Available at: https://www.college.police.uk/app/engagement-and-communication/media-relations. [Accessed 25th January 2023]



Eck, J.E. and Rossmo, D.K., 2019. The new detective: Rethinking criminal investigations. Criminology & public policy, 18(3), pp.601-622.



Edwards, J. (2021) 'No title', Practitioner Perspectives of the Utility of the National Decision Model in Relation to Criminal Investigations and Response Policing,

Fenton-O’Creevy, M., Miller, N., Selby-Fell, H. and Bowles, B. (2022) 'Policing Uncertainty, Decisions and Actions in a National Emergency', .

GOV.UK. (n.d.). Child Safeguarding Practice Review Panel: annual report 2021. [online] Available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/child-safeguarding-practice-review-panel-annual-report-2021. [Accessed 25th January 2023]

GOV.UK. (n.d.). Attorney General’s Guidelines on Disclosure. [online] Available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/attorney-generals-guidelines-on-disclosure. [Accessed 17th January 2023]

Major Incident Room Standardised Administrative Procedures (MIRSAP 2021) Document information. (2021). [online] Available at: https://library.college.police.uk/docs/NPCC/MIRSAP_V1_Nov_2021.pdf. [Accessed 17th January 2023]

Ministry of Justice (2022). Achieving Best Evidence in Criminal Proceedings: Guidance on Interviewing Victims and Witnesses, and Guidance on Using Special Measures Achieving Best Evidence in Criminal Proceedings: Guidance on Interviewing Victims and Witnesses, and Guidance on Using Special Measures. [online] Available at: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1051269/achieving-best-evidence-criminal-proceedings.pdf. [Accessed 18th January 2023]

Mitsilegas, V. and Guild, E., 2023. Police and criminal justice co-operation after Brexit. Journal of European Public Policy, pp.1-21.

NATIONAL POLICING DIGITAL STRATEGY. (2020). [online] Available at: https://pds.police.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/National-Policing-Digital-Strategy-2020-2030.pdf. [Accessed 17th January 2023]

NPCC Homicide Working Group (2021). Major Crime Investigation Manual (MCIM 2021) Document information. [online] Available at: https://library.college.police.uk/docs/NPCC/Major-Crime-Investigation-Manual-Nov-2021.pdf. [Accessed 8th December 2022]

NPCC (2016). Policing Vision 2025. [online] Available at: https://www.npcc.police.uk/documents/Policing%20Vision.pdf. [Accessed 8th December 2022]

Poyser, S. and Milne, R., 2021. The time in between a case of ‘wrongful’and ‘rightful’conviction in the UK: Miscarriages of justice and the contribution of psychology to reforming the police investigative process. International Journal of Police Science & Management, 23(1), pp.5-16.

Preston-Shoot, M., Cocker, C. and Cooper, A., 2022. Learning from safeguarding adult reviews about Transitional Safeguarding: building an evidence base. The Journal of Adult Protection.

Rapid review examples. (2022). [online] Available at: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1124030/Child_safeguarding_rapid_review_examples.pdf [Accessed 25 Jan. 2023].

Samuels, A., 2022. Forensic Science Regulator The Forensic Science Regulator Act 2021. Medico-Legal Journal, p.00258172211068227. ¿

Staller, M.S. and Koerner, S., 2021. A case example of teaching reflective policing to police students. Teaching Public Administration, p.01447394211067109.

Todd, C., Bryce, J. and Franqueira, V.N., 2021. Technology, cyberstalking and domestic homicide: Informing prevention and response strategies. Policing and Society, 31(1), pp.82-99.

Vaughan, M., Milne, R., Dalton, G. and Retford, S., 2022. Managing interviews in high-stake crime cases: practice guidance for developing suspect interview strategies using a LOST WEBSITES framework. The Journal of Forensic Practice, (ahead-of-print).

www.cps.gov.uk. (n.d.). Charging (The Director’s Guidance) - sixth edition, December 2020 | The Crown Prosecution Service. [online] Available at: https://www.cps.gov.uk/legal-guidance/charging-directors-guidance-sixth-edition-december-2020. [Accessed 25th January 2023]

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.¿

In this module you will further build on the learning from the previous module(s) or record of prior learning and / or operational experience and critically engage with learning and research into the strategic leadership of investigations. You will address the thematic areas of strategic overview of investigation, strategy development and policy writing for senior investigators, strategic partnerships, and the strategic phases of investigations. You will engage with self-directed in-depth research encouraging detailed critical engagement with the subjects, guided by lecturers and subject matter experts, and supported by operational examples throughout.