BA Single Honours Criminology with Policing

This module focuses on theories of criminal justice and how these help understand the processes and systems which constitute criminal justice within the UK. The module introduces the different stages, institutions and professional roles within justice systems and how the criminal law operates through the courts. You will observe practices and procedures in a courtroom and analyse them using both the academic resources introduced in the classroom. The module will combine tutor led input and input from guest speakers.

This module introduces students to a variety of research methods and analytical techniques that Criminological researchers use to test social theory and study aspects of social life. Topics covered include; the epistemological approaches underpinning quantitative and qualitative approaches and practicalities involved with generating quantitative and qualitative research (e.g. sampling and recruitment). Research methods covered include: surveys; freedom of information requests; official statistics and content analysis; interviews; ethnography and participant observation; archival sources; digital methods. Space is given to discussions of the importance of ethical research.

This module provides an in-depth examination of the factors that contribute to youth crime, critically exploring a wide range of criminological theories, both historical and contemporary. You will engage with these theories to understand why young people commit crime, while also evaluating current policies and legislation within the Youth Justice System, with a specific focus on England and Wales. The module also addresses various strategies aimed at encouraging desistance from crime and the challenges of supporting young offenders in their reintegration into society. Through class discussions and insights from guest speakers actively working in the youth justice field, you will gain a real-world perspective on the complexities of working with young offenders. By the end of the module, you will be equipped to articulate a well-rounded, informed position on the effectiveness of current policy responses to youth crime and understand the ways in which these responses impact a diverse range of young people.

The module explores the key sociological perspectives in relation to crime and deviance. It explores theoretical concepts and research that explains patterns of crime and criminal behaviour. Additionally, the module explores the historical development of sociological theory and the links to contemporary debates in crime and society. Topics include but not limited to, Functionalism, Marxism, Left and Right Realism, Labelling and The Self-Fulfilling Prophecy, Gender and Crime, Ethnicity and Crime, Social Class and Crime and Locality and Crime. Students will explore a range of different case studies that can be explained using sociological theory and will explore the extent to which theories can explain a range of different crimes

This module examines the relationship between crime, justice, and the media, exploring how they are constructed and represented across various media platforms. Using key criminological concepts, it analyses the role of the media in shaping public perceptions of crime and justice through news, drama, and documentary formats. The module also considers different media outlets, including print, television, film, and digital media, to critically assess their influence on societal understandings of crime and justice.

This module explores the contributions of psychological theory to the multidisciplinary study of crime. It introduces key concepts from Psychology, Social Psychology, and Developmental Psychology, providing a theoretical foundation for understanding individual factors influencing deviance, criminal behaviour, forensic mental health, offending, victimisation, and desistance.

This module will cover the importance of information and intelligence to key areas of policing, and the relevant legislation and guidance underpinning information and intelligence in policing. Students will understand the practical issues pertaining to the collection, retention and sharing of information and intelligence. Students will gain an understanding of how the use of information and intelligence which is held by other agencies can help and assist police operations. Data protection regulations will be covered and will be analysed to what impact they can have on professional policing. Issues will be explored that can arise when data management protocols are not adhered to. The rights of the individual will be reviewed in respect of information held about them. Students will further gain an understanding of securing and preserving digital evidence, from various sources and best evidence available.

The module focuses on the psychology of criminal behaviour, focusing on cognitive, social, and forensic psychology theories related to crime. Within this module, students will critically examine the psychological factors that contribute to miscarriages of justice including, false confessions, false allegations, eyewitness testimony and memory reliability. In addition, psychological knowledge will be used to understand topics such as hate crime, terrorism, the link between religion and desistance and vigilantism. This module will allow students to explore how psychological theories and research guides criminal investigations, legal processes and the public attitudes and societal responses to crime and criminal behaviour. Students will critically analyse the extent to which psychological theories can explain criminal behaviour, desistance and miscarriages of justice.

This module gives learners robust training in quantitative and qualitative research methods and practical skills and competencies in the retrieval, analysis and writing up of quantitative and qualitative data

This module, students will explore the necessity for maintaining professional standards in policing, and relevant governance and their roles and responsibilities. They will compare professional standards within the police service to similar professional organisations. Students will analyse how the police have developed policies and procedures to reduce the possibility of professional malpractice and increase community confidence; then review the progress being made within the police service to improve professional standards. Students will examine the role of discretion in the decision-making process and analyse the effect on bias on the decision-making process. Students will cover and apply the National Decision Model to given professional situations and demonstrate effective judgement and decision making.

This module will cover and review the overall scope of the response policing role and the types of incidents and crimes likely to be encountered in this area of operational policing. Leadership and team working are key to policing and, therefore, will be explored in this module, in particular, the importance of self-evaluation and the nature of effective teamwork. Students will examine the roles and responsibilities of the police and joint interoperability between other attending emergency services at an incident. Various examples of high-profile critical incidents will be reviewed to establish best practise and development areas. Specific challenges faced by response officers will be examined in more complex response situations and contexts. This module will also examine the key social, political and strategic drivers impacting upon contemporary response policing and strategies involved in response policing to ensure they remain effective in an increasingly challenging environment, including the ethical use of stop and search powers and the impact on communities and trust and confidence in the police and how response policing contributes to countering terrorism.

This module scans all areas of public protection policing, policy, research, theory and practice. Students will be introduced to the diverse and complex nature of public protection policing. Students will develop an understanding of the powers and legislation relating to contemporary and significant areas of practice including, but not limited to, child sexual exploitation, country lines, child criminal exploitation, modern slavery, domestic abuse, human trafficking, female genital mutilation, sexual offences, honour and hate crime. Students will use this knowledge to critically explore complex situations. Students will understand the impact these offences have on the victim, their families, the wider community and the criminal justice system. The concept of multi-agency working will be a theme throughout this module, with reference to serious case reviews and the management of offenders.

This module explores the critical aspects of Serious and Organised Crime (SOC) and Complex Investigations in modern policing. Students will examine how intelligence gathering techniques are applied in addressing SOC, gaining insight into the methodologies used by law enforcement agencies to combat sophisticated criminal networks.

The module will delve into various forms of Serious and Organised Crime, such as drug trafficking, human trafficking, cybercrime, and financial fraud. Students will critically analyse the far-reaching consequences of these crimes on individuals, families, businesses, and society at large. The module will also consider how certain individuals or groups may be particularly vulnerable to SOC and the mechanisms in place to protect them.

Key legislation, concepts, and organisational structures relevant to Complex Investigations will be reviewed in detail. Students will gain an understanding of the legal framework that governs these investigations, and the challenges faced by law enforcement in navigating complex cases. The module will cover the different agencies involved in tackling SOC and how they collaborate, including entities such as the National Crime Agency (NCA) and Regional Organised Crime Units (ROCU).

The function of key operations and strategies used in combating Serious and Organised Crime networks will be critically evaluated. This will include an examination of surveillance techniques, financial investigations, and international cooperation. Students will engage in critical discussions regarding the effectiveness of current strategies and explore potential innovations in the field.

This module provides a comprehensive exploration of safety and wellbeing challenges facing modern policing professionals. Students will critically examine the psychological, physical, and digital aspects of officer wellbeing, developing practical strategies to maintain resilience in challenging operational environments.

The module begins by examining how workplace experiences directly impact psychological wellbeing, emphasising the importance of reflective practice and self-care strategies that enable officers to effectively ‘switch off’ from work during personal time. Students will explore formal and informal support networks available to first responders and evaluate practical considerations in trauma support provision.

Core content addresses the multifaceted nature of wellbeing, including physical safety considerations in high-risk environments such as roads policing. Particular attention is given to the psychological impacts of first response incidents and investigations, especially when working with vulnerable individuals. Students will develop skills in recognising signs of stress, compassion fatigue, and trauma in both themselves and colleagues, while learning effective interventions and coping strategies to foster resilience.

The module examines organisational factors affecting wellbeing, including both positive and negative aspects of police culture and the principles of organisational justice. Students will evaluate how these factors influence individual officer experiences and overall team effectiveness.

Digital wellbeing and security form another key component, with focus on managing personal digital hygiene, security risks to officers and their families, and ethical considerations regarding digital investigation practices.

Through case studies, reflective exercises, and practical applications, students will develop a holistic understanding of the interconnected nature of wellbeing challenges in policing and acquire evidence-based strategies to maintain effectiveness while safeguarding their physical, psychological, and digital wellbeing throughout their careers.

This module invites students to critically explore the complex relationship between societal issues and the criminal justice system. By examining themes of equality, diversity, and justice, this module challenges students to reflect on their own perspectives and experiences, while encouraging deeper understanding of the world they study. The module’s participatory and evolving nature provides an engaging learning experience where students are encouraged to remain open-minded and actively engage in discussions throughout. Each week builds on previous concepts, providing opportunities for personal and professional growth. By the end of the module, students will have gained valuable insights, ultimately enhancing their abilities as criminology practitioners. The key topics covered include masculinities, the concept of whiteness, intersectionality, women in criminal justice, and the experiences of individuals with disabilities within the system. These subjects provide a comprehensive understanding of the diverse factors influencing criminal justice, enriching students’ perspectives and broadening their analytical skills This module is designed to provoke thoughtful reflection, foster empathy, and challenge existing norms, all while striving to create a more inclusive and equitable approach to criminal justice.

The undergraduate project affords learners the opportunity for sustained and independent study in the final year of their course. It intends to develop knowledge of, and critical insight into, a topic of the student’s choice within the broad area of Criminology. Students are enabled to undertake first-hand enquiry and encouraged to develop an analytical and reflective approach to the subject identified for study. The module aims to encourage the articulation of a critically informed perspective on the subject being studied. It also intends to enable the production of a coherent document or artefact of rigorous academic standards.
Learners will participate in twelve taught sessions across the module which will act as ‘refresher’ sessions on various aspects of project design including: searching for and writing up the literature review; completing the appropriate ethics form; desk based approaches, interviewing and questionnaire approaches: various analytical techniques for analysing data and writing up findings or producing the ‘resource’. Learners will be allocated a supervisor from the Criminology team. Regular use of supervision sessions with the nominated supervisor, will allow for structured guidance about how to approach the final year project and provide opportunity for formative assessment opportunities. The supervisor can advise on the chosen topic area, searching and writing the reviewed literature, approaches for enquiry, ethical approval, structure of the work and the application of relevant theoretical frameworks to the chosen topic. The main bulk of the learning experience will be based around the student undertaking independent study. Formative assessment will take the form of supervision discussions and feedback, in either written or verbal form, on the work being developed, including written drafts and/or an interim report and pilot study (if appropriate). Summative assessment will involve the production of a coherent written literature review, and either a robust set of findings and discussion or a project resource. that meets rigorous academic standards, evidencing all the knowledge and skills acquired in order to do so.

With support from their APT, learners will continue their employability training by searching decoding and responding to a hypothetical job advertisement for a profession in criminology they are particularly interested in pursuing.

The Rehabilitation and Desistance module explores the various approaches within the criminal justice system aimed at addressing individuals who have been convicted of criminal offenses. Focusing on rehabilitation and desistance, the module examines how offenders are managed, either through incarceration or through programs designed to promote reintegration and reduce recidivism.

The module begins with an introduction to the concepts of rehabilitation and desistance, encouraging students to critically reflect on how personal values influence attitudes toward offenders. This foundational understanding will then serve as a springboard for analysing a variety of rehabilitative programs aimed at both adults and young people, including those convicted of violent, terrorist, and sexual offenses.

Through a detailed examination of these programs, students will gain insight into the complexities of rehabilitation practices, the challenges of supporting offenders in desisting from crime, and the broader societal and ethical issues surrounding punitive measures and reintegration strategies. By the end of the module, students will be equipped with the knowledge to critically assess and engage with contemporary rehabilitative practices in the criminal justice system.