POLICING AND THE POLICE - 2023/4

Module Overview

This module examines the history, role and function of the police service. We consider the nature of the policing task, the contemporary organisation of the service and a range of issues to do with accountability, efficiency and effectiveness. We will also consider styles of policing, how they have changed over time and the investigation and detection of crime. We look also at some areas which have proved difficult for the service to police which include rape, domestic violence, drugs
and organised crime and terrorism.

Module provider

Sociology

Module Leader

HALL Nathan (Sociology)

Number of Credits: 15

ECTS Credits: 7.5

Framework: FHEQ Level 7

Module cap (Maximum number of students): N/A

Module Availability

Semester 2

Prerequisites / Co-requisites

N/A

Module content

Indicative content includes: Models of policing Police powers and mechanisms of accountability Police culture The Police service and diversity Crime prevention Multi-agency working and plural policing agendas The investigation of crime, including expert speaker The investigation of murder The investigation of sexual violence The investigation of organised
crime and terrorism.

Assessment pattern

Alternative Assessment

Students undertake a resit paper in the first instance.

Assessment Strategy

The assessment strategy is designed to provide students with the opportunity to demonstrate their understanding of the essential principles of policing, including both theoretical models and applied examples of police practice. Continuous formative assessment in class will allow students to demonstrate their appreciation of the potential of the evaluation, and critical assessment of evidence. The summative assessment for this module consists of: one 1,500 word written exercise (50%) at the mid point of the module, and one 1,500 word written exercise (50%) at the end of the module. Formative assessment and feedback will be provided on an essay plan, not exceeding a single page of A4.

Module aims

• To understand the foundations and principles of modern policing
• To assess how contemporary policing is conducted in specific practical social and political contexts, and operational terrains.
• To address the evidence base for different policing forms, and to understand how policing can be implemented in precise situations
• To consider the ethical, moral and legal bases of policing in different communities and social groups

Learning outcomes

Methods of Teaching / Learning

The learning and teaching strategy is designed to: Introduce students to the foundations and principles of contemporary policing, the ways that policing is performed in practice and the nature of contemporary policing and police practice The learning and teaching methods include: Ten 2 hour seminars combining formal lectures, practical workshops giving
students hands on experience with R, group work, and open discussion

Indicated Lecture Hours (which may also include seminars, tutorials, workshops and other contact time) are approximate and may include in-class tests where one or more of these are an assessment on the module. In-class tests are scheduled/organised separately to taught content and will be published on to student personal timetables, where they apply to taken modules, as soon as they are finalised by central administration. This will usually be after the initial publication of the teaching timetable for the relevant semester.

Reading list

https://readinglists.surrey.ac.uk
Upon accessing the reading list, please search for the module using the module code: SOCM068

Other information

N/A

Programmes this module appears in

Please note that the information detailed within this record is accurate at the time of publishing and may be subject to change. This record contains information for the most up to date version of the programme / module for the 2023/4 academic year.