POLICING & CRIMINAL INVESTIGATIONS - 2026/7
Module code: SOC2110
Module Overview
This module examines the history, role, and function of the police service and processes of criminal investigation, within a policing context. The first half of the module considers the nature of the policing task, the contemporary organisation of the service and a range of issues to do with accountability, efficiency, and effectiveness. The second half of the module progresses by introducing students to the processes of criminal investigation, within a policing context. The particular focus of this module is volume crime and some serious crime types, reserving the management and investigation of major, and complex crime for the corresponding module in the final year of the programme.
Module provider
Sociology
Module Leader
WHITTAKER Jack (Sociology)
Number of Credits: 15
ECTS Credits: 7.5
Framework: FHEQ Level 5
Module cap (Maximum number of students): N/A
Overall student workload
Independent Learning Hours: 106
Lecture Hours: 22
Seminar Hours: 11
Guided Learning: 11
Captured Content: 11
Module Availability
Semester 2
Prerequisites / Co-requisites
N/A
Module content
The module will cover the following topics: Introduction to Policing & Criminal Investigation, The Development of Policing, Models of Policing, Police Powers & PACE, Intelligence Management, Police Deviance, Accountability and Ethics, Primary Investigations and Serious and Organised Crime, Volume Crime and its Victims, Crime Reduction, CPS & The Courts.
Assessment pattern
| Assessment type | Unit of assessment | Weighting |
|---|---|---|
| School-timetabled exam/test | In-class 20 question multiple choice test | 30 |
| Coursework | Scenario-based report | 70 |
Alternative Assessment
The alternative assessment is an individual 3-minute pre-recorded presentation
Assessment Strategy
The assessment strategy is designed to provide students with the opportunity to demonstrate that they have met the learning outcomes through critical engagement with a wide range of scholarly material.
The assessments for this module consists of:
In-class Multiple Choice Test (30%)
Scenario-based Report (70%)
Module aims
- To introduce the foundations and principles of modern policing
- To examine how contemporary policing is conducted
- Introduce students to the principles and processes of criminal investigation in a policing context
- Explain the appropriate processes for gathering and managing evidence/information that maybe pertinent to an investigation
- To apply discipline-specific AI tools critically and effectively in a policing and investigation context
Learning outcomes
| Attributes Developed | ||
| 001 | To be familiar with the key academic research findings about the role, functions and performance of the police service | CK |
| 002 | Be informed about the history of the police and its contemporary development | CK |
| 003 | To be aware of the key challenges faced by the police service | KP |
| 004 | Give a critical account of the theory, practice, and strategy of criminal investigation in relation to volume crime | CK |
| 005 | Explain, justify, and undertake the core tasks associated with criminal investigation, and in doing so acquire skills that will be attractive to subject-specific employers | KP |
Attributes Developed
C - Cognitive/analytical
K - Subject knowledge
T - Transferable skills
P - Professional/Practical skills
Methods of Teaching / Learning
The learning and teaching strategy is designed to:
Develop the knowledge, skills and capabilities of students through interactive and engaging sessions using varied teaching delivery methods, in addition to student reading.
There will be both lectures and seminar discussions. There is weekly reading and seminar preparation.
The module¿s teaching and learning strategy aims to enhance students¿ understanding and their capabilities as they engage with the content.
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: SOC2110
Other information
The Department of Sociology is committed to developing graduates with strengths in Employability, Digital Capabilities, Global and Cultural Capabilities, Sustainability, and Resourcefulness and Resilience. This module is designed to allow students to develop knowledge, skills, and capabilities in the following areas: Employability. The module specifically develops strengths with a view to preparing those graduate who might be considering careers in policing and the criminal justice system. This module aims to develop students¿ grasp of a set of key understandings and awareness of contemporary policing and criminal investigations to underpin their future employment opportunities. Notably it gives students a strong sense of the roles that are available in contemporary policing and criminal investigations (widely conceived) and gives insights into how these roles might be applied for. Global and cultural capabilities. The module gives insights into the role of the UK police service and criminal investigations in a global context. This includes sessions covering global issues such as volume crime and serious organised crimes. Resourcefulness and resilience. The module encourages students to reflect on assumptions about policing and criminal investigations by engaging in the continual development of their skills.
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 2026/7 academic year.