- UCAS course code
- C856
- UCAS institution code
- M20
Course unit details:
Policing and the Police
| Unit code | CRIM20051 |
|---|---|
| Credit rating | 20 |
| Unit level | Level 2 |
| Teaching period(s) | Semester 1 |
| Available as a free choice unit? | Yes |
Overview
This course provides students with a critical, research-based appreciation of the police, police-work and policing.
Indicative content: (1) Policing and the police; (2) Police legitimacy and deterrence; (3) Police culture and image-making; (4) Understanding police powers; (5) Policing models; (6) Procedural justice policing; (7) Police misconduct and legal cynicism; (8) Technological advances and the future of policing; (9) The end of policing; (10) Course overview and assessment preparation.
Aims
The unit aims to (1) introduce students to the area of police, police-work and policing; and, (2) provide students with a critical understanding of research as applied to these topics.
Learning outcomes
On completion of this unit successful students will be able to: (1) understand the contested dynamics of police-work and policing; (2) appreciate classic and contemporary research on policing; (3) develop a clear understanding of the nature of contemporary debates on policing and the police.
Teaching and learning methods
Teaching and learning across course units consists of: (1) preparatory work to be completed prior to teaching sessions, including readings, pre-recorded subject material and online activities; (2) a weekly whole-class lecture or workshop; (3) a tutorial; and (4) one-to-one support via subject specific office hours.
Employability skills
- Other
- (i) analyse, critique and (re-)formulate a problem or issue; (ii) rapidly and thoroughly review/rate argument and evidence from targeted bibliographic searches; (iii) plan, structure and present arguments in a variety of written formats and to a strict word limit, (iv) express ideas verbally and organise work effectively in small teams for a variety of written and oral tasks; (v) obtain, manipulate and (re-)present different forms of data; (vi) manage time effectively; (vii) reflect on and improve performance through feedback.
Assessment methods
| Method | Weight |
|---|---|
| Other | 80% |
| Set exercise | 20% |
- 3000 word essay (worth 80%);
- Weekly online quizzes (worth 20%);
Feedback methods
Formative feedback (both individual and collective) will be given on (1) on tasks and contribution in class, (2) the mock exam essay. In addition to individual marks, class-level feedback will be given on the exam.
The course will be assessed by a 3000 word essay (80%) and weekly online quizzes (20%).
Recommended reading
Bowling, B, Reiner, R. and Sheptycki, J. (2019) The Politics of the Police, Oxford: Oxford University Press is an excellent text and you are advised to obtain a copy.
The library also has earlier editions of The Politics of the Police.
Study hours
| Scheduled activity hours | |
|---|---|
| Lectures | 20 |
| Tutorials | 10 |
| Independent study hours | |
|---|---|
| Independent study | 70 |
Teaching staff
| Staff member | Role |
|---|---|
| Thiago Oliveira | Unit coordinator |
Additional notes
Across their course units each semester, full-time students are expected to devote a ‘working week’ of around 30-35 hours to study. Accordingly each course unit demands around 10-11 hours of study per week consisting of (i) 3 timetabled teacher-led hours, (ii) 7-8 independent study hours devoted to preparation, required and further reading, and note taking.
Restricted to: BA (Criminology) and LLB (Law with Criminology) students for which this subject is compulsory, Law School students and BA Social Sciences (BASS).
This course is available to incoming study abroad students university wide.
Pre-requisites: None.
Timetable
Refer to personalised Criminology timetable