POL5032 - Advanced Investigative Skills

Objectives:

On successful completion of the module, students will be able to:
demonstrate how to gather, analyse, evaluate and use intelligence for effective police use;
demonstrate an understanding of the complexities of some investigations; use an evidence-based approach in investigations;
demonstrate investigative skills from an informed position and develop reflective practice as a result.

Content:

This module covers the investigation process in more depth, specifically information and intelligence, interviewing, an evidence-based approach to investigations and considers serious and complex criminality.

In respect of information and intelligence, students will learn how to gather and evaluate relevant intelligence from a range of sources as appropriate to a policing operation; to analyse and evaluate information and intelligence that would be suitable for a given policing operation; how to employ analytical products provided by intelligence specialists during the course of an investigation; how to develop information and intelligence for the purpose of informing the tasking and coordination process; and how to make use of the additional sources of intelligence that can be obtained during a complex investigation.

In respect of interviewing, students will learn about complex circumstances when conducting interviews; the importance of the concept of memory upon interview methods and processes; overseas enquiries/ investigations; and apply learning from previous investigations (and/or interviewing) to future investigations.

In respect of evidence-based policing, students will learn about potential constraints associated with an evidence based policing approach and identify best practice; how to systematically review and critically evaluate available evidence; and how to optimize opportunities to obtain the best available evidence, evaluate options and develop the most appropriate solution to a given policing problem.

Students will also learn the difference between ‘volume and priority’ crime and ‘serious and complex’ crime and its relevance to the investigative process; and the potential links between serious and organised crime and public protection issues.

Learning and Teaching Information:

It is anticipated 12 hours will be given to didactic inputs preferably to the whole cohort.

It is intended that the large cohort will then be split into smaller groups of students. This will allow for more discussion-orientated teaching, facilitation and reflection.

Students will be provided with resources and instructions as to their self-directed learning.

Lectures
Hours: 12
Intended Group Size: Cohort

Small group teaching
Hours: 44
Intended Group Size: 26

Guided independent study
Hours: 144

Further details relating to assessment
Students are required to submit a 4000-word reflective piece. Students will be asked to consider their operational practice and use examples of learning in the workplace. This can be supported by witness testimony/ primary evidence. The written piece should then incorporate academic theory to demonstrate an understanding of how theory translates to practice.

The reflective piece must draw on different operational experiences than have been used in other assessments.

Students can select examples that demonstrate their understanding of advanced investigative skills against the learning outcomes as below:

• demonstrate how to gather, analyse, evaluate and use intelligence for effective police use;
• describe the complexities of some investigations;
• use an evidence-based approach in investigations;
• demonstrate investigative skills from an informed position and develop reflective practice as a result.

Assessment:

Fact File

Module Coordinator - PRS_CODE=
Level - 5
Credit Value - 20
Pre-Requisites - NOT APPLICABLE
Semester(s) Offered - 5WP315WP325WP445WP35

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