SOC5032 - Policing Crime

Objectives:

On successful completion of the module, students will be able to:
Demonstrate a knowledge of the historical development of policing and the diverse nature of crime prevention and control;.
Critically evaluate the diverse perspectives on policing that derive from key social divisions, such as gender, class, race, age, sexuality, and wealth.
Situate policing at the intersection of competing social representations, such as theories of crime and its prevention, media representations of police and policing, 'common sense' notions, and governmental policy.
Critically analyse the diverse and increasingly complex requirements of the police and relate such analyses to the future of policing.

Content:

The first part of the module takes a historical view of policing in order to understand what has been expected from and required of policing and how various reforms to its role and functioning constitute its current state. It also reflects upon the public images of policing that have arisen and their influence. The second part of the module examines the contemporary challenges for policing and the range of activities that the police are required to sustain, from supporting local community initiatives, policing street crime, working with probation service, policing white collar crime, working with victims, working with the media, facilitating inter-agency operations and dealing with international threats, such as corporate fraud, terrorism and cybercrime. This diversifying portfolio of activities, each becoming increasingly specialised poses challenges in relation to state budgets and ethical notions about dignity and human rights. Issues such as the privatisation of the police force and the pressure on regional forces to collaborate on a national and international level will also be explored.

Learning and Teaching Information:

The module will be taught through a combination of seminars and workshops. Lecture material will be pre-recorded and placed on the VLE in advance of the relevant seminars, which will focus on student-led development towards the two assessment points. There will be opportunities for regular formative feedback through the workshops sessions.

Seminars/workshops
Hours: 32
Intended Group Size: 30

Guided Independent Study
Hours: 168

Assessment:

001 Report; 3,000 words; End of Semester 100%

Fact File

Module Coordinator - Manjit Thandi
Level - 5
Credit Value - 20
Pre-Requisites - NONE
Semester(s) Offered - 5S1

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