POL5112 - Police Response & Major Incidents

Objectives:

On successful completion of the module, students will be able to:

Critically review the overall scope of the response policing role, understanding key social, political, and strategic drivers which allow police to remain effective in a challenging environment

Understand practical policing skills and issues of vulnerability when attending as a first responder

Explain the role and responsibilities of the police at a major incident and the effectiveness of joint interoperability between the emergency services, reviewing high-profile examples

Illustrate how theories and principles of psychology and human behaviour can be applied in various response contexts

Explain the core function of roads policing, and procedures for disposal of offences

Critically evaluate the impact, challenges and effectiveness of road-related activities including offences, deaths, injuries and disrupting crime.

Content:

This module will enable students to appreciate the purpose, benefits, and challenges of response policing in a variety of contexts. Students will explore the function of response policing and the key issues surrounding response policing and attending major incidents. There is a particular focus on the key issues relating to the complexity and challenges of operational policing. The module enables students to appreciate the importance of various strategies in place to assist those involved in response policing to remain effective in an increasingly challenging environment. Students will become familiar with the main sources of information and academic research about this area of front-line policing and be able to use these materials for research purposes.

This module will cover and review the overall scope of the response policing role and they types of incidents and crimes likely to be encountered in this area of operational policing. Students will examine the roles and responsibilities of the police and joint interoperability between other attending emergency services at an incident. Various examples of high-profile critical incidents will be reviewed to establish the worst and best policing practices; incidents such as the Hillsborough disaster and the Grenfell fire will be exploded and examined. Specific challenges faced by response officers will be examined in more complex response situations and contexts. This module will also examine the key social, political, and strategic drivers impacting upon contemporary response policing and strategies involved in response policing to ensure they remain effective in an increasingly challenging environment.

This module also focuses on core function and strategy of roads policing. Students will gain an understanding of legislation, powers with a focus on the RTA 1988. Students will have an opportunity to engage with road traffic offences in a practical way and evaluate how the roads can be effectively policed to disrupt criminal activity.

Learning and Teaching Information:

Lectures
Hours: 40
Intended group size: 25-40

Guided independent study
Hours: 160

Further details relating to assessment
Written Assignment: Students will complete a 2000 word written assignment , selecting a chosen case study of a major or critical (or both) incident and critically examine police response, highlighting and examining challenges faced, and lessons learned as a result.

5-Minute video: Students will produce a 5-minute information video which critically evaluates an aspect of roads policing and includes a preventative evidence-based approach to solutions.

Other information
The module must be passed (minimum 40) as a requirement of the College of Policing and cannot be condoned for marginal failure

Assessment:

001 Group presentation; 20 minutes; end semester 2 50%
002 Video; 5 minutes plus preperation; end semester 2 50%

Fact File

Module Coordinator - Jon Hyslop
Level - 5
Credit Value - 20
Pre-Requisites - NONE
Semester(s) Offered - 5S2

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