COURSE IN DEPTH
Year One
In order to complete this course a student must successfully complete all the following CORE modules (totalling 140 credits):
Strategic Leadership and Management
20 credits
Strategic leadership refers to a manager’s potential to express a strategic vision for the organisation, or a part of the organisation, and to motivate and persuade others to acquire that vision. Strategic leadership can also be defined as utilising strategy in the management of employees. It is the potential to influence organisational members and to execute change.
The aim of this module is to identify the core aspects of strategic leadership and how/why visions and values can be developed to enhance working principles and practices. You will examine how strategic leaders create organisational structures, allocate resources and express vision and how managers can work in and create safe environments.
You will explore the main objectives of strategic leadership, examining the balance between staff empowerment and improving productivity. You will be able to identify how strategic leaders encourage the employees to follow their own ideas and generate safe spaces for this to occur, making greater use of reward and incentive systems for encouraging productive. You will be able to recognise how functional strategic leadership focusses on inventiveness, perception, and planning to assist an individual in realising his objectives and goals.
You will participate in learning and teaching on this module via a combination of in-person workshops and ELearning activities. You will attend four, three hour workshops in Semester one on Birmingham City university campus. This will allow you to receive the core aspects of subject material relating to strategic leaderships within policing. In between in-person workshops, you will complete ELearning activities through using VLE. Students will be provided with considerable support for assignments and tasks throughout the 12 weeks of study.
Ethics and Diversity in Policing
20 credits
The aim of this module is to evaluate the concepts, practices and procedures surrounding equality, diversity and inclusion and the ways in which the police engage with diverse communities. The module will evaluate established definitions of equality, diversity and inclusion and how forces integrate these into operational strategy and policy. With historical practice continuing to influence contemporary policing, the content will examine whether Robert Peel’s interpretation of a service which reflected the communities it policed, has continued to focus force policy.
The module will evaluate the historical context of equality and ethical practice and the long and often contentious journey made towards reforming policing operational practice. It will critically examine the widening participation of community groups in police service delivery and the measures used by forces to understand cultural diversity when carrying out their roles and duties. The module requires students to critique how police culture & operational practice has or could influence and reinforce unconscious bias when interacting with the public and the role this plays in influencing community perceptions of the police.
You will participate in learning and teaching on this module via a combination of in-person workshops and ELearning activities. You will attend four, three hour workshops in Semester one on Birmingham City university campus. This will allow you to receive the core aspects of subject material relating to ethics and diversity within policing. In between in-person workshops, you will complete ELearning activities through using VLE.
Fundamentals of Intelligence Analysis
20 credits
The aim of this examine the role of intelligence analysis in combating insecurity both domestically and internationally with particular reference to policing in England and Wales. The module will provide you with an understanding of the development and changing use of intelligence since the end of the Second World War, examining how data and intelligence can be analysed to enhance policing.
You will focus on the manner in which the intelligence is gathered and interpreted with particular discussion as to how the changing security threats operates within an environment increasingly focused on public accountability and disclosure. In the module, you will also examine intelligence theory and how this has been practically applied within civilian, military and policing contexts. You will also examine how changes in technology and the increased focus on social media is seeing a shift in how data is gathered and interpreted within policing. The module will also ask you to develop critical understanding of the legislation which governs police overt and covert intelligence gathering and utilisation and the balancing of these with the civil liberties of those living within the state.
You will participate in learning and teaching on this module via a combination of in-person workshops and ELearning activities. You will attend four, three hour workshops in Semester one on Birmingham City university campus. This will allow you to receive the core aspects of subject material relating to intelligence analysis within policing. In between in-person workshops, you will complete ELearning activities through using VLE.
Applied Intelligence Analysis
20 credits
The aim of this module is to evaluate the use of intelligence analysis with organisations and how it can be used to target resources. The content will explore the collection and application of ‘big data’ and analytics within a range of different sectors. You will discuss the legal responsibilities of organisations when gathering data and the challenges and opportunities that intelligence can bring to wider policing context.
Further to this, you will examine the various methodologies of intelligence analysis, including structured analytical techniques and hypothesis generation, to develop a critical understanding of their relative strengths and weaknesses. You will also evaluate the use of predictive analysis and forecasting, both of which are key elements of intelligence products.
You will participate in learning and teaching on this module via a combination of in-person workshops and ELearning activities. You will attend four, three hour workshops in Semester two on Birmingham City university campus. This will allow you to receive the core aspects of subject material relating to applied intelligence analysis within policing. In between in-person workshops, you will complete ELearning activities through using VLE. You will be provided with considerable support for assignments and tasks throughout the 12 weeks of study.
Research Methods and Practice
20 credits
The aim of the module is to enable you to develop an understanding of the research process and the nature and variety of research methods together with the need for an evidence base to guide decision making processes. The design of the module allows for face-to-face and blended learning. Its characteristic features are to encourage you to see qualitative and quantitative methods as equally valuable and often complementary and to involve you, wherever possible, in using and applying the methods.
The module will equip you with an ability to identify and utilise appropriate strategies and techniques for the purpose of individual investigations and research in professional development and practice. Toward this end, you will undertake workshop sessions, where they are introduced to research examples in order to critically consider how research is undertaken in an academic and professional contexts.
You will develop research skills exploring data management, analysis, interpretation and presentation and preparation; the application of statistical techniques; coding, categorising and pattern seeking in qualitative data; research report writing, publishing and dissemination. The module content will help you to select and apply suitable research methods for dissertation projects.
You will participate in learning and teaching on this module via a combination of in-person workshops and ELearning activities. You will attend four, three hour workshops in Semester two on Birmingham City university campus. This will allow you to receive the core aspects of subject material relating to research methods and practicewithin policing. In between in-person workshops, you will complete ELearning activities through using VLE. You will be provided with considerable support for assignments and tasks throughout the 12 weeks of study.
Policing Action Project
40 credits
The Police Action Project (PAP) is the culmination of the careful and deliberate development of research teaching, learning and practice on the programme. The PAP represents a truly independent piece of research conducted under the supervision of the dissertation tutor. The PAP allows you to conduct your own original research (either primary or secondary) and allows for the demonstration of the following skills: communication in clear written English, the ability to analyse and interpret complex data sets or secondary literature, the ability to analyse and interpret information and arguments, the ability to construct critical arguments, original and independent analysis and judgement, in-depth research skills, time management and planning, the ability to structure and organise an argument.
In order to complete this course a student must successfully complete at least 40 credits from the following indicative list of OPTIONAL modules:
Multi-Professional Practice
20 credits
Multi-Professional Practice refers to a manager’s potential to work across and lead statutory and collaborative multi-agency and partnership arrangements with organisations from the public, private and voluntary sectors. The aim of this module is to develop your strategic, tactical and operational skills in understanding and evaluating policies, structures and practices that govern and influence the way in which multi-professionals deliver improved outcomes for communities. You will also examine the need to influence, motivate and persuade others in understanding mutual business benefits and developing/ delivering improved community safety outcomes in the face of civil emergencies and contingency planning.
The module content will identify the core aspects of multi-professional practice and how/why effective collaborative working practices between diverse organisations can be developed to the benefit of community safety outcomes and outputs and the way appropriate authorities respond to civil emergencies. You will identify how strategic leaders can create effective relationships with partner agencies, create structures, share resources and assets and combine training opportunities to ensure joint work effectiveness and accountability in dealing with a range of multi-disciplinary and emergency demands. You will examine case studies around best practice and how leaders inspire others in reducing risk and maximising safety when working under extreme conditions in protecting the public and their workforce. In order for you to realise their own personal objectives and goals.
You will participate in learning and teaching on this module via a combination of in-person workshops and ELearning activities. You will attend four, three hour workshops in Semester two on Birmingham City university campus. This will allow you to receive the core aspects of subject material relating to multi-professional practice within policing. In between in-person workshops, you will complete ELearning activities through using VLE. You will be provided with considerable support for assignments and tasks throughout the 12 weeks of study.
Evidenced Based Practice
20 credits
The aim of this module is to examine the role of evidence based practice in service delivery, with particular reference to policing. The content will evaluate approaches used in Evidence-Based practice, with reference to specific case studies. This is to ensure that you are able to recognise its impact and effectiveness within policing context.
Content will include consideration of police decision-making, and how effective working can be facilitated through the use of evidence. The different types of evidence that practitioners might draw upon will be evaluated throughout the module, in order to provide you with a comprehensive understanding of the strengths and weaknesses of each. Particular consideration will be given to the need for evaluations of methods, procedures and practices, in order to optimise performance and maximise outcome(s).
You will participate in learning and teaching on this module via a combination of in-person workshops and ELearning activities. You will attend four, three hour workshops in Semester two on Birmingham City university campus. This will allow you to receive the core aspects of subject material relating to evidenced based practice within policing. In between in-person workshops, you will complete ELearning activities through using VLE. You will be provided with considerable support for assignments and tasks throughout the 12 weeks of study.
Critical Incident Command
20 credits
The module aims to develop an understanding of command and control within a range of different organisations, evaluating its implementation within a number of sectors. The content will examine definitions, procedures, relevant legislation which governs within command structures. You will critically examine the importance of developing resilience within organisational structures as well as lines of formal and informal communication in order to create memorandums of understanding amongst groups and organisations under the command of a team or individual.
The module will critically examine the function of command and control structures and how organisations identify core goals and objectives which are achievable within the resources available to the team. You will evaluate the importance of communication and ensuring that lines of communication are clear within both in planned and spontaneous incidents.
You will participate in learning and teaching on this module via a combination of in-person workshops and ELearning activities. You will attend four, three hour workshops in Semester three on Birmingham City university campus. This will allow you to receive the core aspects of subject material relating to command and control within policing. In between in-person workshops, you will complete ELearning activities through using VLE. You will be provided with considerable support for assignments and tasks throughout the 12 weeks of study.
Advanced Safeguarding and Public Protection
20 credits
The aim of this module is to examine the methods and policies which protect, empower and support those who are vulnerable within England and Wales. The content will define safeguarding and examine how multi-agency partnership approaches and policy, attempts to reduce the risk factors which can lead to displacement and exploitation. You will evaluate the difficulties of providing protection and the increasing issues faced by forces in the backdrop of austerity and a cost saving approaches.
You will examine key pieces of legislation including the Mental Capacity Act (2005) and what agencies should do to manage and protect those with severe learning, mental and physical disabilities within England and Wales. Concepts such as vulnerability, neglect, abuse, forced marriage and modern slavery will be examined in critical detail with specific reference to mixed methods and approaches developed by agencies to tackle these issues.
You will participate in learning and teaching on this module via a combination of in-person workshops and ELearning activities. You will attend four, three hour workshops in Semester three on Birmingham City university campus. This will allow you to receive the core aspects of subject material relating to ethics and diversity within policing. In between in-person workshops, you will complete ELearning activities through using VLE. You will be provided with considerable support for assignments and tasks throughout the 12 weeks of study.
All core modules are guaranteed to run. Optional modules will vary from year to year and the published list is indicative only.
