COURSE CURRICULUM

This course provides a comprehensive understanding of policing, investigation, and the wider criminal justice process, preparing students for careers in law enforcement and related fields. In the first year, you will explore the foundations of policing, contemporary issues in policing communities, and the importance of communication, decision-making, and discretion in investigations, alongside developing skills in evidence-based policing and research. The second year builds on this by focusing on the role of victims in the investigative process, the interaction between criminal investigation and the justice system, and gaining practical experience through research methods and a professional placement. Optional modules such as The Problem of Proof and Expert Evidence and Criminal Case Review allow you to develop a deeper understanding of the complexities of legal processes and evidence evaluation. In the final year, you will study advanced topics including serious and organised crime, contemporary issues in investigation, and professional work-based learning, while also having the option to specialise in areas such as miscarriages of justice, abuse of power, or the dynamics and investigation of murder. By the end of the course, you will have gained practical skills, theoretical knowledge, and critical insights necessary for tackling modern investigative challenges.