Criminology, Policing and Investigation - BA (Hons) *

The module examines the origins and subsequent development of Policing in England and Wales since the early 19th Century. Its major points of focus are the political, economic, social and legal factors which gave rise to the creation of the Police and the effect of these factors on the subsequent growth and development of the police until the present day. The module examines a range of contemporary questions facing the modern police including: the question of the gradual centralisation of police responsibilities and powers; the focus on the core responsibilities of the police and the changing relationship of police to the public and the state.

This module is designed to introduce students to some of the contemporary debates surrounding policing and the police in England and Wales. Leaving aside considerations about the origins, development and function of the police, which is covered by Introduction to Policing, this module explores recent events with have challenged popular ideas of the police and policing. By exploring contemporary examples, such as the riots of 2011, students will develop their knowledge and understanding of the social, economic and political issues, which currently surround policing, and the police.

This module provides learners with the opportunity to develop a more in-depth knowledge and understanding of the different procedures used for qualitative data collection, analysis, interpretation and presentation. Students will particularly be encouraged to think critically about the diverse assumptions that underpin criminological research enabling the wider focus of the programme concerned with the historical and political framework within which

Criminology is situated to be explored. More specifically, the module aims to develop an awareness of the partiality of all social research (focusing in particular on key stratifications such as ‘race’, gender and sexuality, and class).

This module will seek to build upon the level four policing oriented modules. It will explore a range of methodologies for analysing crime and directing criminal investigations, such as criminal intelligence analysis; statistical analysis; data gathering; and, offender profiling techniques. Focus will be given to how crime analysis and criminal investigative techniques can be utilised with regards to crime prevention strategies, and the use of offender profiling and geographical profiling to assist Police in the identification and eventual apprehension of serial offenders.

It will also examine how such strategies can be applied to other, rarer forms of crime - such as family annihilation. Analysis will be predominantly set within relevant crime science and environmental criminology. The module will also explore the series of competences required for the crime analyst role including creative thinking and presenting data.

This module provides an in-depth and critical look at a range of topics relating to security and strategy in the contemporary era. The module deals with the theoretical, ethical and practical elements of topics such as inter-state violence, asymmetric conflict and the role that high-technology has had on different forms of political violence.

This module considers the different forms of forensic evidence and the variety of methods and practices of forensic science. It explores the theories and academic debates surrounding current practice and examines the value of forensic evidence in criminal investigations.

The Working in Criminal Justice module is intended to provide a structured opportunity for students -who choose to take-up work experience broadly related to the criminal justice system - to gain academic recognition by undertaking a programme of academic activity and assessment that enables them to reflect upon the practice of criminal justice, within the context of theoretical insights gained elsewhere on the course.

The module will encourage personal development and employability through the use of reflection and encouragement of self-awareness within the context of professional practice.

This module considers the history and theories of victimology, connotations of the term 'victim' and the social construction of victims. The module also considers and reflects upon the links between social inequality and victimisation, particularly focussing on domestic violence, sexual violence, hate crimes, corporate crimes and state crimes. It also explores the role of the victim in the criminal justice process and the provision of victim support services.

This module will examine the nature of illegal and legal drugs and the changing practices and contexts within which drugs are supplied and consumed. It will critically consider the relationships between drugs use, misuse, abuse, deviance and crime. In considering these issues, the module will seek to discuss the differing normative perspectives on how the national community responds to the various potentially substances.

As such, it will examine the developing history of policy responses to issues of substance using behaviour. Finally, it will evaluate contemporary official policies and practices which varyingly, seek to regulate supply and consumption, punish those using illegal substances/related offending, and reform the problematic consumer or person with an addiction.

The module aims to develop an understanding of the role of intelligence agencies in combating insecurity with particular reference to Britain. The module fulfils this through an examination on key aspects in the field of security studies. It aims to provide an understanding of the role of the British Security Service [MI5] since the end of the Second World War. The focus will be on the manner in which the Service has dealt with changing security threats from Soviet spies, through to internal subversives, the Irish Republican Army and the more recent emergence of Islamic Jihadis within a more accountable and democratic political framework.

This module examines some of the contemporary debates that surround the concept and practice of police ethics, with a particular focus on real life case studies drawn from practitioner experience. These case studies will reveal the morally dangerous nature of police work to students and will equip them with an understanding of how decisions are made by police officers in what are often difficult and stressful situations.

This module will explore essential criminal justice interviewing skills for practice in England and Wales. These modules are designed to have direct relevance to the workplace should students seek to work in the criminal justice (CJ) arena in the future. Students will emerge from these modules equipped with the skills and knowledge to conduct witness and suspect interviews.

This module aims to familiarise students with the process required when applying to join the police. The module will achieve this by providing students with a practical and theoretical understanding of the skills required to successfully pass both the assessment centre exercises and written application all English and Welsh police forces ask applicants to undertake. This optional module is specifically designed to improve the employability of those students who wish to join the police after their degrees and would be advised that this is the case when making their decision about whether to take this module or not.

The aim of the ‘Live project’ module is to provide a framework for you to undertake a substantial piece of disciplinary-relevant project work combined with academic reflexion and knowledge and skills which will give you both experience undertaking project work (working on a specified and approved project rather than undertaking a pure research project) that links your learning with employability skills and a practice context in a socially beneficial manner.

It is founded upon Birmingham City University’s teaching and learning philosophy which integrates theory and practice, and the BCU aims for graduates of building Skills awareness, employability and personal development which is embedded in the curriculum and its strong emphasis on building a professional portfolio of work and experience to ensure easy work transition for students.

The module examines a range of terrorist threats from some anti-colonial groups the British encountered in the final days of the Empire, through to the conflict in Northern Ireland and finally those driven by Islamic extremism. The module pays particular attention to the different methods employed in the battle against terrorism from negotiation through to overt and covert military operation.

The module will examine surveillance and the extent to which everyday life is now subject to an extensive array of monitoring and data collection. The module questions how and why state surveillance practices operate and also explores the extent to which civil liberties and personal freedoms have been affected by recent surveillance developments.

We will consider the revelations of Edward Snowden, Julian Assange, as well as theorists such as Foucault and Bentham. The module will expand on how governments, big business and new technologies are aiding and easing the collection of personal and targeted data.

‘Dark Leisure’ is tied to an emergent criminological research field that unites a multi-disciplinary network of academics, researchers and postgraduate students who explore the boundaries of crime, consumption, leisure and deviance. The topic is informed through critical engagement with a range of perspectives intersecting with the sociological interpretations of crime and deviance, drawing on criminology, law, sociology, urban studies, geography, and leisure and tourism.

The overarching theme of dark (or deviant) leisure therefore unites a wide range of research areas, including: leisure and consumption practices, intoxication, media, parkour/free running, urban exploration, sport and violence, dark tourism, sex work, pornography and bondage, domination, sadism and masochism (BDSM) subcultures and the internet/social media and their impact and correlation with issues of criminological and sociological theory.

This module is designed to develop learners’ ability to explore the extent to which a so-called ‘globalised’ response to transnational corporate and organised crime can be understood as an example of the radical extension of the powers of the powerful internationally.

The module will engage with a wide range of issues such as drug trade, arms trade, smuggling and trafficking in humans and body parts. It will also examine the problems of corporate fraud, tax evasion, corruption, health and safety violations on a global scale. Fundamentally, students will be faced with critical approaches to crime and criminal behaviour, challenging conventional power dynamics and global structures in order to gain a richer understanding of how particular forms crime operates at a global scale.