Professional Policing (Foundation Entry)

Program Overview

The BSc (Hons) Professional Policing (Foundation Entry) program is a four-year, pre-recognized route to becoming a police constable. It combines academic study with practical skills development, covering a broad range of policing practices and professional responsibilities. The program includes opportunities for student development within the university and the police force, and graduates are highly valued by both private and public sector employers.

Program Outline

Degree Overview:

The BSc (Hons) Professional Policing (Foundation Entry) is a four-year, full-time program designed for students who have the ability to study for a degree but lack the necessary formal qualifications to directly enter their chosen Honours degree program. This program is pre-recognized by the police service as one of the entry routes for the role of police constable.

Objectives:

The program aims to equip students with the knowledge, skills, and behaviors necessary to become highly skilled, multi-competent Police Constables. It focuses on developing:

• A broad spectrum of policing practice, including response policing, policing communities, policing the roads, information and intelligence, and conducting investigations.
• Professional responsibility in areas such as the study of vulnerability and risk, digital policing, and counter-terrorism.

Outline:

Year 0:

• Academic Skills for Higher Education: Develop core literacy skills for independent study at Level 4 and beyond.
• Verbal skills: Rights and Debating: Enhance verbal skills and confidence through individual and group tasks and debates on contemporary human rights/social justice issues.

Year 1:

• Efficient Policing: Develop academic skills needed to meet the national curriculum for potential police constable candidates, covering key concepts, problem-solving approaches, and communication skills.
• Effective Policing: Enhance understanding of reflective practice and the College of Policing Code of Ethics values framework.
• Policing in Context: Understand legal and professional responsibilities of policing, including powers, legislation, and Authorised Professional Practice.
• Police Professionalism and Accountability: Develop understanding of policing-related decision-making, autonomy, professional discretion, and the fundamental responsibility of the police service.
• Applied Decision Making: Understand the role of a first responder in incident management, including skills required for attending incidents, considerations for high-risk incidents, and equality, diversity, and human rights considerations.

Year 2:

• Being Efficient in Policing: Cover evidence-based policing techniques and strategies for addressing common police-related community or crime problems.
• Protecting Communities: Identify and investigate challenges communities face when tackling vulnerability and risk in a community policing setting, including vulnerable road users.
• Community Policing: Learn about working and communicating with a community to maintain public confidence in policing.
• Digital Communities: Understand the value of using digital technologies to improve police performance in preventing and solving crimes, enhancing public safety, and improving efficiency and effectiveness.

Year 3:

• Demonstrating Efficiencies in Policing: Develop problem-solving and research skills through a detailed research project based on a core policing area.
• Traditional Service Delivery: Apply existing knowledge through role play and practical decision-making scenarios to prepare for a multi-role OSPE (Objective Structured Police Exams).
• Contemporary Challenges: Raise awareness of potential forms of harm to communities and the impact on trust in policing.

Teaching:

• The course is delivered by expert academics and former senior police officers with extensive practical and operational experience.
• Delivery methods include lectures, seminars, tutorials, practical sessions, and independent study.
• Independent study is an important aspect of the degree course.

Careers:

• The program leads to the option to apply for a career in the police or associated investigative professions.
• Graduates are highly valued by private and public sector employers in all areas of employment.
• Many graduates join local forces or work for the British Transport Police.
• Other career paths include working within insurance or banking, Civil Nuclear Constabulary, HM Prison Service, or fraud investigation within the Department of Social Security and UK Border Agency.
• There is no guarantee that successful completion will lead to an employment opportunity with the police service.

Other:

• The program includes opportunities within the University and the police force to develop knowledge, skills, and behaviors, helping students achieve academic and operational competence.
• The School has outstanding facilities, including Forensic Crime Scene Houses and the Hydra Minerva Suite for disaster management simulation.
• The police service has its own selection procedure and entry requirements, including physical requirements, background checks, and vetting enquiries.
• Students will need a satisfactory Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service clearance (formerly termed CRB) as they will be working with vulnerable groups, including children.
• The program is based in the School of Law and Policing.

UK First year £9,250 for the first year Full-time £9,250 per year International First year £16,400 for the first year Full-time £16,500 per year