Policing

The programme helps equip you with a broad understanding of policing while examining the causes, legal framework and responses to crime. We are licenced by the College of Policing to offer the pre-join degree in Professional Policing, allowing you to study first and then apply to a force and follow a shorter on-the-job training programme.

Designed to prepare you for work in the public or private policing sector, this course is taught by former police service staff who are knowledgeable in the requirements of the division, with topics centred on the College of Policing’s National Policing Curriculum to ensure your learning is relevant to developments and challenges within the sector.

Our Policing programme is also one of few courses that enable you to undertake academic modules alongside volunteering as a special constable, a trained member of the community who works with and supports the local police. Special constables generally volunteer around four hours a week, or more, to assist the police in tackling crime in their community. This invaluable experience can help to prepare you for a range of employment opportunities within the police service after graduating.

Key features

• You will benefit from Education 2030 - DMU’s new way of delivering courses, focusing on ensuring the best possible experience for our students. Through block teaching, you will focus on one subject at a time instead of several at once. This means that you will be able to focus closely on each subject and absorb your learning material in more depth, whilst working more closely with your tutors and course mates.

• This course teaches you the skills and expertise to prepare for a career in the public or private policing sector, where you will be taught by former police service staff who have first-hand experience of the sector and its requirements.

• Teaching is centred on the National Policing Curriculum to ensure your learning is relevant to contemporary developments and challenges in the sector.

• Apply your learning to a real-world context with opportunities to volunteer as a Special Constable to develop your understanding of the material taught on the course and prepare you for a range of employment opportunities within the police service (please note this is subject to meeting the requirements of Leicestershire Police and those set out by the Home Office)

• Gain international experience related to your studies through our DMU Global programme, helping you to apply your learning to a global context. Policing students have previously visited Poland to investigate state crime at the Auschwitz concentration camp, as well as New York to learn about critical incidents of policing in the city.

• This programme caters for a range of career aspirations within the police service and investigatory sector.

• You’ll also have the opportunity to join the Society of Evidenced-Based Policing and engage with the East Midlands Police and Academic Consortium to provide you with insight and context to real-life policing.

First Year
Block 1: Profession of Policing (30 credits)
Block 2: Problem-based Policing (30 credits)
Block 3: Legislation and Policy (30 credits)
Block 4: Research and Study Skills (30 credits)

Second Year
Block 1: Research and Practice (15 credits)
Block 1: Choose one from the below: (15 credits)
*Religion, Faith and Crime
*Mental Health and Crime
*Families, Crime and Justice
*Restorative Justice and Rehabilitation
*Drugs and Substance Misuse
*Crime, Deviance and Subcultures
*Domestic Abuse
*Media and Crime
Block 2: Research and Practice (II) (30 credits)
Block 3: Critical Incident Management & Leadership (I) (30 credits)
Block 4: Leadership and Management of Contemporary Issues in Policing (I) (30 credits)

Third Year
Block 1: Multi-Agency
Block 2: Critical Incident Management & Leadership (II)
Block 3: Leadership and Management of Contemporary Issues in Policing (II)
Block 4: Dissertation

A variety of teaching methods, include:
Lectures
Case studies
Seminars
Desk-top exercises
Workshops
E-learning
Specialist guest lectures from practitioners
Visits to practitioners in action
Assessment methods include:
Essays
Examinations
Phase Tests
Presentations
Posters
Case-study critiques
Desk-top, simulated exercises
Policy books
Research Proposal
Dissertation
All of which will be developed as you progress through the course.
Your precise timetable will depend on your modules; however, typical teaching time is approximately 15 hours each week. In addition, you will also be expected to achieve approximately 20 hours of self-directed study.