Criminology with Policing BSc (Hons)

This module will enable students to critically consider the array of individuals, agencies and processes integral to the functioning of the criminal justice system. Through their discoveries, students will enhance their understanding and knowledge of the solitary and shared role(s), responsibility(s) and experience(s) of those (in-)directly involved within the criminal justice system. And become cognisant of the cooperative and competitive relationships between those involved within and impacted by criminal justice policymaking and practice: inclusive of, yet not limited to offenders, victims, practitioners and the publics. This module will encourage students to critically evaluate the influence sociodemographic characteristics and lived experiences hold in the operational objectives, procedures and outcomes of the criminal justice system. As well as for students upon the module to reflect on the application of philosophical and theoretical concepts within criminal justice decision-making. This module will allow students to acquire meaningful skills which can be influential in their personal and professional lives as advocates for the preservation of a fair and equal criminal justice system. From having explored and discovered former, current and prospective approaches to delivering justice and reducing harm(s) in practice, as well as developing their capacity to communicate effectively to an audience.

You will explore the influence of both traditional and contemporary media platforms on societal views of crime, deviance, inequality, mental health and politics as well as other key social issues. You will examine key academic literature and theories, learning to critically analyse concepts such as agenda-setting, news values, and media framing, as well as influential models like Chomsky and Herman's propaganda model and moral panic theory. You will discover the evolution of media, from its historical roots to the complex world of social media, examining the power dynamics in media ownership, the regulatory landscape, and the framing of social issues. Through case studies, you will apply your learning to real-world examples, understanding how media representations impact public opinion and influence policy on topics like mental health, poverty, welfare, and crime. This module is essential for anyone interested in understanding the major impact of media on society and social change.

This module offers a critical excursion of theory, legislation, policy and practice in the domain of contemporary youth justice. Children and young people may be considered both victim and offender and students within this module will explore representations of this stage of the life-course. This module provides students with a critical insight into criminal justice and societal responses to children and young people in conflict with the law. Through exploration of public, political and media attention to children and young people alongside modern reformers and activists, students will develop an ability to communicate arguments relevant to youth justice. This module aims to provide students with the key skills to develop an alternative assessment of the ‘youth crime problem’. Students will learn about personal and professional opportunities and develop an ability to respond to feedback about practical and academic work relevant to contemporary youth justice.

This module combines the essential aspects of policing, criminal law, decision making and police powers and procedures. It is designed to introduce you to the principles and application of legislation in relation to crime and the criminal justice system. You will be taught relevant legislation to the activities of a police officer and how to break down the legislation into points to prove. Practical scenarios and discussions will allow you to understand how to apply the law at police incidents, as well as considering the different agencies that make up the criminal justice system and how these reflect our understanding of 'crime' and the purpose of punishment.

In addition, you will begin to understand the various functions of the criminal justice system including the courts and supporting vulnerable victims and witnesses. Academic skills of notetaking and revision skills will be developed to assist in identifying the relevant aspects of lectures for the online exam. Revision sessions and knowledge checks will be utilised to cement knowledge and introduce techniques to assist in retaining information. Students will then develop the skill of applying the law at policing incidents together with the National Decision Model, utilising a structured approach to decision making in policing. Videos of incidents and scenarios will be used to allow students to apply decision making and provide rationales during group discussions. Key documentation such as the Core Investigative Doctrine will be used to develop ethically recorded rationales and how discretion, accountability, ethical behaviour, risk and bias can potentially impact on professional and objective decision making.

You will be taught essential skills such as communication skills and the importance of the types of questions to elicit information from a victim or witness. The purpose and structure of a statement will be discussed together with decision making and the recording of information at policing incidents. A series of practical role plays will provide you with the opportunity to witness an incident and then write your own statement before taking statements from victims and witnesses using authentic documentation. You will then combine these skills in immersive exercises using our Visual-reality (VR) cave and in a series of role play scenarios. This will be the opportunity to make and develop decision making skills and your rationales for those decisions. Students will be taught reflective practices and theories such as Gibbs reflective cycle, together with research skills to find relevant academic sources. Essay writing skills will be developed during the module and these skills will be used to reflect on decisions and actions during the role plays to produce a reflective piece of work as the second assessment of the module. The practical workings of a court will be witnessed through visiting and observing their Chester Magistrates Court and Chester Crown Court.

This module will enable students to critically develop their existing knowledge and understanding of current – and former – representations of crime and criminal justice. Through analytically deconstructing a wide array of historical, geographical, social and political representations of crime and criminal justice. Students upon the module will be encouraged to identify and assess how and why these representations of crime and criminal justice are constructed and disseminated among society. Considerations of gender, class, disability, age, race, religion and sex will therefore be acknowledged to emphasise the spectrum of individuals within society (sub-)consciously influential in, as well as influenced by representations of crime and criminal justice. Whilst the philosophical and theoretical concepts which are embedded throughout the module will serve to highlight to students the advantages and limitations of representations throughout practice. This module will allow students to acquire meaningful skills which can be pivotal in their personal and professional lives as champions of social justice reform. From having explored and discovered the pervasive influence representations hold over the ongoing (re-)configuration of culture in practice, as well as developing their digital proficiencies in communication.

You will develop an understanding of the social and legal consequences of the social constructions of, and interactions between, race, ethnicity and migration in the contemporary governance of global injustice, You will analyse arguments about migration, both as a range of practices and relations that people enact, and as a system of governance that manages security as well as inequality in the freedom to move, and in life opportunities. You will examine the challenges and harms of border controls, the attribution or denial of citizen rights, and migrant detention. You will also develop understanding of how systemic inequities in race and ethnicity intersect with criminal justice practices, influencing outcomes such as policing, sentencing, and incarceration. Through exploration of individual biographies and case studies, you will come to recognise the core issues of concern in race, ethnicity, migration and justice. 

Experiential Learning - Social Impact Leadership on Action (40 Credits) Option
This experiential module is designed to provide students with hands-on learning experiences that complement their academic studies. This module aims to bridge the gap between personal social missions, theory and practice, equipping students with critical awareness, essential skills and experiences for their future plans, including employment, further study and other ventures. The module is enriched through partnership working between academics and others working in a range of organisations promoting social impact. Students will have opportunities to foster their own social missions, develop and apply academic understanding and key skills through working on real-world projects. Key components of teaching and learning include:

• Real-World Projects: Students engage in projects that address actual challenges faced by organisations, allowing them to apply theoretical knowledge and key skills in practical settings.
• Service Learning: Initiatives that combine community service with learning objectives, promoting social responsibility and civic engagement.
• Reflective Practices: Encouraging students to reflect on their experiences through journals, discussions, and skills analyses to enhance critical thinking and personal growth.
• Networking Opportunities: A range of networking opportunities will be shared that students can engage in during independent study to build sector insights and develop their networks.
• Skills workshops: Experts will deliver Social Impact Leadership workshops giving insight into personal success and challenges in their paths and teaching key skills towards success.
• Career Guidance workshops: Knowledge from Career Experts will underpin career guidance to support students to develop personalised plans for actioning towards aspirations, including employment, further study and other aspirations.

This module aims to empower students with the tools and resources necessary to secure meaningful employment and embark on successful careers.

The aim of this module is to focus on the Anatomy of a Crime and allow the students to apply learning in a safe teaching environment and to develop employability skills as criminal investigators. The intention is for students to investigate a reported crime from its initial report, up to presenting evidence at court. This module builds on knowledge relating to criminal decision making and the responsibilities of a response officer.

An investigative journey will include the Hydra Immersive Suite, where students will receive the report of the crime and develop a hypothesis of the cause and develop intelligence to identify a suspect. They will then attend the Crime Scene House, where they will develop skills in implementing witness and forensic strategies and digital forensic strategies, as well as create ongoing decision logs to effectively record their decision-making processes. Having gathered all available sources of intelligence and evidence, the students will plan and execute a search warrant culminating in the arrest of a suspect along with Investigative interviewing of the identified suspect. Finally, the students will prepare their evidence in a case file that will ultimately be presented at court. Students will also attend sessions in Chester Crown Court to witness police officers and witnesses present their evidence. This will allow students to apply prior learning and develop skills in criminal investigation, teamworking, public speaking and communication skills.

Preparation for the year abroad will take place in Chester during level 5 and will include:

• Cross-cultural issues and sensitivity
• Host-country orientation, study methods– economic, political and social reality of the country
• Orientation specific to exchange – health, education, gender issues
• The United Nations Sustainable Development Goals
• Practical matters relating to living and studying in the wider world

Theories, models and strategies of learning

• Critical thinking skills, experiential learning and models of reflection

Personal and placement-related transversal skills

• Effective self-motivation and independent resourcefulness
• Effective time management and organisational skills
• Project management – working away from University and independent study
• Self-management and personal development

Whilst abroad:

You will undertake study at one of the University of Chester's partner universities or undertake and approved work placement or virtual placement. If you are a student,  it is expected that you will choose a series of modules at the university abroad which must be agreed by the host institution and the Module Leader. you must supply details of you modules on a learning agreement within 4 weeks of arrival at the host university.

What role can you play as a social scientist beyond the University? This module explores our public responsibilities as social scientists to share our knowledge beyond university walls and contribute to social change locally, nationally and globally. You will consider how ideas, theories and practice from your studies can impact the real-world causing real change. Together, we'll discuss the major social challenges that public social scientists encounter today and what can be done about them. The module also encourages you to think about life after university, considering the responsibilities and opportunities you have as a social science graduate to bring your insight and expertise to the world.

This module critically examines the multifaceted ways in which state actions can contribute to social harms, injustices, and environmental degradation. Students will explore state-induced crimes through a critical criminological lens, focusing on how policies and actions can perpetuate systemic inequalities and harm both individuals and communities globally. The module introduces sense-making theories, providing tools to analyse and evaluate the impact of state actions on broader social injustices, including ecological damage and economic inequality. Through a combination of theoretical insights and real-world case studies, students will critically assess topics such as state violence, environmental harms, economic policies, and human rights violations. Key learning outcomes include the ability to analyse the global impacts of state-induced crimes, apply theoretical frameworks, and devise strategies for mitigating harms. The module emphasises practical, socially responsible approaches to addressing systemic issues, equipping students with actionable skills to contribute to meaningful change. With a structured curriculum spanning ten weeks, topics include the historical and contemporary dimensions of state crime, environmental and social injustices, and the role of human rights frameworks. By the end, students will be well-prepared to critically engage with these pressing global challenges and advocate for justice in diverse contexts.

You will develop as a social researcher, equipped to undertake your own research projects. You will learn how to design research plans, manage ethical issues, undertake data analysis, and present your findings. You will develop skills in both qualitative and quantitative research methods, and practice methods in small group settings. You will apply your learning to a research topic of your choice, developing and generating knowledge on real-world phenomena relevant to your intended future career. You will be supported one-to-one by a supervisor with research expertise who can advise throughout your project. You will develop investigative, analytical and presentation skills that will be of value throughout your career.

You will critically analyse justifications of punishment over history to the present day, nationally and internationally. You will examine different types of punishment and their use in penal policy. You will develop knowledge of the role of punishment practitioners and their practices. You will study the impact of gender, race, religion, age, class, sex, and disability on the delivery and experience of punishment, with case studies on current social issues such as transgender prisoner policy, and the challenges of young and aging prison populations. You will critically assess the ethics of imprisonment and other punishment, and a range of perspectives on criminal justice reform, including arguments for rehabilitation outside prisons and abolitionist perspectives.