DA5103 - Achieving Full Operational Competence (PCDA)

Topics will normally be introduced in lectures and explored through learning involving a variety of classroom-based lectures and role play scenarios. The aim is to use interactive presentations, speakers from relevant police departments, tutor-guided and independent student learning, along with student presentations and formative assessments. Students will be encouraged to develop independent learning skills. The university library offers support for all students through its catalogue and an Ask4Help online tool. During the operational deployment stage, you will consolidate your learning through on-the-job learning.

Students will be supported through a variety of means including classroom participation and discussion. All lecture, seminar and workshop material will be available on the University’s eLearning Portal, supplemented with guidance on further reading relevant to the subjects. Written or verbal assessment feedback will be used to enable students to understand how they performed and how these aspects can be improved in subsequent assessments. During the operational phase of the module, you will be supported by work based coaches and suitably qualified operational staff.

All modules at Northumbria include a range of reading materials that students are expected to engage with. The reading list for this module can be found at: http://readinglists.northumbria.ac.uk
(Reading List service online guide for academic staff this containing contact details for the Reading List team – http://library.northumbria.ac.uk/readinglists)

Knowledge & Understanding:

1. Applicable aspects of Authorised Professional Practice (the official source of policing professional practice), legal and organisational requirements relating to the operational policing context (response, community, intelligence, investigation, and roads/transport), including how to:

a. effectively respond to incidents, preserving scenes and evidence when necessary

b. manage and resolve conflict safely and lawfully.

c. arrest, detain and report individuals safely and lawfully.

d. conduct diligent and efficient, priority and high volume investigations.

e. effectively interview victims, witnesses, and suspects

f. systematically gather, submit and share information and intelligence to further policing-related outcomes.

g. meticulously and ethically search individuals, vehicles, premises and outside and virtual spaces.

h. optimise the use of available technology.

i. risk manage health and safety for self and for others.

2. How to interpret and apply the letter and essence of all relevant law, as it relates to any encountered policing situation, incident, or context.

Intellectual/Professional skills & abilities (IPSA): 

IPSA -

3. Apply Authorised Professional Practice and any local policy applicable to the operational policing context.

4. Gather, handle, and accurately analyse information and intelligence from a variety of sources to support law enforcement and to maximise policing effectiveness.

Personal Values Attributes (Global / Cultural awareness, Ethics, Curiosity) (PVA): 


6. Taking accountability – Being accountable and taking ownership for own role and responsibilities, whilst being effective and willing to take appropriate, justifiable risks.

Full Operational Competence (FOC): The assessment of applied skills in the workplace will examine the links to underpinning theory, knowledge and understanding from the curriculum.


To achieve full operational competence, the Operational Competence Portfolio should provide evidence of the learner’s continuing development of knowledge, skills, and experience (and, by implication, enhanced professional practice) throughout the latter stages of the programme, up to when the learner is put forward for formal final assessment.

This evidence will be of two broad types:
1. Further evidence relating to the performance areas originally covered by IPS will continue to be collated throughout the programme, even after IPS has been achieved. Evidence should be presented in the portfolio relating to at least two further occasions of professional performance linked to each of the assessment criteria for Independent Patrol (IPS). The further entries in the portfolio should provide evidence of enhanced professional practice. In addition, evidence should also be provided in respect of how the learner has met higher-level assessment criteria in relation to the five key areas of policing.

2.Evidence supporting operational competence gathered and presented in the OCP at any stage during the learning programme should conform to the following key underpinning principles:
• Validity – The legitimacy of the evidence provided e.g. body-worn camera footage may be deemed more valid than the account of a fellow learner
• Authenticity – Is the evidence truthful and honest or has it been fabricated?
• Currency – Is the evidence relevant to what is currently being assessed?
• Sufficiency – Is there sufficient evidence on which to make an assessment judgement.



Much assessment evidence will occur naturally and will manifest itself in many different forms. Types of evidence that are likely to be relevant to achievement of operational competence can include the following (note: this is not an exhaustive list):
• Evidence from incidents and situations that the candidate has taken part in during their operational duties, and which may therefore link directly to case file documentation.
• Audio or digital recording (including body-worn video) of relevant events
• Testimonials e.g. where evidence has been prepared by the candidate for court purposes.
• Feedback from the community, colleagues across the wider policing family and partner agencies or groups.
• Evidence of continuing professional development (CPD) activities
Reflective accounts.
• Professional discussions

Corroborating evidence.

N/A

N/A

PCDA curriculum learning outcomes (Core National learning):

The Police Constable Role and Professional Standards 1.1-2.1

Valuing diversity and inclusion 1.1-1.3

Wellbeing and resilience 1.1

Leadership and Team Working 1.1-6.1

Communication skills 1.1

Community Policing and Partnership Working 1.1-3.2

Response policing 1.1-3.1

Roads policing 1.1-3.1

Information, intelligence and evidence 1.1-2.1

Conducting investigations 1.1-3.1



PCDA learning outcomes (Core Local learning):

The police constable role and professional standards 1.1-3.1

Valuing diversity and inclusion 1.1-1.3

Wellbeing and resilience 1.1-3.1

Communication skills 1.1-1.2

Prevention and problem solving 1.1-1.2

Suspect/offender management 1.1-2.2h

Community policing and partnership working 1.1-9.1

Response policing 1.1-2.1

Roads policing 1.1

Information, intelligence and evidence 1.1-5.1

Conducting investigations 1.1-3.1





This module extends your knowledge around the five key areas of policing that you were introduced to in previous modules. It aims to provide you with the knowledge, understanding and practical work-based experience in the five key areas, ensuring that you are full equipped with the skills required for the modern-day officer. The blended approach of initial classroom-based learning and operational deployment will allow you to put your learning into practice, whilst also providing the opportunity for the collation of evidence required for Full Occupational Competence.