LW6049 - Advanced Criminal Procedure

What will I learn on this module?

This module will look in depth at different types of policing including roads policing, the policing of major incidents and complex investigations. It will include:

MAJOR INCIDENTS: Explain the role and responsibilities of the police at a major incident including the differences between a critical incident and a major incident and who can declare a major incident and the command structure. It will analyse the role of the police within a joint emergency services operation including examining the effectiveness of joint interoperability between the emergency services, JESIP principles and the role of police at an incident.

ROADS POLICING: Explain how to apply a problem-solving process to investigate small-scale incidents and collisions on the roads. Understand the more prevalent criminal activity facilitated by the road network. Methods of gathering intelligence and information including stopping a vehicle, and follow up actions. Reviewing prevention and disruption options available, to target criminal activity on the road network: understand the impact of organised crime activity and how criminal activity on the road can be targeted. Review the evidence base associated with serious road policing offences, and strategies associated with reducing the number of collisions.

COMPLEX INVESTIGATIONS: Review the roles and processes associated with conducting complex investigations including relevant legislation and community considerations. Understanding the role of internal specialists and additional investigative processes that may be required e.g. inquest and coroners. Explain additional professional considerations to be taken into account in relation to specific complex investigations and specific legislation applicable.

CoP pre-join curriculum learning outcomes: CoP February 2023 curriculum v6.0:
Policing the Roads: 6, 7, 8, 9
Police Investigations:8, 9, 10
Response Policing: 6, 7, 10
Decision Making and Discretion: 6, 7

How will I learn on this module?

The module will run across a 12-week semester with students learning through webcasts, lectures, seminars and tutor-guided and student-independent learning. The lecturer will use historical and current political developments, case law and academic writing to give context to core principles. The seminars are reliant on you preparing answers and exercises using both tutor-guided and independent learning and research. You will be given directed learning to prepare for seminar tasks, which go beyond lecture content. Independent learning will include locating and reading relevant source material and will again go beyond both lecture content and directed seminar learning. In seminars students will be able to develop their knowledge by applying findings to factual scenarios and developing oral presentation skills by presenting research findings to the wider group.
The ‘’Advanced Criminal Procedure’ eLP site contains a module handbook outlining the content of the module. Lecture slides, digital lecture recordings and seminar exercises will also be made available on the eLP site. Formative feedback will be provided on knowledge and understanding of criminal procedure as well as a number of opportunities to engage with the method of assessment used in the module.

How will I be supported academically on this module?

You will be supported through active participation and discussion during seminars. All lecture and seminar material will be available on the University’s eLearning Portal, supplemented with guidance on further reading relevant to the subjects.
Written assessment feedback will also be provided to allow you to understand how you performed and how you can build on this performance in subsequent assessments within your programme.

What will I be expected to read on this module?

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)

What will I be expected to achieve?

Knowledge & Understanding:
By the end of the module you should be able to:
1. Demonstrate your knowledge and understanding of key principles of criminal procedure relating to roads policing; major incidents and complex investigations and be able to apply those principles in the context of given scenarios encountered by police.

2. Demonstrate your ability to identify, explain, evaluate and interpret relevant law and other guidance, in relation to policing the roads and major incidents.

Intellectual / Professional skills & abilities:
By the end of the module you should be able to:
3. Communicate your knowledge and understanding of key principles of criminal law and of relevant case law to policing and statutory authorities accurately.

4. Understand the variety of policy/guidance documents relevant to policing and the work of other agencies intersecting with the police in the criminal justice system.

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

By the end of the module you should have developed the ability to:
5. understand and put into practice the fundamental responsibility of the police service to identify and support those who are vulnerable or at risk and understand how to conduct a lawful, safe and effective investigation.

How will I be assessed?

Formative assessment

Formative assessment will be provided in the form of tutor feedback on workshop tasks relating to a scenario, various aspects of which will be examined throughout the semester. The scenario gradually brings together the various topics of the curriculum that include road policing, response policing and complex investigations. The workshop tasks will require you to assess the legality and appropriateness according to professional standards of police actions. You will be required to provide a brief written answer to a task question.

You will receive brief written feedback on your answer individually, and oral feedback will be provided to the group in the form of discussion in the next workshop.

Summative assessment

The summative assessment on this module will consist in a 3000-word four-component portfolio end-course written submission. You will be required to review four different aspects/stages of the investigation unfolding in the scenario examined in the workshops throughout the semester. You will be expected to provide an appraisal of the legality and appropriateness, according to professional standards, of police actions, up to a maximum of 750 words per component. Each of the four components of the portfolio counts towards 25% of the total mark.

You will receive summative feedback in written form via the eLP and orally from module tutors.

Assessment Criteria and Grade-Related Criteria will be made available to you to support you in completing assessments. Grade-Related Descriptors are descriptions of the level of skills, knowledge and/or attributes that you need to demonstrate in order achieve a certain grade or mark in an assessment, providing a mechanism by which the quality of an assessment can be measured and placed within the overall set of marks

Pre-requisite(s)

N/A

Co-requisite(s)

N/A

Module abstract

Understanding how to police the roads, major incidents, and conduct complex criminal investigations is critical for effective policing. It is vital to understand how police function and interact with other emergency services, and other critical specialists within the criminal process. In this module you will study a number of key policing functions, and will consider the roles and responsibilities of the police in policing the roads, major incidents, and conducting complex investigations. You will examine how crimes are investigated, ethically and respecting human rights and other professional obligations. You will develop the ability to locate relevant criminal law and other guidance documents and to understand and explain the information so obtained. You will also develop the ability to explain principles of criminal law and professional policing by forming structured and coherent arguments, using correct legal terminology, and to problem solve by applying your knowledge of criminal procedure to given factual scenarios.

Course info

UCAS Code LL44

Credits 20

Level of Study Undergraduate

Mode of Study 3 years full-time

Department Social Sciences

Location City Campus, Northumbria University

City Newcastle

Start September 2024 or September 2025

Fee Information

Module Information

All information is accurate at the time of sharing. 

Full time Courses are primarily delivered via on-campus face to face learning but could include elements of online learning. Most courses run as planned and as promoted on our website and via our marketing materials, but if there are any substantial changes (as determined by the Competition and Markets Authority) to a course or there is the potential that course may be withdrawn, we will notify all affected applicants as soon as possible with advice and guidance regarding their options. It is also important to be aware that optional modules listed on course pages may be subject to change depending on uptake numbers each year.  

Contact time is subject to increase or decrease in line with possible restrictions imposed by the government or the University in the interest of maintaining the health and safety and wellbeing of students, staff, and visitors if this is deemed necessary in future.

 

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