Module SXY-2006:
Policing the Roads
Module Facts
Run by School of History, Law and Social Sciences
20.000 Credits or 10.000 ECTS Credits
Semester 1
Organiser: Ms Michelle McBreeze
Overall aims and purpose
This module aims to provide students with an understanding of the legislation, policies and procedures relating to policing the roads. It will cover the initial police response at the scene of collisions in detail and exposure to the specialist road policing units engaged in accident investigation, vehicle pursuits and motorways. Students will learn traffic law and deal with traffic offences. Students will gain awareness of how traffic offences can be linked to other criminal activity and how roads are used to facilitate other criminal activity. Motivations for dangerous driving and prevention activities will also be discussed.
Course content
Indicative Content -Purpose and role of the police in policing the roads -Key legislation, concepts, policies and strategies on policing the roads -Other crimes linked to the roads – smuggling, organised crime, transport of weapons, drugs, and people -Motivations for dangerous driving – drinks and drugs, speeding – and prevention strategies -Investigation of traffic offences and accidents
Assessment Criteria
threshold
D- to D+ Assessment is based on the degree of engagement with academic literature and student's ability to summarise and critically analyse theory. For a threshold grade, engagement with the academic literature is weak; the student's ability to summarise theory will be mainly descriptive; and there will be little critical analysis and understanding of how theory relates to policing practice.
good
C- to B+ Assessment is based on the degree of engagement with academic literature and student's ability to summarise and critically analyse theory. For a good and very good grade, there will be good engagement with the academic literature, reflected in the use of a wide range of academic sources; the discussion of the academic theory will go beyond mere description and there will be a critical analysis of theory and how it is applied to policing practice.
excellent
A- to A+ Assessment is based on the degree of engagement with academic literature and student's ability to summarise and critically analyse theory. For an excellent grade, there will be extensive engagement with the relevant academic literature; a sophisticated presentation of academic theory and a well developed critical analysis of theory. Students will show an excellent grasp of how theory relates to practice.
Learning outcomes
-
Understand criminal activity linked to the roads network and suitable disruption techniques
-
Examine the investigation of traffic collisions and implications arising from them
-
Examine legislation, police powers and the most common offences associated with policing the roads
-
Examine the motivations for dangerous driving and how prevention programmes are designed
-
Examine core policing functions and strategies relating to policing the roads
Assessment Methods
Type | Name | Description | Weight |
---|---|---|---|
Essay | 50.00 | ||
Exam | 50.00 |
Teaching and Learning Strategy
Hours | ||
---|---|---|
Lecture | 2-hour lectures weekly |
24 |
Seminar | 1-hour seminar, weekly |
12 |
Private study | 158 | |
Practical classes and workshops | Simulations of roads policing environment, accidents, etc |
6 |
Transferable skills
- Literacy - Proficiency in reading and writing through a variety of media
- Numeracy - Proficiency in using numbers at appropriate levels of accuracy
- Computer Literacy - Proficiency in using a varied range of computer software
- Self-Management - Able to work unsupervised in an efficient, punctual and structured manner. To examine the outcomes of tasks and events, and judge levels of quality and importance
- Exploring - Able to investigate, research and consider alternatives
- Information retrieval - Able to access different and multiple sources of information
- Inter-personal - Able to question, actively listen, examine given answers and interact sensitevely with others
- Critical analysis & Problem Solving - Able to deconstruct and analyse problems or complex situations. To find solutions to problems through analyses and exploration of all possibilities using appropriate methods, rescources and creativity.
- Safety-Consciousness - Having an awareness of your immediate environment, and confidence in adhering to health and safety regulations
- Management - Able to utilise, coordinate and control resources (human, physical and/or financial)
- Argument - Able to put forward, debate and justify an opinion or a course of action, with an individual or in a wider group setting
- Self-awareness & Reflectivity - Having an awareness of your own strengths, weaknesses, aims and objectives. Able to regularly review, evaluate and reflect upon the performance of yourself and others
Subject specific skills
- The role of the police constable, its history, and changes over time
- The context of contemporary policing; police culture; models of policing including community policing, evidence-based policing; the extended police family
- Crime investigation processes, criminal justice, and complex crimes
- Crime prevention measures and their effectiveness as well as human rights issues in relation to preventive and pre-emptive measures
- Different theoretical approaches to the study, analysis and explanation of crime, deviance, victimization and policing; relationships between crime and social change and the impact of globalization
- Apply different policing models and communication skills as situations require
- Recognise individuals' vulnerabilities and situations of risk (to self and others)
- Ability to locate, manage, and analyse secondary data, as well as generating and evaluating empirical evidence
- Assess the merits of competing theories relevant to crime, victimisation and policing as well as other responses to crime and deviance
- Gather, retrieve and synthesise data and information; reporting and presenting data analyses graphically and in writing
Courses including this module
Compulsory in courses:
- L436: BSc Professional Policing (Pre-join) year 2 (BSC/PP)