Module SXY-2007:
Investigating Complex Crimes
Module Facts
Run by School of History, Law and Social Sciences
20.000 Credits or 10.000 ECTS Credits
Semester 1 & 2
Organiser: Mr Graham Talbot
Overall aims and purpose
This module will build on the knowledge gained in Year 1 on conducting police investigation and explore specific considerations that apply to conducting investigations of more complex criminal activity, for example, complex internet-facilitated crime, organised crime, or fraud. The module with also consider cold case reviews and missing persons cases. It develops students’ understanding of partnership working and the skills of other professionals in effectively conducting complex investigations.
Course content
Indicative content: -Features of complex investigations – fraud, organised crime, sexual offending -Range of specialists and resources available -Victims and witnesses and their needs -Cold cases and missing persons -Effectiveness of investigating complex cases and strategies to improve them
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
-
Examine the particular features of cold cases and missing persons cases
-
Review the effectiveness of complex investigations and strategies to improve these
-
Understand processes of investigating more complex crimes
-
Examine the additional sources of support and specialists required for investigating complex crime
-
Appreciate the different needs of victims and witnesses in complex crimes
Assessment Methods
Type | Name | Description | Weight |
---|---|---|---|
Scenario | 50.00 | ||
Essay | 50.00 |
Teaching and Learning Strategy
Hours | ||
---|---|---|
Lecture | Weekly lectures |
22 |
Private study | 150 | |
Seminar | Weekly seminar |
22 |
Practical classes and workshops | Crime scene scenarios |
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
- Presentation - Able to clearly present information and explanations to an audience. Through the written or oral mode of communication accurately and concisely.
- Teamwork - Able to constructively cooperate with others on a common task, and/or be part of a day-to-day working team
- Caring - Showing concern for others; caring for children, people with disabilities and/or the elderly
- Management - Able to utilise, coordinate and control resources (human, physical and/or financial)
- 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
- Relationships between crime, deviance, victimisation, policing and social divisions such as age, gender, social class, and ethnicity
- Understanding of national decision model and the Code of Ethics in Policing to guide discretion
- Competence and confidence in using evidence in policing including identifying and deploying a range of research strategies including qualitative and quantitative methods and the use of published data sources and to select and apply appropriate strategies for specific research problems
- 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
- 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)
Optional in courses:
- VV41: BA Herit, Archae & Hist year 2 (BA/HAH)
- VV42: BA Heritage, Archaeology & History with International Exp year 2 (BA/HAHIE)