Run by School of History, Law and Social Sciences

20.000 Credits or 10.000 ECTS Credits

Semester 2

Organiser: Mr Philip Hare

This module will introduce students to the main theoretical frameworks developed to explain crime and victimisation. It explores criminal careers, risks and vulnerabilities among victims and offenders; and environmental criminological theories such as rational choice theory. Building on these frameworks, students will learn about the main forms of crime preventions used in England and Wales as well as key policing models used to prevent and respond to crime.

This module begins by focusing on several theoretical approaches in the contemporary study of crime and victimisation. The theories examined will be relevant to crime prevention strategies and operational policing and include environmental and life-course theories. Wider sociological theories will also be introduced and their value for operational policing and the assessment of various policing models explained.

Introduction to criminology and sociology Introduction to concepts of crime, victimisation and harm Criminal careers and desistance Rational choice theory and situational crime prevention Victimology – risk and vulnerability Victim/Offender overlap and restorative justice Crime prevention – theories and strategies Models of policing and procedural justice

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.

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.

1. Examine a range of key concepts and theoretical approaches in criminology

2. Examine the relationship between criminological theories, operational policing, and the community

3. Examine the strengths and weaknesses of different policing models in relation to crime/victimisation and the public

4. Examine a range of key concepts and theoretical approaches in victimology

5. Examine the relationship between criminological theories, crime prevention theories, and crime prevention strategies

6. Examine environmental and life-course theories of offending

Type	Name	Description	Weight
	Group presentation		40.00
	Exam		60.00

		Hours
Seminar	1-hour per week	12
Lecture	3.5 hours per week	42
Private study		146

• 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.
• 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
• Mentoring - Able to support, help, guide, inspire and/or coach others
• Caring - Showing concern for others; caring for children, people with disabilities and/or the elderly
• 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

• Crime prevention measures and their effectiveness as well as human rights issues in relation to preventive and pre-emptive measures
• How crime, deviance, harm, and victimisation are socially and legally constructed; the different sources of information about crime and victimisation, how they are produced, including their location in particular legal, political, social and ideological frameworks, and how they can be interpreted
• Trends in crime and victimisation; different forms of crime and their social organisation including organized crime; e-crime, and terrorism
• 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
• Relationships between crime, deviance, victimisation, policing and social divisions such as age, gender, social class, and ethnicity
• Recognise individuals' vulnerabilities and situations of risk (to self and others)
• Assess the merits of competing theories relevant to crime, victimisation and policing as well as other responses to crime and deviance
• Assess the merits and diversity of objectives of competing responses to crime and deviance, including the protection of human rights and its implications for policing

Compulsory in courses:

• L436: BSc Professional Policing (Pre-join) year 1 (BSC/PP)