Course Catalogue

Justice Studies

Breakdown of delivery and contact hours per week. There will be 33 hours of total delivery for this Module. This will include 3 hours online presentations per week for each of the 11 topics. Additional direct contact is made as and when required between the Student and Module and / or Programme lead. This module provides an overview of major covert techniques currently deployed by the Intelligence Services and Law Enforcement with the exception of HUMINT which is already covered in depth at core Module 7208PS The programme will initially consider the governing legislation and procedures relating to the deployment of covert techniques within the United Kingdom and will critically assess the positions on the balance between privacy against safety and security. It will also explore the development of this legislation from common law and internal procedures to human rights compliant legislation. Students will assess the various covert methods for the capture of intelligence /and or evidence currently available and will examine these in the context of the relevant law, procedures and guidance that govern the use of covert techniques in both reactive and proactive investigations. The programme will evaluate the published policy and legislation accompanying the use of techniques. It will explore the opportunities and risks of managing product generated from covert activities together with the authorisation processes and levels of governance, scrutiny and accountability in situ. It will introduce the students to the competing tension between the rights to individual privacy and the States responsibility to provide its citizens with a safe and secure environment and where any interference with rights are kept to a level that is no more than necessary. It aims to enhance student’s awareness of the breadth and scope of covert collection use within crime and counter-terrorism contexts both nationally and abroad. It will investigate and critically analyse the contribution covert technical collection makes to community safety. It encourages and enhances the student’s critical thinking regarding the assessment, authority (legal and internal) and deployment of covert techniques. The module gives both a historical and contemporary overview of covert techniques use, reinforcing understanding through the exploration of specific case studies. The learning drawn from these case studies are vital to understanding the use of covert techniques by agencies authorised to utilise the powers. The programme will examine the future of covert policing including the increasing use of such techniques by the unregulated private corporate sector and by non-government organisations. It will view and critically assess alternative collection methods including intelligence and evidence generated by artificial intelligence, biometrics and social media. The module will enable students to develop an advanced and critical knowledge of key methodological issues. Students will critically assess these provisions in the context of debate around intelligence use in both a private and public context, formal and informal intelligence use, and the use of intelligence in Crime, Military and Terrorism contexts. The curriculum will allow students to generate a critical appreciation of the diverse range of uses of covert techniques including communications data, equipment interference, counter-surveillance techniques, surveillance almond with organisational leadership and structures associated with covert techniques.

Outline Syllabus:Historical and current legislative provision theoretical perspectives of Intelligence Policy formation in Government in relation to covert techniques. The use of contemporary technical innovation to support reactive and proactive investigation. Organisational structures that support covert policing deployments. Judicial rulings, states cases, public inquiry and covert techniques The relationship between Human Rights and Covert techniques.

Additional Information:Corresponding CPD Module: 7106PSCPD Core Topics: Development of covert capabilities LEARNING OUTCOMES: 1,2,3,4 Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000 LEARNING OUTCOMES: 1,2,3,4 Investigatory Powers Act 2016: Context and capabilities LEARNING OUTCOMES: 1,2,3,4 Physical surveillance techniques LEARNING OUTCOMES: 1,2,3,4 Technical surveillance techniques LEARNING OUTCOMES: 1,2,3,4 Interception of communication (Telephone and Mail) LEARNING OUTCOMES: 1,2,3,4 Digital Surveillance LEARNING OUTCOMES: 1,2,3,4 Equipment Interference and Part III Police Act 1997 LEARNING OUTCOMES: 1,2,3,4 Counter-surveillance techniques LEARNING OUTCOMES: 1,2,3,4 Tasking and Coordination of covert operations LEARNING OUTCOMES: 1,2,3,4 Senior leaders and decision making in covert operations LEARNING OUTCOMES: 1,2