Course Catalogue

Justice Studies

Breakdown of delivery hours per week. There will be 18 hours of total delivery for this Module. This will include 3 hours online presentations per week for each of the six topics. Additional direct contact will be made as and when required between the Student and Module and / or Programme lead. Aims This module introduces the student to the issue of intelligence oversight mechanism. It complements Module 5 – 7211PS (Operational Ethics) Intelligence oversight oversees public authorities including law enforcement, the military and intelligence agencies. The aim is a mixture of supervision and making them accountable for their actions. General oversight functions include looking at policymakers needs, the quality of analysis, the effectiveness of operational activity and the legality of actions. In the United Kingdom, oversight of Intelligence agencies is delivered by the Intelligence and Security Committee of Parliament (ISC) is the committee of Parliament with statutory responsibility for oversight of the UK Intelligence Community. The Committee was established under the Intelligence Services Act 1994 , but its powers were reinforced in the Justice and Security Act 2013. In this module, the Student will critically examine oversight in the UK and the USA. In the UK it will explore the role of the Intelligence and Security Committee of parliament mentioned above but it will also explore other oversight mechanisms including HM Inspector of Constabulary and Fire and Rescue, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, the Independent Reviewer of Terrorism, and the Investigatory Powers Commissioner’s Office. Alongside these formal oversight bodies are the media. In the United States, intelligence oversight duties are shared by both the executive and legislative branches of the government. Oversight, in this case, is the supervision of intelligence agencies, and holding agencies to account for their actions. Generally, oversight bodies look at the following general issues: following policymaker needs, the quality of analysis, operations, and legality of actions. Congress's oversight responsibilities over the IC often overlap with the responsibilities and authorities of the executive branch. Given the natural competition that exists between the legislative and executive branches, this overlap creates tensions as both sides struggle to accomplish certain goals using their respective powers and authorities. Hence, intelligence oversight can be one of the most challenging separation-of-powers issues in government

Outline Syllabus:The Intelligence and Security Committee of Parliament The role of the judiciary in intelligence oversight International oversight organisations UK oversight bodies including the IOPC, the IPCO and HMICFR Case studies and oversight responses.

Additional Information:The Students completing this course will be able demonstrate a critical awareness and appreciate of the role of oversight bodies and how these shape and influence organisational and government policy and practice. The student will be required to apply major theories and concepts to the role of oversight mechanisms in an effort to develop a greater understanding of the organisations development, its functionality, efficiency and effectiveness.