Course Catalogue

Justice Studies

DAs to analyse the range of ethical theories and concepts, considering the differing values, ethics and norms within a diverse community. Identifying current policing practice and its impact upon the community, examining whether the service provided is wholly centred upon serving, supporting and protecting the public. This module also explores the differences and similarities between victims and offenders, examining the theories and motivations of why people offend.

Outline Syllabus:
Values, ethics and norms within diverse communities. Policing in a fair and unbiased manner. Victims and victimisation. Supporting and managing vulnerable people or people at risk of harm. Youths, gangs and vulnerable people. Policing the community. Community engagement.

Module Overview:
The aim of this module is to analyse the range of ethical theories and concepts, considering the differing values, ethics and norms within a diverse community. You will identify current policing practice and its impact upon the community, examining whether the service provided is wholly centred upon serving, supporting and protecting the public. This module also explores the differences and similarities between victims and offenders, examining the theories and motivations of why people offend.

Additional Information:
Lectures and other activities will provide the students with information to then enable them to practically apply the knowledge acquired, within the tasks and experiences incorporated into the workshops. Discussions and activities such as exploring the differences and similarities between victims and offenders, or analysing current policing practice and its impact upon the community. Group presentation will be supplemented by an individual reflection to ensure participation of all DA's.

This module links to the following Knowledge, Skills and Behaviour:

Knowledge:

• The ethics and values of professional policing, including: duty of care, service delivery, employment practice, efficiency, effectiveness and value for money, Code of Ethics, professional standards, and equality, diversity and human rights.
• Key cross-cutting and inter-dependent areas of policing, including: roles and responsibilities, criminal justice, counter terrorism, vulnerability (including public protection and mental health) and risk.
• Applicable aspects of Authorised Professional Practice (the official source of policing professional practice), legal and organisational requirements relating to the operational policing context (response, community, intelligence, investigation and roads/transport).
• Effectively respond to incidents, preserving scenes and evidence when necessary.
• Manage and resolve conflict safely and lawfully.
• Arrest, detain and report individuals safely and lawfully.
• Conduct diligent and efficient, priority and high volume investigations.
• Effectively interview victims, witnesses and suspects.
• How to interpret and apply the letter and essence of all relevant law, as it relates to any encountered policing situation, incident or context.
• Social behaviour and society, including their origins, development, organisation, networks and institutions and how this relates to policing across diverse and increasingly complex communities.
• The causes, mitigations and prevention of crime and how this knowledge and understanding can influence and be applied to accountable decision-making in all operational policing environments.
• In-depth knowledge, understanding and expertise relevant to organisational/local needs, including the following operational policing contexts: response, community, intelligence, investigation and roads/transport.
• Different approaches to systematic evidence-based preventative policing, including how to critically analyse, interpret, implement, share and evaluate findings to problem solve and further positive outcomes. These may relate to internal organisational practice or external social or criminal factors.

Skills

• Apply Authorised Professional Practice and any local policy applicable to the operational policing context.
• Communicate effectively, in accordance with the varied needs of differing situations, individuals, groups and communities. Use own communication skills to manage planned and uncertain situations, and to persuade / lead others as needed.
• Gather, handle and accurately analyse information and intelligence from a variety of sources to support law enforcement and to maximise policing effectiveness.
• Manage dynamic conflict situations in policing through leadership, and by dealing with a wide range of behaviours and incidents, taking personal accountability for the use of proportionate and justifiable responses and actions.
• Manage effective and ethical searches for evidence and information in differing environments. Take responsibility for courses of action required to follow-up on findings (within remit of own role) to maintain the peace and uphold the law.
• Provide an initial, autonomous and ongoing response to incidents, which can be complex, confrontational and life- threatening, to bring about the best possible outcomes. Provide an initial, autonomous response to crime scenes, where encountered, that require the management and preservation of evidence and exhibits.
• Provide leadership to protect the public, and empathetic and appropriate support to victims, witnesses and vulnerable people.
• Assess risk and threats across increasingly complex policing contexts, to take decisions and evaluate initiatives and their outcomes, including the impact of differing actions and methods, in accordance with the policing national decision- making model and evidence-based principles. Take account of the best available evidence from a wide array of sources, including research & analysis, when making decisions. Apply justified discretion when appropriate and it is in the public interest to do so.
• Use police legal powers to deal with suspects, victims and witnesses across various challenging situations, conducting all actions in a balanced, proportionate and justifiable manner.
• Plan, apply and evaluate different policing approaches alongside partner organisations or as part of a multi-disciplinary team to address identified, often complex, issues, concerns and situations to reduce and prevent crime in communities. Provide supportive leadership to community groups, making informed decisions that encourage the delivery of localised strategies.

Behaviours:

• Taking accountability - Being accountable and taking ownership for own role and responsibilities, whilst being effective and willing to take appropriate, justifiable risks.
• Professional integrity - Maintain the highest standards of professionalism and trustworthiness, making sure that values, moral codes and ethical standards are always upheld, including challenging others where appropriate.
• Emotionally astute - Understand and effectively manage own emotions in stressful situations, understanding motivations and underlying reasons for own behaviour and that of others, including colleagues. Value diversity and difference in approaches to work, thinking and background, and treat people with sensitivity, compassion and warmth.
• Curious and innovative - Have an inquisitive and outward-looking nature, searching for new information to understand alternative sources of best practice and implement creative working methods. Committed to reflecting on how own role is undertaken, learning from success and mistakes, to continuously review and adapt approach.
• Collaborative - Work effectively with colleagues and external partners, sharing skills, knowledge and insights as appropriate to lead to the best possible results.
• Supportive & inspirational leading - Role model the police service’s values in day-to-day activities, providing inspiration and clarity to colleagues and stakeholders. Consider how the wider organisation and others are impacted, and help others to deliver their objectives effectively.

All assessed components on this module must be successfully passed for credit to be released.