Issues in Law Enforcement and Social Control

Learning Outcomes

Subject Specific Intellectual and Research Skills

Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:

• Understand the interaction of theory and social policy.
• Critically engage with complex debates.

Knowledge and Understanding

Having successfully completed this module, you will be able to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of:

• Demonstrate a critical knowledge of the relationship between police and policing and the broader social and political context
• Demonstrate a critical knowledge of criminological perspectives on aspects of social control in modern society.
• Demonstrate a critical knowledge of current issues, debates and developments in the policing of crime and society.

Transferable and Generic Skills

Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:

• Critically engage with debates about social policy.
• Present complex ideas in a coherent way both verbally and in writing
• Understand the way that theory and practice can be in conflict.

This module considers a range of issues in the area of the sociology of the police and policing and more broadly the sociology of social control - issues include domestic violence, public order and policing minority groups. As well as a range of theoretical frameworks, the unit explores current policing policy and practice in Britain using themes such as discretion, legitimacy, culture and the role of the police to highlight recurring issues with contemporary policing.

Teaching methods include: This unit is taught by means of three lectures across two weeks and a one hour seminar every week, supplemented by extensive reading to support lecture and seminar activities. Documentaries provide visual material that allows students to appreciate the history and development of contemporary policing. Learning activities include: Reading reports that require students to feedback at each seminar what they have been reading in since the previous seminar Innovative or special features of this module: Documentaries provide visual material that allows students to appreciate the history and development of contemporary policing

Summative

This is how we’ll formally assess what you have learned in this module.

Referral

This is how we’ll assess you if you don’t meet the criteria to pass this module.

Repeat

An internal repeat is where you take all of your modules again, including any you passed. An external repeat is where you only re-take the modules you failed.