As part of the formal assessment for the programme you are required to submit a Policing and Police Powers assignment. Please refer to your Student Handbook for full details of the programme assessment scheme and general information on preparing and submitting assignments.
Learning Outcomes: After completing the module, you should be able to:
1. Demonstrate an understanding of the key ways in which policing is governed and held accountable.
2. Demonstrate an understanding of the complexity of contemporary policing issues in the UK and, where appropriate, the historical development of those issues.
3. Demonstrate the ability to evaluate ideas, concepts and issues relating to policing, drawing on a range of sources to support opinions and judgements.
4. Demonstrate the ability to analyse issues for which there may be a large body of material, reaching evidenced arguments based on relevant legal, sociological and philosophical perspectives.
5. Understand the importance of keeping up to date with research and debate in a fast-moving policy environment.
Write an essay (maximum 4,000 words) answering ONE of the four questions below. Note that for questions that are multi-part you should answer all parts of your chosen question.
Question 1 Police powers of stop and search have continued to be at the front of debate relating to community and police relationships.
Complete the three tasks below:
a) Assess the change in stop and search statistics in the last 25 years.
b) Stop and search when incorporated with intelligence led policing is deemed to be more effective. Critically discuss this statement. c) Outline recommendations and developments in order to improve stop and search practices.
Question 2 Police work has continued to become more pluralised in recent years with governmental and private bodies playing a larger role in ‘police work’. Critically discuss the following statement-
‘The privatisation of ‘police work’ is ineffective at tackling and reducing rates of crime’.
Question 3 Police accountability within the Criminal Justice System has been problematic historically speaking. Complete both tasks below:
a) Discuss the role that the ‘Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner’ and the ‘Independent Office for Police Conduct’ (IOPC) play in police accountability.
b) Examine what issues arise when the police are responsible for holding themselves accountable.
Question 4 Peel’s principle of policing by consent requires the public to approve of the work undertaken by the police. Complete both tasks below:
a) Discuss the methods by which police can acquire the approval of the public.
b) Analyse examples of police practices which have called into question the principle of policing by consent.
