BSc (Hons) Professional Policing Bachelor's degree at the University of Portsmouth

Gain theoretical and practical insight into police investigations. Develop your understanding of legislation and best practice when conducting investigations and interviewing victims, witnesses and suspects while accounting for vulnerabilities.

Develop your understanding of community policing, problem-solving and crime prevention through effective partnership working. Examine the concept of community engagement to foster good community relations and the importance of community intelligence in both a societal and policing context. Additionally, evaluate the impacts of gangs targeting vulnerable people and the role of MAPPA in managing offenders.

Learn about the advanced capabilities needed for complex police investigations involving multiple agencies, witnesses and information. Analyse the tools and frameworks in place for managing complex investigations across borders - from counterterrorism operations to transnational organised crime. Evaluate digital evidence gathering alongside emerging forensic techniques, considering ethical dimensions around intrusive tactics. Also look at the benefits and challenges of intelligence analysis and

Learn how to safeguard your own and colleagues' mental health when working within the criminal justice system. Analyse risk factors and strategies for mental resilience specific to working in demanding criminal justice roles. Sensitively examine the warning signs, before evaluating tailored interventions around trauma support and reflective practice. Gain insight into legal powers governing crisis response, alongside organisational initiatives promoting inclusive cultures.

Examine the history, role and organisational structures of the police in the UK, including the wider policing 'family' and agencies that are involved in governance and oversight of the police. Tackle the changing nature of crime and the associated challenges for the police, alongside associated governance, trust and legitimacy issues.

Develop an understanding of the personal aspects of vulnerability and how specific environments may increase risk. Explore the concept of safeguarding and the importance of a multi-agency approach to public protection and offender rehabilitation, building upon community policing. Examine public protection in relation to key considerations associated with Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG).

Expand your approach to criminology research through practical work, developing skills you'll need for your final year dissertation proposal and future career. Work independently and in groups with your classmates on research projects, identifying and responding to inherent ethical issues involved in your projects and considering their societal impact. Develop and produce the results of your research projects in a variety of forms.

Apply what you've learned so far to an extended criminal case study. By role playing out a complex criminal case, learn how best to manage incidents, offenders, victims and witnesses during the real-time process of the police response to a criminal offence. Make decisions about how to evaluate evidence, work within legislation and with multiagency frameworks. Direct victim liaison and make judgements balancing rights, resources and crime control. Consider the ethical dimensions around use of for

Learn how criminal investigations are managed, focusing on serious crime. Examine major incident procedures and the application of forensic science, as well as the legal and ethical parameters that govern them. Provides versatile perspectives and best practice principles so you can understand how complex investigations can be managed balancing rigour, resources and the delivery of justice.

Investigate the links between policing, intelligence and community partnership. Look at community policing, and serious offences such as terrorism and organised crime. Explore the counterterror operations and national models of intelligence and decision-making needed to investigate these threats.

Discover the legislation and standards governing today's policing. Analyse the frameworks in place to ensure accountability and ethics in policing when it comes to use of force. Examine occupational pressures and issues of diversity, ethics, welfare and wellbeing alongside professional policing standards. Evaluate policy tensions between achieving fair treatment versus effective crime control, gaining knowledge preparing you to champion progressive policing centred on human rights values.

Design and complete an in-depth, self-directed dissertation or research project. It's up to you what your dissertation or project is about – this will be your chance to showcase your passion for criminology and associated disciplines by choosing a subject area or topic that most interests you. Draw on everything you've learned so far to investigate, analyse, craft and refine your dissertation or project, using existing texts, sources and artefacts to support your arguments and give them context.

Independently design and complete a short research project on an issue of relevance to the broader subject area of criminology and associated disciplines. Be allocated a supervisor based on your 'topic area', and provided with a series of timetabled group tutorial sessions and individual supervision meetings.

Gain an insight into the arena of forensic psychology and its practical application to the real world. Be introduced to key areas where psychology has had an influence on investigation, studying topics such as the cognitive interview and detecting deceit.

Take a holistic approach to miscarriages of justice, and look at various reasons why miscarriages of justice occur. Explore topics such as poor police investigations and case construction, issues arising from court procedures, the use of 'junk science' and questionable expert witnesses.

Provides a critical understanding of money laundering, terrorist financing and global sanctions. Learn how criminals make their dirty money appear as 'clean' and how terrorists finance their activities, as well as how to fight these crimes in organisations.

Immerse yourself on a life-changing study abroad year and take your criminology studies global. Enhance your academic skills by examining crime, security and justice issues in a different part of the world, while having an experience you'll never forget living abroad. Make friendships and gain memories that last long after graduation day. Grow as a person too - from confidence to communication skills - priming you for diverse professional settings.

Gain meaningful, real-world experience through a year-long work placement or self-employment. Helps you apply your academic learning in practical settings, strengthening your professional development and future career prospects. Throughout the year, reflect on your progress, build networks, and evaluate your experiences critically. Complete a placement assessment that includes a reflective portfolio and employer feedback, with ongoing support from careers and employability staff. Develop key gra