Crime with Forensic Investigation BSc(Hons)

This module guides you through the process of exploring social science subjects at university and provides the opportunity for you to develop your ability to be a successful student. You’ll have the opportunity to strengthen your academic study skills, as well as your knowledge of research approaches and methods, using subject-specific topics and case studies. You’ll explore ways to assess your learning needs, set learning goals, develop learning action plans and produce effective academic assignments. You’ll also be introduced to the philosophies, methods and ethics of social research processes.

This module introduces you to key frameworks and issues relating to the policing of England and Wales. This includes legal and professional frameworks governing the scope and practice of policing, such as police powers, laws on evidence, legislation on criminal justice and public order and, the governance of policing. You’ll have the opportunity to explore the relationship of the police to the wider criminal justice system, their work with other agencies, private policing and other organisations involved in policing functions.

This module introduces you to the fundamental skills and knowledge required for the analysis of forensic data, providing a foundation for laboratory work and data interpretation in forensic science. You will gain practical experience in laboratory techniques, with an emphasis on the importance of health and safety protocols in forensic environments. The module begins by exploring the role and types of physical evidence in forensic science, focusing on the classification of evidence into class and individual characteristics and the methods used to examine it. You will develop an understanding of how measurements are utilised in forensic science to produce reliable data. Through practical sessions and case studies, you will learn to apply statistical analysis to real-world forensic scenarios, understanding how data analysis contributes to solving cases. By the end of the module, you will have developed critical skills in evidence analysis, statistical reasoning, and data handling, forming a solid basis for further study in forensic science.

In this module you’ll explore these questions and study qualitative and quantitative research approaches. You’ll explore philosophical underpinnings of social research, key considerations concerning research ethics and researcher reflexivity, a range of data collection methods and techniques for data analysis, and how social research can be evaluated.

You’ll have the opportunity to plan and complete a practical work based experience related to your course. This will give you the chance to apply your theoretical subject knowledge to a professional setting, helping to develop your employability skills in preparation for your future career.

This module introduces you to the forensic process, with a focus on crime scene investigation. You will take part in virtual, simulated and staged crime scenes where you will learn essential topics such as crime scene documentation, packaging and labelling of evidence. The module includes a variety of practical sessions where you will apply forensic techniques, including presumptive tests, microscopy, fingerprinting, drug analysis, forensic entomology, and bloodstain pattern analysis. You will also explore various types of trace evidence and the analytical techniques used to investigate them. By combining theoretical knowledge with practical experience, you will develop the critical thinking and problem-solving skills essential for successful forensic investigations.

You'll explore the nature, variety and extent of violent crime and its prevention (for example terrorism, homicide, work-placed bullying, and stalking). You'll demonstrate your knowledge of theoretical explanations for violent crime and violence prevention methods.

This module explores the strategies of crime reduction and prevention. You’ll explore a range of different reduction responses and investigate the evidence regarding their effectiveness in different situations. You’ll also consider explanations for the different ways that society responds to crime, setting these in a social, political and theoretical context.

You’ll explore two aspects of organised crime. Firstly, you'll study white-collar, financial crimes and the damaging impact that they can have on the economy of a country. Secondly you’ll examine how organised crime can drive people trafficking and trading of drugs and illegal arms, which enables ‘rogue’ states to wage war on their own people. Finally you‘ll explore how both kinds of crime relate to your own life.

You’ll explore modern police investigation practice in relation to serious crime, including the contribution of forensic science, offender profiling, surveillance data and new technologies. You’ll consider how current research into serious crime, such as homicide, terrorism and sexual offences, informs practice and police decision making, as well as how investigations and major enquiry management have become increasingly professionalised.

The relationship between the forensic scientist and the justice system will be explored with a view to addressing aspects of criminal and civil law. Aspects of presentation of evidence as well as the role and responsibility of the expert witness will also be explored. The requirements of quality systems will be considered within context of presenting robust evidence; as well as the considerations of ethical practice. Quality Assurance procedures and importance of standard operating procedures in relation to accreditation will be explored (i.e. ISO17020 and ISO17025).

This module offers you the opportunity to explore key contemporary challenges to the nature and practice of policing and security. You’ll be enabled to consider the impact of social change on policing in a variety of ways including, for example: policing of new and emerging crimes; the impact of technological developments on the commission and investigation of crime; policing within the context of globalisation, marketisation, managerialism, risk and multi-culturalism; and threats to national and public security.

You'll be encouraged to critically consider contemporary and newly emerging issues and debates within criminology. You'll be introduced to the field of comparative criminology by exploring key criminological problems in England and Wales within the context of historical and international comparisons of crime patterns and trends, criminal justice policy, practice and theoretical developments. Example topics include prostitution, the illegal trade in endangered species, management of sex offenders, cyber crime and people trafficking.

This module studies the key approaches, concepts and issues within the field of forensic psychology through a series of lectures and online facilities. You'll explore a range of psychological explanations for criminal activity relating to two main themes. Firstly, you'll critically consider various research areas within forensic psychology including prison treatment programmes, eyewitness and expert testimony, investigative interviews, crime and mentally disordered offenders. Secondly, you'll study a range of crimes such as murder, sexual crimes, arson, acquisitive and white collar crime.