Professional Policing BSc (Hons)

University of East London

The BSc (Hons) Professional Policing degree is a 3-year degree being offered at UEL and is designed to the meet the role and challenges for policing. It is for those wishing to join the police or enter into a similar career.

This degree recognises that, at an entry level into policing, amongst other tasks, the police constable is required to:

Protect life and property

Deter crime

Provide a reassuring presence to diverse communities

Support victims, witnesses and other vulnerable persons

Conduct initial investigations

Interview suspects

The curriculum is as prescribed by the College of Policing and features learning and development across a comprehensive range of professional policing situations. This includes: evidence-based policing; decision making and discretion; criminology and crime prevention; pro-active approaches to vulnerability, risk and public protection. It is professionally transformative, in that there is comprehensive, modern and up-to-date coverage of areas of knowledge, skills and professional approaches that have been identified as critical to the 21st century policing role of the constable. This includes cybercrime and digital policing.

Optional modules relate to organised crime and violence and leadership, coaching and mentoring.

As policing requires a distinctive combination of applied skills and knowledge, this programme will help to develop critical thinking skills, communications and interpersonal skills, all required abilities related to policing. This includes legislation and police powers (policy and practice) structured interviewing and investigative skills, plus much more. Modules are constructed to provide ‘knowledge, theory and know-how’ relevant to operational policing. This includes practical, hands-on experience, with a key factor of this degree providing for ‘practice and application’ of skills in simulated, safe environments.

This degree will combine all of these elements together while allowing ‘you’ the opportunity to take part in community placements which could be within one of a variety of areas relevant to the field of policing. (This includes as a member of the Special Constabulary.) Community involvement and work placements are therefore another significant and innovative approach of this degree.

Note: whilst this degree teaches knowledge, theory and skills associated with the police constable role, these would also be applicable and transferable to other investigatory and enforcement positions. This degree is therefore of relevance to anyone wishing to enter aligned work fields with many transferable skills, for example: this includes but not limited to:

The National Crime Agency

The intelligence Sector

The security Sector

Cybercrime, fraud, loss reduction and risk sector

Border Force

Investigatory positions - and Ombudsmen’s roles

The Civil Service

Central/Local Government (Ministries)

Armed Services

NGO's

Probation Service

Prison Service

Victim support agencies

Working with young offenders

Community and Charity sectors

Licensed by the College of Policing for the purpose of meeting all the requirements of the national curriculum for multiple entry routes into policing.