Contemporary Issues in Policing SOCIO5115

  • Academic Session: 2024-25
  • School: School of Social and Political Sciences
  • Credits: 20
  • Level: Level 5 (SCQF level 11)
  • Typically Offered: Either Semester 1 or Semester 2
  • Available to Visiting Students: Yes
  • Collaborative Online International Learning: No

Short Description

This course introduces postgraduate students to complex debates about contemporary policing. First, key concepts relevant to policing will be discussed, addressing clear links between theory and police practice to develop a historical, legal and contemporary sociological understanding of the police. Particularly, the role, function and powers of the police will be given careful analysis, where we consider diverse views on the police. These ideas will then be explored in reference to recent developments, challenges and controversies that policing has faced, such as: police culture, use of force, violence against women, Black Lives Matter, and calls to defund the police. As well as drawing on a wide range of academic sources, the course encourages students to critically engage with the contemporary issues discussed by drawing on case studies, public and media discourses, and popular representations of policing. 

Timetable

10 x 2 hour in-person classes which combine short lecture inputs and seminar activities.

Requirements of Entry

None

Excluded Courses

None

Co-requisites

None

Assessment

30% [1,500 words]: A mid-term essay.

 

70% [3,000 words]: A case study analysis.

Course Aims

This course aims to enable students to develop a critical understanding of contemporary sociological perspectives on the police and key concepts in policing studies, particularly in reference to recent developments and challenges that are facing police forces today.

Intended Learning Outcomes of Course

By the end of this course students will be able to:

 

■ Describe and analyse key theories and concepts pertaining to the police role, its function and powers.

■ Understand and critique different sociological perspectives on policing in contemporary societies.

■ Explore and examine recent challenges and controversies that have faced the police (e.g. such as police use of force, police-community relations, policing political protest and violence against women, the Covid-19 pandemic, Black Lives Matter, and calls to defund the police).

■ Critically assess the extent to which different sociological perspectives and concepts are relevant to understanding contemporary issues in policing.

■ Critically evaluate academic, policy and popular sources to consider the challenges facing policing provision today.

Minimum Requirement for Award of Credits

Students must submit at least 75% by weight of the components (including examinations) of the course's summative assessment.