The Canterbury Centre for Policing Research
Our practitioner-centred approach incorporates the views of all policing practitioners including senior leaders, private sector staff, police officers/staff and policing specialists through engagement with the CCPR and the development of the academic and police advisory group. This will engage officers in our work, ensure that all of our researchers are aware of the current challenges in policing and assist with translating research findings into useful operational and strategic practice.
The strategic objectives
of the centre are
- To conduct high quality applied research that aims to involve and advise police officers.
- To work with police officers of all ranks at all levels to ensure that research findings have an operational /strategic impact.
- To consolidate expertise across the University to develop multi discipline research projects.
- To work nationally and internationally with other universities and various policing societies, networks and forums.
Key research themes
1. Professional development
The University has a long association with public service and police education and we aim to deliver research that explores: different approaches to learning, professional development and the use of education in policing, the relationship between learning and the impact it has on police practice, evidence based policing, crime analytics and the growing use of technology. Identifying the changing demands facing the police and exploring the skills required to ensure officers can effectively deliver to that demand.
2. Investigative processes and practices
Research staff within the School have expertise in various aspects of investigation including: sexual and domestic abuse, crime involving vulnerable people, decision making in criminal investigation and training provision for detectives.
3. Governance, legitimacy and participation in policing
Research has been conducted by School staff on the changing structures of governance, Police Crime Commissioners, neighbourhood policing, police reform, community confidence and legitimacy and wider participation within policing (from other public sector agencies, the public and the concept of social capital and the private sector).
4. Security, risk and globalisation
The expertise within CCPR includes public order policing, cyber-crime, terrorism, trafficking and serious crime. Our research interests in police co-operation, compatibility and differences in police structures are also important considerations when responding to global and cross border crime.
Our Programmes
POLICING (IN SERVICE)
Would you like to learn more about policing, to help you take the next step in your career? If so, then our BSc (Hons) Policing degree may be for you.
If you are a serving police officer, or work in a related occupation, then you can enrol on our BSc (Hons) Policing programme to gain an academic qualification while continuing your normal work. Our three-year part-time programme has been designed specifically with serving officers and police staff in mind, and recognises operational and support experience as a core part of learning. We aim to build on this invaluable experience, accredit it accordingly and provide a detailed insight into the research and theory behind modern policing practice.
Flexible programme
You can expect to study a wide range of different topics to help you develop a broader understanding of the issues surrounding crime and policing. These include debates about issues such as procedural and organisational justice, the implementation of the Code of Ethics, the professionalisation of policing, and the drive for evidence-based practices.
Core modules include:
• Theories and Techniques of
Crime Control.
• Liberal Democratic Policing.
• The Application of Theory to Police Practice.
• International Policing.
In your final year you will undertake a ‘Research Awareness’ module, and a literature based dissertation project in a focussed area of your choice. This will help you develop key research skills while also giving you the chance to analyse a key aspect of policing in depth.
Cutting-edge research
All of our modules are taught by experts in their field – many of whom are actively involved in research and consultancy. Many of our staff have experience of policing themselves or have worked as researchers in the police organisation. We utilise recent research findings directly into our teaching, so you will learn the most up-to-date and relevant thinking on modern police practice. The School of Law, Criminal Justice and Computing also works in collaboration with The College of Policing which means only the most current issues and considerations for policing feature in the programme.
MSc by research in Policing
The school also offers an exciting part time MSc in policing which allows students to undertake their own empirical research on an area of policing of their choice. Whilst this is predominantly an independent learning programme, students are assigned a supervisor who they meet regularly and they are also expected to attend three study weekends in the first year and three full days in London. During these sessions students will receive input on various research methodologies, evidence based policing and theories of knowledge. We also have a number of guest speakers who deliver lectures on the programmes from the College of Policing, Cambridge University and police officers who are currently engaged in research projects themselves.
MSc Applied Police Practice (with options for PG certificate and PG Diploma)
This programme is due to start in 2017 and will based on a work place learning approach. The programme is likely to consist of three modules focused on external issues (such as changing demand, community relationships, problem solving); internal issues (such as leadership, organisational justice, policing as a business) and evidence based policing.