LL4BD Half Unit
Policing: Contemporary Issues and Controversies
This information is for the 2014/15 session.
Teacher responsible
Prof Robert Reiner NAB6.02
Availability
This course is available on the MSc in Criminal Justice Policy, MSc in Public Management and Governance, MSc in Regulation, Master of Laws and Master of Laws (extended part-time study). This course is available with permission as an outside option to students on other programmes where regulations permit.
This course will be relevant to the following specialisms: Criminology and Criminal Justice, Public Law, Legal Theory.
This course is capped at 30 students. Students must apply through Graduate Course Choice on LSEforYou.
Course content
The police are a central part of the criminal justice system and of the State's formal machinery for maintaining order and enforcing law. LL4BC offered a survey of the research literature on the functioning and governance of policing organisations. This course builds on that by analysing and discussing contemporary controversies, issues and policy developments. The list of topics will include: 1) Specialist forms of policing such as: homicide investigations, rape investigations, public order, drugs policing, transnational policing, private policing 2) Diversity and policing: especially gender, ethnicity, sexuality. 3) Policing and social justice: discriminatory use of police powers such as stop-and-search. 4) Innovations in policing tactics: such as community, zero-tolerance, problem-oriented, intelligence-led policing. 5) Developments in police governance e.g. Police and Crime Commissioners, the Independent Police Complaints Commission. 6) Alternative policing models, such as restorative justice, and the possible futures of policing.
Teaching
20 hours of seminars in the LT. 2 hours of seminars in the ST.
Formative coursework
One 2,000 word essay.
Indicative reading
General surveys of the field include: T Newburn (Ed), Handbook of Policing 2nd Ed. (2008); R Reiner, The Politics of the Police (4th edn, 2010). Useful collections of research and policy papers include: J. Brown (Ed) The Future of Policing Routledge 2014; T Newburn (Ed), Policing: Key Readings Willan 2004; R Reiner (Ed), Policing Vols I and II Dartmouth (1996); J.Peay and T.Newburn eds.: Policing: Politics, Culture and Control (2012). Detailed Reading lists for each topic will be provided. Journals offering papers on contemporary issues include: The British Journal of Criminology, Criminology and Criminal Justice, Policing and Society, Policing.
Assessment
Exam (100%, duration: 2 hours) in the main exam period.
Key facts
Department: Law
Total students 2013/14: 9
Average class size 2013/14: 9
Controlled access 2013/14: No
Lecture capture used 2013/14: No
Value: Half Unit
Personal development skills
- Communication
- Specialist skills