Module manager: Dr Ali Malik
Email: a.malik4@leeds.ac.uk
Taught: Semester 1 (Sep to Jan) View Timetable
Year running 2026/27
| LAW3160 | Policing |
LAW3160
This module is not approved as a discovery module
This module provides a critical survey of the introduction to policing in England and Wales. It considers the conceptual differences between ‘police’ and ‘policing’ and charts the development of policing from a historical perspective. The module explores the nature of the modern police institution, including its development and contemporary social role and functions, as well as the formal establishment of policing systems in the nineteenth century. It examines key factors such as politics, police culture, and discretion, and analyses the relationships between the police and various social groups. It also debates the opportunities, challenges, and contestations in police governance and accountability. Throughout, the module engages with wider social, political, cultural, and economic developments that influence contemporary policing. It also enables students to draw on evidence to develop innovative solutions to emergent challenges in policing.
The aim of this module is to provide students with a critical understanding of the development, structure, and contemporary challenges of policing in England and Wales. It encourages students to explore the conceptual distinctions between ‘police’ and ‘policing’, and to examine the historical, political, cultural, and social contexts that shape policing practices and institutions.
Through a combination of lectures, seminars, guided readings, and independent research, the module is designed to:
Develop students’ understanding of the historical evolution of policing and its formal establishment in the nineteenth century.
Examine key influences on policing, including politics, police culture, discretion, and governance.
Analyse the relationships between the police and different social groups, with attention to issues of accountability, legitimacy, and reform.
Engage students with contemporary debates around policing and social justice.
Enable students to critically assess evidence and propose innovative solutions to emerging challenges in policing.
Learning activities are structured to support the development of analytical and written skills, encouraging students to engage critically with academic literature, policy documents, and real-world case studies.
On successful completion of the module students will have demonstrated the following learning outcomes relevant to the subject:
Synthesise established knowledge and theories to explain policing in its social and political contexts.
Apply policing research and evidence to develop effective written arguments and propose innovative responses to emerging challenges in policing.
On successful completion of the module students will have demonstrated the following skills learning outcomes:
Apply problem solving skills to address contemporary issues in criminal justice.
Apply critical thinking skills to establish independent perspectives on questions in policing studies.
| Delivery type | Number | Length hours | Student hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lecture | 11 | 1 | 11 |
| Seminar | 5 | 1.5 | 7.5 |
| Private study hours | 181.5 | ||
| Total Contact hours | 18.5 | ||
| Total hours (100hr per 10 credits) | 200 | ||
181.5
A formal formative assessment opportunity will be provided for each summative assessment task, which is specifically pedagogically aligned to that task. As part of this, each student will receive feedback designed to support the development of knowledge and skills that will be later assessed in the summative task.
| Assessment type | Notes | % of formal assessment |
|---|---|---|
| Coursework | Coursework | 100 |
| Total percentage (Assessment Coursework) | 100 | |
Normally resits will be assessed by the same methodology as the first attempt, unless otherwise stated
Check the module area in Minerva for your reading list
Last updated: 30/04/2026
Errors, omissions, failed links etc should be notified to the Catalogue Team