Policing and Investigations Practice (Top Up)

This ground-breaking, blended-learning, one-year course is designed to support professionals already working in the field to progress in their career in policing and investigation; change career direction; or undertake further study after retirement. It is delivered by a team of retired police officers who recognise your existing experience and understand the challenges you face. Units are taught mainly online, with full-time or part-time options, helping you fit study around your life and work.

The course is open to professionals with a qualification such as the Professionalising Investigation Programme (PIP2) or equivalent; or recent experience in an investigative role (the last five years).

Facilities and specialist equipment

• Mock-custody suite

• Police interview room

• Scene-of-crime ‘flat’

• Simulation floor that takes you from a mock home to hospital, giving you hands-on experience of a range of scenarios

Career-powered links
We have robust associations with criminal justice stakeholders, local councils, companies, and voluntary sector and practitioners, which open up opportunities for volunteering and work placements in the community or in practice. We also have strong links with Bedfordshire and Thames Valley police forces offering opportunities for placements within their service.

Your student experience

Your existing skills, experience and work-based learning is mapped against Policing and Law QAA benchmarking statements.

Taught by experienced academics including retired police officers with expertise in policing across community, front line, major crime investigations, family liaison and safeguarding.

In addition to the weekly online session and on-campus Saturday sessions, you are given activities and materials to work through in your own time.

Assessments are varied and planned in advance to develop a wide range of skillsets and to promote wider learning.

Units have been designed to let you use and develop your own practice, an approach that allows you to reflect on your career and experiences.

Course modules

Reflective account of professional practice – Develop the reflective skills needed for evidence-based professional practice in complex investigations.
Threats of the digital age – Examine the most significant policing challenges globally including cybercrime, AI, safeguarding, and online issues such as grooming, harassment and indecent images.
Coaching and leadership in the partnership framework – Why coaching, mentoring and leadership are essential to managing complex, multi-agency investigations.
Evidence-based practice – Develop insight into how police can try and tackle certain issues; apply your own ideas to those problems.
Independent project in professional policing – Undertake a supervised, in-depth, police-centred project relevant to the course and your individual interests.

We make every effort to ensure the information here is accurate; however, for the most up-to-date information, visit our website.