Course may be subject to change.
The FdA in Policing the Community with Criminology programme is designed to equip students to undertake a range of roles in policing and the wider criminal justice system and aligns to the different policing entry routes. It has strong links to the Police Community Support Officer role, which is a long-term career with a salary of £28,203 – £29,731. It also provides hands on experience to support progression into a Police Constable role.
Entry Criteria
- Students applying for this programme will be a minimum age of 18 years old and are expected to hold a Level 3 qualification with a minimum of 32 UCAS points (A-Level, BTEC).
- Programmes will require 4 GCSEs at A*- C or 4 or above.
- Students are required to have at least grade 4 or above in GCSE maths and English or to have demonstrated ability in maths and English within further studies (such as key/functional skills).
- An Enhanced DBS will be required as part of the admissions criteria. Please be aware of disqualification by association, often when entering the Police Force there is vetting of any criminality of close family members and it can impact being able to join the police force.
Non-Standard Entry Requirements (including Mature students)
Mature students (aged at least 21 by 31st December of the year of admission) or applicants with non-standard qualifications and/or experience and whose qualifications and/or experience is deemed to be appropriate to gain entry onto a named foundation degree may be admitted onto a foundation degree programme.
Such admission is discretionary and will involve an interview. In appropriate cases such applicants may be asked to undertake assessment activity to assist the college in determining their suitability for the programme.
What are the next steps?
You will be invited in to meet with your tutorfor further advice and guidance and to find out more about the course.
Study Aims
The aim of this programme is to provide a true vocational Foundation Degree backed up by underpinning theoretical knowledge geared towards an achievable career. This programme has been developed with a number of industry partners and employers and has been designed with the PCSO HTQ standard in mind. It has also been designed so it is generic enough to support progression into other roles within the criminal justice system and higher level study. Discussions with employers focused on students being work ready, and the content of modules.
Consultation has taken place with Durham Constabulary, IFATE, the College of Policing via Policing symposiums into the professionalisation of policing and more specifically the police education qualifications framework (PEQF) and the impending changes. A range of agencies within the criminal justice system, including HM Courts & Tribunals Service and HM Prison and Probation Service have helped develop the programme.
Modules Studied
Level 4 (Year 1)
- Policing, values, standards and Inclusion
- Community and Operational Policing
- Criminology and Crime Prevention
- Public Protection and Conflict management
- Information and Intelligence
- The Criminal Justice System
Level 5 (Year 2)
- Applied Criminology
- Vulnerability, Risk and Public Protection
- Introduction to Investigations
- Lifestyle management
- Principles of managing teams
- Community and Operational Policing 2
- Work Related Learning
Teaching and Assessment
The nature of the programme is directly applicable to work situations and theory is related to practical work-based situations, where possible. Each individual module will use different teaching and learning strategies depending upon the nature of the subject.
The assessment strategy is designed to reflect the range of module learning outcomes and includes a range of approaches which will have operational merit within a Policing and the wider Criminal Justice System. Lessons learned during the COVID 19 pandemic of 2020/21 have led the delivery team to adopt some approaches that will allow a number of modules to be delivered and assessed in a hybrid fashion, as well as allowing for a choice of assessment such as live – verses – pre-recorded presentations.
The overall strategy and choice of assessment methods are designed to enable students to demonstrate their ability to apply their knowledge and understanding of the Police and Criminal Justice sector.
Industry Links
This programme provides a challenging, employability led curriculum relevant to the needs of the student that reflects the current and projected needs of the local Durham and Northumbria Constabularies and wider criminal justice sectors in the Northeast of England and nationally.
It is specifically aligned to those students who wish to pursue a career working as part of a neighbourhood policing team to help deal with and prevent crime. Despite this the programme has been designed to be broad enough to support progression into the wider Criminal Justice sectors. The role constitutes a fundamental component of the national strategy for community policing across UK, and PCSOs are highly valued public-facing members of the service.
Alongside this there are unique opportunities due the relationship with Durham Constabulary which provides experiences such as Policing nightshift, Public Order training, CID role plays. The department support the Constabulary with their training and development so students get a real insight into the training new PCs undertake. In addition to this Durham Constabulary support us with mock interviews and provide feedback to all students following the model the police use during recruitment. Whilst on programme students will gain opportunities to travel abroad visiting venues such as Italy working with the Italian Police (Carabinieri), International Court of Justice and Menin Gate, D-Day landings as examples.
Placement
Work Related Experience will be provided within County Durham from a wide range of statutory, private organisations and third sector providers. Regular Employer engagement forums will ensure continued support and development of placements as well as supervisory visits during placement practice. Current employer input includes Police Training (Durham Constabulary), Durham & Darlington Fire Service (DDFRS), Prison and Probation Service and Judiciary. Employability is embedded within the programme to provide students with the opportunity to develop knowledge, skills, experiences, behaviours, attributes, achievements and attitudes that support them into graduate jobs.
What else?
The programme will be delivered by a team of qualified staff with current or prior involvement in the Policing, Criminal Justice and Criminology Sector including Durham and North Yorkshire Police Service, Criminal Law and Criminology. This will be enhanced through sector speakers throughout the delivery of the programme and collaboration with employers specifically Durham Constabulary. The speakers and employers support the curriculum with delivery and practical experience. Opportunity will be given to support CID role plays, public order training, participation in Police night shifts which can also involve the Prison service in addition to partaking in mock interviews.
The new Immersion Suite will form part of the delivery resources affording students access to the latest in virtual reality learning. The suite allows students to experience simulated scenarios enabling them the opportunity to apply skills learnt in the classroom and allows for personalised learning experiences, catering to different learning styles and paces. This is an engaging approach to learning and an effective way to transfer short-term knowledge into long-term memory. It enables students to utilise their skills in scenarios that would typically be unavailable to them.
Foundation degree graduates have the qualities necessary for employment in situations requiring the exercise of personal responsibility and decision-making. They are able to undertake further training, develop existing skills and acquire new competences.
Students can progress to top-up their qualification to a full bachelor’s degree. Higher Education Institutions may accept students onto final year study, for example University of Sunderland, and Teesside University. Other colleges with Higher Education provision will also accept the qualification e.g. Newcastle College. Northumbria University may accept students onto the final year of study, students will need to check this with specific Higher Education Institutions.
