Forensic Investigation (Policing) Canterbury Christ Church University

Overview

The Forensic Investigation (Policing) course from Canterbury Christ Church University, which has a strong focus on policing, will provide you with an in-depth and practical insight into operational policing, including police law, police powers and police procedures, while also ensuring that you understand the relationship between the police, crime and society. This will prepare you for a career in a front line job in police or forensic services, and other careers in criminal justice and beyond.

As well as gaining a solid grounding in core areas of forensic investigation, such as crime scene investigation, forensic science and interpretation, and presentation of evidence, you'll also benefit from a significant amount of practical and laboratory work. 

In the dedicated workshops, incident room, interview rooms, police custody suite, court facilities and Hydra simulation facilities, you'll be able to apply the theory you have learned to mock forensic cases and real-life case studies. Our students say that the facilities are excellent in providing a stimulating practical environment. 

Throughout the course, you'll build your research skills and cast a critical eye over forensic investigation processes. We will support you with finding work experience and volunteering opportunities to help build your confidence and resilience, and enhance your CV. 

All about the course

You'll start the course by exploring core themes, concepts and perspectives of policing processes and forensic investigations. From this solid foundation, you'll explore forensic investigation and policing in more depth and will study modules in areas such as transnational and organised crime, community policing, accident, disaster and terror scene recovery.

Within the Policing modules, you'll study aspects of police function that relate to the National Intelligence Model.

To ensure you reach your full academic and career potential, you'll develop personal, study and employability skills and, where possible, you'll have opportunities to participate in trips or visits to gain insight into the workings of forensic investigation. 

Previous students have attended mock crime scene exercises within police forces, post-mortem examinations, a shooting range trip and court trips. Occasionally, there are offered opportunities to participate in police training events, and for several years our students have been able to spend a day at the National Maritime Fire Training Centre as well as Kent Firearms and Dog Sections. 

Your future career

You will have the potential to enter a range of careers in crime, criminal justice and related fields on completion of this course, as the design of the Forensic Investigation with Policing course at CCCU gives you the opportunity to gain the knowledge and skills that are core to criminal justice careers and transferable to other related careers.

Graduates of the course typically secure posts within the police, the prison service, the probation service, youth work, private companies working in security, and third sector organisations working in crime control and victim support. 

Further opportunities exist as investigators for National Crime Agency, the Military, Independent Office for Police Conduct, Criminal Cases Review Commission, Security Services, HM Courts and Tribunals Service, and so on. Postgraduate study is also an option for Applied Criminology with Criminal Investigation graduates and you will be encouraged to make the most of the volunteering and networking opportunities available throughout your degree course in addition to your studies in order to enhance your employability.