Bachelor of Science (Honours) - Criminal Investigation

Criminal investigation is a central part of police activity, and when seeing the news every day, people can see how it influences the public perception of the police and their accountability and legitimacy.

The increase in crime, and the way crime is committed today, provides very different challenges to those facing detectives of the past. On this course students will adopt a critical approach to criminal investigations, exploring investigative history, police effectiveness in volume, serious and complex, and major crime investigations, historic and current sexual and domestic abuse investigations.

Students will also seek to understand the current context within which detectives work, including a national shortage of detectives, government austerity measures and the rise in technology and complex criminality.

The choice of careers following graduation is wide and varied. Previous graduates have decided to join the police through the traditional route, others have decided to apply for either direct entry detective (Metropolitan Police), or fast track detective programme (i.e. Kent Police). 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.