Introduction to Professional Policing: Examining the Evidence Base

Policing is a dynamic profession with increasing demands and complexities placed upon the police officers and staff who provide a 24-hour service across a diverse range of communities. Written by experts in police higher education from across both academic and professional practice, this book equips aspiring or newly appointed police constables with the knowledge and understanding to deal with the significant and often complex challenges they face daily.

Introduction to Professional Policing explores a selected number of the core underpinning knowledge requirements identified as themes within the evolving National Policing Curriculum (NPC) and Police Education Qualifications Framework (PEQF). These include:

• The evolution of criminal justice as a discipline
• Exploration of operational duties
• The ethics of professional policing
• Victims and protection of the vulnerable
• Crime prevention and approaches to counter-terrorism
• Digital policing and data protection
• Evidence based decision making
• Police leadership

At the end of each chapter the student finds a case study, reflective questions and a further reading list, all of which reinforces students’ knowledge and furthers their professional development. Written in a clear and direct style, this book supports aspiring police constables, newly appointed police constables or direct entry (DE) detectives, as well as those interested in learning more about policing. It is essential reading for students taking a degree in Professional Policing.

Dr Ian K. Pepper is an advisor on higher education within policing and Visiting Professor in Professional Practice at the University of Sunderland. Ian is a former Principal Lecturer in Policing, Senior Lecturer in crime scene and forensic science, police trainer, crime scene investigator (CSI) and fingerprint officer. He has been a team leader at the National Training Centre for Scientific Support to Crime Investigation and has designed and delivered education and training to crime scene investigators and police officers worldwide. Ian has completed a number of additional academic roles including the Chair of the College of Policing PEQF Senior Qualifications Higher Education Institution Committee and Invited Visiting Scholar at the University of Central Florida. With research interests focused on police higher education and volunteering in policing, Ian has authored and edited a range of policing publications including Working in Policing and Crime Scene Investigation: Methods and Procedures.

Dr Ruth McGrath currently teaches on the BSc Crime and Investigation course at Teesside University, and more recently became course leader of the BSc Professional Policing. Before this Ruth served with Cleveland Police where she experienced a range of operational roles, including uniformed policing, Investigation, Roads Policing and Custody Officer. As a detective she was engaged in major crime investigations and completed a six-month secondment to a national unit based at New Scotland Yard. During her service she was also a police trainer and an A1 NVQ Assessor. Ruth has taught and managed numerous police programmes at Teesside University including the Police Foundation Degree. With a special interest in police higher education, Ruth has authored journal articles on teaching policing and contributed to the published volume Working in Policing.