Policing and Intelligence Analysis - MSc at Birmingham City University

Our MSc Policing and Intelligence is designed to provide a detailed platform for critical analysis and evaluation of strategic level policing and the use of intelligence within investigations.

The course will be delivered by subject matter experts and experienced practitioners (including retired police officers) with a wealth of subject expertise, to build upon existing skills and develop new ones. This course has been developed through consultation with a range of police force areas, to give students the opportunity to examine strategic and operational policing, whilst also ensuring opportunities for enhancing reflective practice in order to better examine current work procedures amongst our student cohort.

The course will develop your critical thinking skills surrounding the subjects of policing, policy and practice through complementary modules encompassing the theory and principles of operational policing, intelligence gathering, use of data, Inclusions and equality issues and much more.

To develop these skills, you will be involved in practical activities, events and will be exposed to a range of opportunities to reflect current working practices. Wider discussions will also be had on the changing nature of policing, criminal justice and public sector agencies as well as current risks, threats and harm which are impacting on communities at the operational level.

Optional modules for the course will include focus on Critical Incident Command or Advanced Safeguarding and Public Protection, allowing you to examine key contemporary issues within policing. Choice and flexibility with optional modules will ensure that learners will be able to pick those subject areas which best suit career aspirations.

Our MSc in Policing and Intelligence analysis will utilise a range of exciting and innovative forms of assessment which match the working practices within policing. You will also be supported in understanding effective strategic leadership and management within organisations, examining what works and the use of evidenced based best practice so as to utilise resources effectively. The course has been designed to work around current officers and police staff, as well as criminal justice practitioners.

The course is taught through the innovative and flexible block learning method of delivery. In this model, students will attend four, three hour workshops per module, per semester, requiring attendance of 4 days on campus during the course of a semester.  The remaining content will be available via our virtual ELearning environment. This flexibility will ensure that students can use the MSc to support career and educational progression within policing.

The course will provide support and guidance on recognising talent within organisations and how to support and develop staff to achieve their full potential within their chosen workplace.

The course prides itself on helping to educate and guide students so they feel capable and equipped to face a variety of incidents and issues. This course will combine all of these elements together to give students an opportunity to complete an investigative project around a chosen contemporary policing issue. This will provide learners with the tools to enhance existing critical thinking skills, identifying appropriate methodologies to ensure maximum impact and positive outcomes. 

The material will ask students to analyse the moral, legal and ethical arguments within policing, examining legacy and its role in shaping community views on law enforcement. With a wide range of diverse communities, the course will ensure that students understand the changing nature of community dynamics and its importance in shaping policing practice, policy and procedure.

The course will develop enhance your professionalism and real world experience, ensuring that when students graduate, they are equipped to make an impact in law enforcement. Our course teaching team will also provide additional guidance sessions, online webinars and conference calls to support students with academic and research skills so as to ensure students are fully prepared to carry out the assessments throughout the course.

The course will also discuss the international dimension to law enforcement and how criminal activities are not just domestic in their construction. Module content will explore this in greater detail and through the use of guest lecturers from around the world, the professional relationships and shared intelligence between various policing agencies will be discussed.