9 ECTS credits
250 h study time

Offer 2 with catalog number 4011518FNR for all students in the 1st semester at a (F) Master - specialised level.

Semester
1st semester
Enrollment based on exam contract
Impossible
Grading method
Grading (scale from 0 to 20)
Can retake in second session
Yes
Enrollment Requirements
Studenten die dit opleidingsonderdeel opnemen, zijn geslaagd voor "Politiestudies" en "Private veiligheid".
Taught in
Faculty
Faculty of Law and Criminology
Department
Criminology
Educational team
Pia Bieke Bruno Struyf
Sofie De Kimpe (course titular)
Lucas De Melo Melgaço
Activities and contact hours
9 contact hours Lecture
36 contact hours Seminar, Exercises or Practicals
190 contact hours Independent or External Form of Study
Course Content

The Policing and Surveillance profile focuses on three central themes: 1) police legitimacy, 2)diversity and police racism, 3) surveillance & technology. In particular, it considers the following research questions:

  1. What is the legitimacy of the police? How is this concept operationalized? (international literature review)
  2. Which surveillance technology (bodycams, cameras, drones, police apps, etc.) do the police use? What are the consequences of this for the relationship between the police and citizens and the day-to-day functioning of the police? 
  3. The use of identity checks (stop and search) in daily police practices. How do the police view this and how are citizens experiencing it? 
  4. What diversity policy is currently pursued by the police in Belgium? Is there racism and discrimination by the police (both internally and externally the police organisation)? Do they use surveillance technologies to socially sort the so-called BAME (Black, Asian, and Minority Ethnic) groups?
  5. What are the existent police models and strategies (community policing, predictive policing, intelligence-led policing, ...) and how do they relate to topics like legitimacy and the police use of technology? 
  6. What does the concept of surveillance mean for the police and their daily work? How is this reflected in police policy? 
  7. What is the meaning of sousveillance? What examples and practices can be found in the relationship between citizens and the police? How do citizens monitor the work of the police (for example, by recording cases of police abuse and violence against minorities)? What is its impact in issues of trust and legitimacy? 

Each of these themes is covered with texts and slides that are explained in the lessons. The texts form the basic material for this course and are part of the examination material. The exam is not an open book exam but the students may bring summaries of classes, texts and slides with them. 

During the lesson weeks, lectures are alternated with guest lectures, (reading) seminars and interactive debates. Presence in the classroom must therefore be accompanied by active participation and involvement. We will also visit the local police of Antwerp, who are the most advanced police force in Belgium when it comes to the development and use of  surveillance, information and communication technologies in daily police work. 

Course material
Digital course material (Required) : Politie en Veiligheid, een reader met verplichte basisliteratuur
Digital course material (Required) : slides
Practical course material (Required) : Gastcolleges en studiereis
Additional info

Working students

The study material and the assignments of this course will be available to them on Canvas. The lessons for the day students are partly recorded and also made available on Canvas for them and for the working students. In addition, three contact moments are provided for the working students. During this period, assignments for the preparation of the lectures will be given. The lectures should be considered as interactive contact moments between students and teachers. Thorough preparation is a prerequisite for this. The exam is also the same as that of the day students. The working students can join the lessons of the day students at any time. 

Erasmus students

For the Erasmus students there is a reading course in English to replace the lessons that will take place in Dutch. They are expected to follow all classes and guest lectures in English and also be present at the visit to the police of Antwerp. 

Covid-19

Lessons, assessment and other contact moments may take place face to face and/or online, depending on the measures imposed by the government regarding Covid-19 as well as the availability of the classrooms.

Learning Outcomes

General competencies

Knowledge and insights

  • The students are able to explain and give further interpretation about police issues and questions as treated during the lectures and tutorials on the basis of the proposed course material. They can summarize and critically audit these issues and questions.
  • Students are able to dissect, analyse and relate present scientific issues and questions of policy on police and surveillance (the functioning of police forces, the main actors in the police landscape, the relationship with their partners, the relationship with citizens, the use of technology, etc.) to criminological theories and / or theories of disciplines related to criminology and screen and audit them critically.
  • Students are able to identify police and surveillance policy from the current scientific issues and reformulate a criminological scientific problem and research question.

Skills

  • The students are able to develop a research on issues relating to policing and surveillance, to conduct independent research and report on to colleagues.
  • Students are able to analyse current issues on police and surveillance from a historical perspective.
  • Students can identify national scientific questions of police and security, argue and evaluate on the basis of international scientific literature and research findings abroad.
  • Students can conduct a discussion and enter into debate on topical issues related to policing and surveillance.

Attitude

  • The students have an interest in scientific interdisciplinary attitude of police and surveillance issues and are open to different problem definitions and research methods.
  • The students have great interest in current issues (both press and media as well as in the scientific literature) on police and surveillance and are able to assess  and comment them critically.

Grading

The final grade is composed based on the following categories:
Written Exam determines 30% of the final mark.
PRAC Paper determines 70% of the final mark.

Within the Written Exam category, the following assignments need to be completed:

  • Written Exam with a relative weight of 30 which comprises 30% of the final mark.

Within the PRAC Paper category, the following assignments need to be completed:

  • Assignment - Presentation with a relative weight of 70 which comprises 70% of the final mark.

    Note: opdracht, presentatie met peer-sassessment

Additional info regarding evaluation

Assessment categories:

  • HOC written exam determines 30% of the final mark
  • WPO Tutorials determines 70% of the final mark

Additional information on evaluation: 

On the basis of an ONLINE written exam the knowledge and application of the treated scientific literature is tested. In addition, students must make individual and / or group assignments within the framework of the tutorials (regarding the compulsory literature and / or the invited guest speakers and / or the attended study days, etc.). Students with unstable network acces or no available laptop can ask to make their examination on campus in forseen room. 

Required tutorials:

All assignments must be completed before the student can take part in the written exam.

Second term:

The result of the examination part WPO, with a result of at least 10/20, can be transferred to the second term. The student who wishes to transfer the examination part of WPO must send an e-mail to the professors at the latest before the start of the second session. This rule also applies to the transfer of the WPO examination part to a subsequent academic year. This does not apply to the examination part of the written examination. 

Allowed unsatisfactory mark
The supplementary Teaching and Examination Regulations of your faculty stipulate whether an allowed unsatisfactory mark for this programme unit is permitted.

Academic context

This offer is part of the following study plans:
Master of Criminology: Standaard traject (only offered in Dutch)
Master of Teaching in Social Sciences: criminologische wetenschappen (90 ECTS, Etterbeek) (only offered in Dutch)