Police studies

6 ECTS credits
150 h study time

Offer 1 with catalog number 1021123CER for all students in the 1st semester at a (C) Bachelor - specialised level.

Semester

1st semester

Enrollment based on exam contract

Possible

Grading method

Grading (scale from 0 to 20)

Can retake in second session

Yes

Enrollment Requirements

Studenten die dit opleidingsonderdeel opnemen, moeten minstens 60 ECTS-credits op bachelorniveau hebben behaald. Of de student is ingeschreven in een verkort traject.

Taught in

Dutch

Faculty

Faculty of Law and Criminology

Department

Criminology

Educational team

Sofie De Kimpe (course titular)

Activities and contact hours

24 contact hours Lecture
75 contact hours Independent or External Form of Study

Course Content

Students get acquainted with the police organization, police culture and basics of Belgian police law. The subject covers primarily the Belgian police organisation and structure. Students learn how the Belgian police system of today was given shape through history and study the current structure in depth (government authority, decision and policy making and leadership of the police). At the end of this course, they are also familiar with the Belgian organization as described in the Law on the Integrated Police.

Besides the structure is also the culture of the police discussed. Here we also look into the international literature on the sociology of the police, the social role and function of the police and the concept of policing. An important part of this is the relationship between the police and the population and the legitimacy of the police.

It is important that the students understand contemporary issues about the police as an organization and the police profession (cf function). Next tot his students should be able to analyse and evaluate the police policy.

Course material

Handbook (Required) : Good Poliicng, Trust, Legitimacy and authority, Mike Hough, Policy Press, 9781447355076, 2020

Additional info

Obliged Reading

The students are obliged to read a book on police studies. One question on the exam refers to this reading excercise.

Arrangements evening students

The lessons of the day students are recorded for the evening students. For the evening students 2 meetings are provided. One at the beginning of the semester where we will explain content of course, and one at the end of the semester where student have ton prepaire Q&A for professor. Students wil'll have to have seen the videolessons or have read the concerned chapters of the Syllabus to prepaire the Q&A. .

Erasmus students

A reading course in English is provided for Erasmus students.

Learning Outcomes

Algemene Competenties

Knowledge and Insight

Graduates have knowledge about and understand the main questions and the central theoretical concepts of international police sociology
Graduates have knowledge and understanding about police policies and debates on this subject
Graduates have knowledge and understanding of the international understanding on the role of the population in the functioning of the police
Graduates have knowledge and understanding of international insights about the police culture
Graduates can see the dimensions of policing, indicating their mutual interest and feedback to a critical analysis of police work
Graduates have a view of the historical development of the police
Graduates have knowledge and understanding of the current force structure and legal framework of the Belgian police
Graduates have knowledge and understand the connection between the historical developments within the Belgian police and the current force structure and legal framework
Graduates can, based on the knowledge of police sociology, formulate critical comments about the current Belgian police system

Skills

Graduates can relate in a scientific manner relevant police problems and issues to theoretical insights.
Graduates can communicate (oral and written) scientifically based insights on a synthetic and structured way.

Attitudes

Graduates have an interested, inquisitive and independent attitude which makes them follow the international and national developments within the police;
Graduates have a great interest in and sensitivity to the social impact of the police;
Graduates respect the emotional aspects of policing and the relation between the citizens and the police;
Graduates have a dogmatic vision which they do not go looking for "ultimate truths", but recognize the relative uncertainty and ambiguity of insights from an open scientific attitude.

Grading

The final grade is composed based on the following categories:
Oral Exam determines 100% of the final mark.

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

Oral Exam with a relative weight of 1 which comprises 100% of the final mark.

Additional info regarding evaluation

The evaluation shall consist of an oral examination.

The oral exam consists of 4 open questions spread over the course. 1 additional question inquires about the student's reading assignment, the way in which the student can reflect on this from the course. The oral part takes place with written preparation.

Erasmus students
Writing a paper in which the students compare the Belgian police organisation with a police organisation from a European country. In doing so, they make use of concepts and insights in the texts provided for them.

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