Lincolnshire Police deliver insightful talk to Criminology students

Recently, representatives from Lincolnshire Police attended campus to discuss topics with our criminology students - from knife crime to body camera footage and police processes.

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Firstly, a Police Response Officer provided valuable practical insights into this role, the application and recruitment processes, and provided scenario challenges for students to consider.

Subsequently, with PC Chris Walker and Equality and Diversity Officer Gemma Copsey, our students took part in a panel based on Stop Search, with an introduction into police procedures and processes, emphasising the need for scrutiny and the importance of transparency.

They said: “Students completed anonymous feedback forms to scrutinise actual searches shown in body worn camera footage, practically showing them how the scrutiny process operates.

“The students also contributed to scrutiny data, which aids our processes and adds organisational value.”

Brian Williams, Lincolnshire Police Custody and TEP Trainer, had the students take part in practical learning. Through the use of scenario tasks on custody within the wider criminal justice system and police processes with detainees, students considered the roles of solicitors and appropriate adults.

Brian said: “ The session was fabulous. Students brought their knowledge of the custody environment and participated in an interactive facilitated tabletop exercise following the detention of an individual from arrest through the custody process until the point of being charged to court.

“Insightful questions allowed a deeper level of understanding to be reached by all students, including what happens in the custody suite and how that particular process fits into the wider Criminal Justice System.”

With Sergeant Mel Standbrook, and Designing Out Crime Officer, John Manuel, students were able to benefit from insights into local preventative measures such as The Happening knife crime initiative; an immersive, educational experience that aims to prevent and divert young people away from carrying a knife and being involved in serious violence.

Mary Brown, Lecturer in Sociology and Criminology at BGU, said: “Input from Lincolnshire Police was extremely valuable in providing insights and practical learning into roles, careers and practices within the police force and as gatekeepers to the wider criminal justice system.

“These additions to the Policing module enabled further links from the theory within our criminology degree to a wider professional context – bringing in real life aspects of the criminal justice system.

“Several of our current students are interested in uniform and non-uniform roles within the police!”

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