A UNIQUE first step to a fast-track career with the police will be available from September. SYREETA LUND and KELLY CLAYTON report on a new course in High Wycombe.

Whether it's fishing a body out of the river, cracking the DNA evidence which could solve a murder case or getting a troublesome yob face to face with his victim, a pioneering Policing degree can offer a huge variety of career opportunities to officers.

The new Policing BSc honours degree being run by Buckinghamshire Chilterns University College, in High Wycombe, is the only full-time undergraduate degree of its kind in the country.

Criminologist Dr Allyson MacVean is leading the three-year course which opens doors to serving officers.

"It can kick-start a number of careers in the police force, probation, security and prison service," she said.

"Those who take part could find themselves in the Forensic Science Service or even MI5.

"They could join the fire arms unit and be tackling riots or in the underwater police teams, pulling a body out of the water.

'The possibilities are endless and can lead to a career which takes the candidate across the world."

She believes that policing has changed dramatically, with more emphasis on community policing, intelligence-led investigations and cutting-edge forensic technology, and said there was a real need for the course.

All the lecturers on the course, including Dr MacVean, are highly experienced professionals and teach from internationally recognised, published research which they have undertaken on policing, crime and criminal justice both within the Thames Valley area and beyond.

Dr MacVean has worked on high-profile cases of a serious nature alongside police at all levels including Scotland Yard and the Home Office.

She is currently carrying out research on paedophiles who use the internet and has worked with police on the recent Operation Wonderland, which exposed an horrific paedophile ring.

The course will examine a wide range of subjects including profiling which looks into the psychology of criminals.

Forensic science, thought to hold the key to pinpointing the attacker who murdered school girl Sarah Payne, will also be on the course agenda.

Thames Valley Police has been at the cutting edge of new policing techniques such as Anti-Social Behaviour Orders, which can ban criminals from areas and places where they persistently cause alarm or distress to others, and Restorative Justice which brings offenders face to face with victims to confront the effects of their crimes.

Students will also benefit from the input of police in the front line who put the theory into practice every day.

Inspector Mike Petford, based at Amersham Police Station, said that they are delighted the course is now available at the university.

"The course content, which includes justice and anti-social behaviour, is extremely relevant to the issues experienced in modern day policing.

"This will be especially relevant to people considering a career in the police service."

Dr MacVean said the degree would help anyone interested in a job where they have to deal with criminals.

"When the students have the degree under their belt, hopefully it will have a good reputation," she explained.

"It's covering not just policing into crime, but different types of crime, how we make laws and how the police work within those laws."

The programme has been developed with the help of the Thames Valley Police and West Mercia Constabulary.

Dr MacVean added: "The degree won't immediately get you into the police force, but it will enable students to become more fast-track within their career.

"The modules are academically rigorous, they use up-to-date evidence-based research and are practically relevant for future career development which could take candidates into some very interesting careers."

Course lecturers have carried out wide-ranging areas of specialist research:

Dr MacVean research on the policing of paedophiles, a Home Office study of the forms of organised crime, and evaluation of initiatives to deal with anti social behaviour.

Professor Kevin Stenson research into the relationship between crime, social problems and deprivation in the Thames Valley area, a study of community policing and the relations between young people on the streets and the police.

Dr David Jones evaluation of Skidz, a Thames Valley initiative to steer young people way from car crime, and an evaluation of the long-term crime-prevention potential of parent support programmes.

Dr Diana Medlicott study of the relationship between prison regime, suicide and coping mechanisms among prisoners.

Dr Max Travers study of the operations of appeals tribunals for asylum seekers.

Paul Watt and Bevis Cotton Home Office evaluation of a programme to improve knowledge of and involvement in criminal justice agencies among ethnic minority groups.

Anyone interested in more information about the course, which starts in September, can contact Dr MacVean on (01494) 522141 ext 3531, e-mail allyson.macvean@bcuc.ac.uk, or Janet Gladstone on (01494) 522141 ext 3528, e-mail janet.gladstone@bcuc.ac.uk

Topics for study on the course

Modules included in the policing degree hold 15 credit points each, except for the dissertation which holds 30.

These modules are:

Research Methods

Introduction of policing

Crime in the City

Criminal Law

History of Crime and Punishment

Law, Crime and Social Action

Criminal Justice in the Welfare State

Origins of Criminology

Understanding Research

Theories of policing

Race and Criminal Justice

White Collar Crime

Social Problems and Deviance

Operational Policing

Modern Criminology Theory

Criminal Psychology

Criminal Justice Processes

Organised Crime

Dissertation

Mentally Disordered Offenders

Drugs and Crime

Police management and leadership

Penal Policy

Community Corrections

Crime and the Media