Crime and Investigation

Crime and Investigation is a discipline that examines the full chain of processes involved in responding to criminal behaviour, from the detection and investigation of offences to the gathering and analysis of evidence and the role of victims, witnesses, and the courts. It draws on criminology, forensic science, law, and social science to build a comprehensive understanding of how crime is defined, investigated, and prosecuted, and how the institutions responsible for those tasks operate and evolve over time.

At Teesside University, this three-year, full-time programme examines the role of law enforcement in England and Wales, taking a historical perspective on how policing has developed and a contemporary focus on its current role and function. You will explore the processes of criminal investigation, including the investigation of sudden death, the management of crime scenes, and the procedures through which evidence is gathered and assessed. The roles of victims and witnesses in the criminal justice process receive sustained attention, as does the broader question of how crime and deviance are theorised and explained.

Significant historical criminal investigations are examined for what they reveal about the evolution of investigative practice and the standards now applied.

Graduates of Crime and Investigation pursue careers in policing, the Crown Prosecution Service, probation, prisons, intelligence, forensic services, social care, and research. Many use the degree as preparation for careers in criminal investigation or as a platform for further study in criminology, forensic science, law, or social work. The analytical and critical thinking skills the degree develops are also applicable in policy analysis, journalism, security, and risk management roles.

The programme provides a solid grounding in both the practical and the theoretical dimensions of crime and justice.