Crime and Investigation

Crime and investigation is a field that brings together the study of criminal behaviour, law enforcement processes and forensic investigation, with particular attention to how crimes are discovered, investigated and brought to legal resolution. It draws on criminology, law and forensic science to understand how criminal justice institutions operate in practice, from the moment a crime is reported through to the gathering of evidence, the conduct of investigations and the treatment of victims and witnesses throughout the process.

At Teesside University, this part-time programme examines the role of law enforcement within England and Wales, covering the historical development and contemporary function of policing alongside forensic investigation, the investigation of sudden death, the processes of criminal investigation and the roles of victims and witnesses in the justice system. You will explore significant historical criminal investigations and their influence on investigative practice and the development of forensic science, and you will engage with theoretical explanations of crime and deviance that provide the conceptual framework for understanding why crime occurs and how society responds.

Graduates of crime and investigation programmes move into careers across the criminal justice sector and related fields. The police service, forensic science, criminal investigation, the prison and probation service, victim support, legal advice services and the charitable sector working with offenders and victims are all common destinations. The part-time structure makes the programme particularly accessible to those who are already working in related sectors and wish to develop their knowledge and professional credentials.

Many graduates go on to further study in criminology, forensic science, criminal justice or law, where the practical and theoretical grounding of this programme supports more advanced and specialist work.