Diploma in Metropolitan and Traffic Policing

Purpose

This Qualification is for any individual who is, or wishes to be involved in the traffic and Metro policing field. It serves to support and advance the functioning of individuals in the community policing industry.

Learners working towards this Qualification will find that the acquisition of competence in the Qualification will add value to their understanding of the sector and functioning in the workplace. It will provide for consolidation of the broad knowledge, skills and values needed in the traffic and Metro policing field of study.

The Qualification will facilitate access to, and mobility and progression within education and training and to progress along a learning path for learners who:

• Were previously disadvantaged or who were unable to complete their schooling and were therefore denied access to Further Education and Training.
• Have worked in traffic management or Metro policing or other related field for many years, but have not obtained a formal Qualification.
• Wish to extend their range of skills and knowledge of this field of study so that they can become competent workers as traffic and Metro police officers.

The intention of the Diploma: Metropolitan and Traffic Policing is to

• Promote the development of knowledge, skills and values that are required in traffic and Metro policing.
• Help learners realize their potential in the field.
• Provide opportunities for people to progress to levels of recognition and possible progression to higher levels of learning within the traffic and Metro policing field.

Rationale

Traffic Management and Policing distinguishes itself from related fields of study such as Social control and the criminal justice system and community safety, socio legal studies and security. It has become a new study field in South Africa. A traffic and Metro police officer should be able to manage secondary functions within the business of policing and integrate the required core knowledge to the society and effectively carry out their functions. There is a growing need for well trained, practical and knowledgeable Metropolitan and Traffic police officers.

The Diploma: Metropolitan and Traffic Policing, NQF Level 6 is designed to provide this need and to create job opportunities for learners interested in this field of study. Apart from following a career as a traffic or Metro police officer, successful candidates will also be able to articulate to related fields of study such as Safety and Security and Law enforcement.

The following actual knowledge is assumed to be in place in order to embark on learning

• Learners accessing this Qualification will have demonstrated achievement of outcomes in Language/Communication and Mathematics/Numeracy at NQF Level 4 or equivalent.

Recognition of prior learning

Learning that has been acquired through formal, informal and non-formal means is recognised for the fulfilment of the requirements of this qualification or part of the qualification. It is required that through assessment practices, the learner should demonstrate competence in the knowledge, skills, values and attitudes implicit in this qualification. Recognition of prior learning is performed by means of an Integrated assessment as mentioned in the previous paragraph.

This Recognition of prior learning may allow for accelerated access to further learning. All recognition of prior learning is subject to quality assurance by the relevant accredited Education and Training Quality Assurance Body and is conducted by a registered workplace assessor.

Access to the qualification

Access to this Qualification is theoretically open, permitting a learner to embark upon the Qualification. The entrance requirement is a matriculation certificate as stipulated by the relevant Acts in this regard, or an equivalent qualification at NQF Level 4.

Fundamental learning components

• Business Communication: 20 Credits at NQF Level 5.
• Financial Management: 20 Credits at NQF Level 5.
• General Management: 20 Credits at NQF Level 5.

Core learning components

• Law and Procedure of Evidence: 24 Credits at NQF Level 6.
• Metropolitan Police Science 1: 24 Credits at NQF Level 5.
• Metropolitan Police Science 2: 24 Credits at NQF Level 5.
• Metropolitan Police Science 3: 28 Credits at NQF Level 6.
• Traffic Science 1: 24 Credits at NQF Level 5.
• Traffic Science 2: 24 Credits at NQF Level 5.
• Traffic Science 3: 28 Credits at NQF Level 6.
• Criminal Law: 24 Credits at NQF Level 6.

Elective learning components (select two)

• Crime Prevention: 20 Credits at NQF Level 6.
• Community Policing: 20 Credits at NQF Level 6.
• Project Management: 20 Credits at NQF Level 5.

Total Credits: 300

On achieving this Qualification, the learner will be able to

1. Master the theoretical and practical foundation of Metropolitan and Traffic Policing as a field of study.
2. Master the practical and theoretical application of Metropolitan and traffic science within the field of metropolitan and traffic policing.
3. Develop methodologies and techniques to enhance and develop Policing and maintenance of safety within society.
4. Provide practical support within the Policing field so as to ensure the effective running of the unit with respect to cost effectiveness and general management principles.
5. Communicate effectively with fellow officers, subordinates, superiors and the general public.
6. Do assignments using project management.
7. Use the relevant legislation in order to maintain law and order, thereby ensuring procedural correctness and maximum efficiency with criminal activity.
8. Investigate into crimes and analyse a plan of action which will ensure just outcomes.
9. Analyse an accident scene and arrive at possible solutions with a reasonable following action.

The assessor will be able to determine learner's competency pertaining to these outcomes by using formative and summative assessment methods to measuring their ability to:

• Describe and discuss critically the theoretical and practical foundations of Municipal and Traffic Management.
• Demonstrate the ability to apply the practical and theoretical components of Municipal and traffic policing within society.
• Implement practical solutions to safety within society from a legal perspective.
• Develop strategies and communicate effectively with inferiors, colleagues, superiors and the community to promote an effective working environment.
• Demonstrate the ability to work in a team by completing specific tasks in Metropolitan and Traffic Policing as a member of a team.
• Evaluate the scene of a crime/accident and suggest possible causes, and highlight the following actions required.

Integrated assessment

Assessment practices must be open, transparent, fair, valid, and reliable and ensure that no learner is disadvantaged. Learning, teaching and assessment are in line with each other.

The term 'Integrated assessment' implies that theoretical and practical components should be assessed together. During integrated assessments the assessor should make use of formative and summative assessment methods and assess combinations of practical, applied, foundational and reflective competencies.

A variety of methods must therefore be used in assessment. Tools and activities must be appropriate to the context in which the learner is working. Where it is not possible to assess the learner in the workplace or on-the-job, simulations, case studies and other similar techniques should be used to provide a context appropriate to the assessment.

Assessors should assess and give credit for the evidence of learning that has already been acquired through formal, informal and non-formal learning and work experience.

Assessment should ensure that all specific outcomes and critical cross-field outcomes are evaluated. The assessment of the critical cross-field outcomes should be integrated with the assessment of specific outcomes.