Diploma in Policing

Purpose

The purpose of this qualification is to provide achieving learners with a range of applied competencies (theoretical, practical knowledge and skills) to utilise within the police services context. Qualified learners will be equipped with 21st century skills that will enable them to identify, assess, formulate and solve problems while performing tasks related to maintaining public order, prevention of crime, investigation of crime, combating crime and protection of people and property. These competencies allow achieving learners to continue to learn new techniques and keep in touch with progress and technological trends within the Police Services industry and progress through the professional career path in the field. Qualified learners will be empowered with individual and leadership skills that would enable them to innovatively promote police service professionalism and engage effectively with community-based groups and organisations that promote social justice goals nationally and internationally.

Rationale

This qualification will contribute to the sector needs by empowering law enforcement personnel in the execution of their prime function which is ensuring a safe and secure environment for all people within the country. The Safety in Society and Sovereignty of the State sub-fields will especially benefit in that firstly, it will provide Policing competencies needed for employment in law enforcement agencies and organisations and secondly, it will further contribute to an in-depth understanding of the possible causes of crime, criminal preventative actions and the criminal justice system. Managers of law enforcement resources will benefit in that the management specialisations embedded in this qualification will assist in the development of effective systems and the creation of standardised management capabilities. Organisations such as the South African Police Services, the South African National Defence Force, the Military Police and the respective Metropolitan Police and Traffic Services will benefit the most from this qualification. This qualification allows learners employed in these services to progress from elementary law enforcement functions to middle management functions in order to perform relevant roles in the broader law enforcement environment. This qualification primarily reflects the workplace-based needs of the sector Safety in Society that relate to managerial competencies. This qualification will further ensure better service delivery to the community thereby providing a safe and secure community environment, which will enhance the growth of the economy.

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL)

Learners with relevant or related previous qualifications can be admitted into this qualification through Tshwane University of Technology(TUT) RPL policy. Where a learner can demonstrate that they can meet the assessment criteria within a unit through knowledge, understanding or skills they already possess without undertaking a course of learning. They must submit sufficient, reliable and valid evidence for internal and standards verification purposes.

Entry Requirements

The minimum entry requirement for this qualification is

• National Senior Certificate National Qualifications Framework(NQF) Level 4.

This qualification consists of the following compulsory and elective modules at National Qualifications Framework Level 5 and 6 totalling 360 Credits.

Compulsory Modules, Level 5, 100 Credits

• Communication for Academic Purposes, 10 Credits.
• Information Literacy I, 2 Credits.
• Law Policing IB, 12 Credits.
• Investigation of Crime, 13 Credits.
• Life Skills I, 2 Credits.
• Law Policing IA, 12 Credits.
• Investigations of Crime IA, 13 Credits.
• Policing IB, 13 Credits.
• Policing IA, 13 Credits.
• Computer Literacy, 10 Credits.

Elective Modules, Level 5, 40 Credits (Choose four Modules)

• Operational Management Principles IB, 10 Credits.
• Criminology in Policing IB, 10 Credits.
• Criminology in Policing IA, 10 Credits.
• Operational Management Principles IA, 10 Credits.
• Criminal Procedure 1B, 10 Credits.
• Criminal Procedure 1A, 10 Credits.

Compulsory Modules Level 6, 180 Credits

• Policing 2A, 20 Credits.
• Investigation of Crime 2B, 20 Credits.
• Investigation of Crime 2A, 20 Credits.
• Policing 2B, 20 Credits.
• Introduction to Basic Research Skills, 10 Credits.
• Policing 3B, 15 Credits.
• Investigation of Crime 3A, 15 Credits.
• Policing 3A, 15 Credits.
• Investigation of Crime, 3B, 15 Credits.
• Work Integrated Learning(WIL) in Policing, 30 Credits.

Elective Modules Level 6, 40 Credits (Choose Four Modules)

• Operational Management Principles 2A, 10 Credits.
• Criminology in Policing 2B, 10 Credits.
• Criminology in Policing 2A, 10 Credits.
• Law of Evidence 1A, 10 Credits.
• Law of Evidence 1B, 10 Credits.
• Operational Management Principles 2B, 10 Credits.
• Operational Management Principles, 3B, 10 Credits.
• Criminology in Policing 3A, 10 Credits.
• Operational Management Principles 3A, 10 Credits.
• Criminology in Policing 3B, 10 Credits.

1. Demonstrate an informed understanding on how to manage a community service centre, resolve and manage crime according to legal and investigative principles, prevent and combat crime in an integrated way involving all partners and to manage communication and intelligence resources to deliver an effective and efficient service to the community as well as an understanding of the key terms, concepts, elements, principles, rules and related theories.
2. Demonstrate an awareness of how knowledge on crime causation and crime prevention, develop, evolves and impacts on the operational strategies of the police.
3. Demonstrate an ability to select and apply standard methods, procedures or techniques to manage a community service centre, prevent and combat crime and to plan and manage an implementation process within a supported organisational environment, including the broader justice complex.
4. Demonstrate an ability to identify, evaluate and solve crime according to legal and investigative principles and to apply solutions based on relevant evidence and procedures or other forms of explanation appropriate to the crime or investigation thereof.
5. Demonstrate an understanding of the ethical implications of decisions and actions, within the police organisation and its perceived professional context, based on an awareness of the complexity of ethical dilemmas. Demonstrate an ability to gather information from a range of sources, including oral, written or symbolic texts, to select information regarding causes of crime, development of crime prevention combatting programmes and investigation of crime, and to apply basic processes of analysis, interpretation and evaluation of that information.

The following Associated Assessment Criteria will be used in an integrated manner across the Exit Level Outcomes

• Apply victim empowerment principles according to the rights of the victim.
• Apply policies and guidelines in the Community Service Centre according to guidelines and principles.
• Explain the establishment and maintenance of relationships according to policy.
• Explain the management of informer networks according to policy.
• Explain the management of general case flow according to legal and investigative principles.
• Complete the investigative process regarding selected offences according to legal and investigative principles.
• Apply problem-solving and conflict resolution models according to requirements.
• Plan proactive strategies by using an integrative approach. Explain and implementation, monitoring and evaluation to the National Crime Prevention Strategy.
• Explain the ways of community involvement according to policy.
• Explain the acquisition and allocation of logistical resources according to prescribed guidelines.
• Manage finances according to financial principles and explain policy implementation according to policy management principles.
• Explain human resources principles and strategies according to human resources practice.

Integrated Assessment

The qualification provides for sufficient practical applications of knowledge, skills and attitudes across modules to ensure that the learners' competencies can be assessed through a variety of assessment forms. Integrated Assessment will be achieved by a variety of strategies. These include written examinations, group and individual projects and assignments, practical examinations and a research report. Some of the criteria may be accessed through observation of the learners during their classes. Formative assessment will take place through class tests, semester tests, assignments (self -study), examinations, group assignments, discussions, case study and analysis during seminar presentations, discussions and project sessions. Self and peer assessment will contribute to formative assessment. Summative components of assessment include assignments, research projects, and examinations and Work Integrated Learning (WIL). In the research report, the learner will define the research question, identify appropriate research methodologies, undertake a literature review, critique the literature, collect and analyse data, and finally compile a report.