Students

PICT8042 – Australia's Approach to Law Enforcement

2020 – Session 2, Special circumstance

Notice

As part of Phase 3 of our return to campus plan, most units will now run tutorials, seminars and other small group learning activities on campus for the second half-year, while keeping an online version available for those students unable to return or those who choose to continue their studies online.

To check the availability of face to face activities for your unit, please go to timetable viewer. To check detailed information on unit assessments visit your unit's iLearn space or consult your unit convenor.

General Information

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Unit convenor and teaching staff Unit convenor and teaching staff
Vincent Hurley
Credit points Credit points
10
Prerequisites Prerequisites
Admission to MPICT or MCPICT or GradDipPICT or GradDipCPICT or PGCertPICT or MPICTMIntSecSt or MCPICTMIntSecSt or MIntSecStud or GradDipIntSecStud or MSecStrategicStudMCrim or MIntellMCrim or MCyberSecMCrim or MCTerrorismMCrim or admission to BSecStudMCrim
Corequisites Corequisites
Co-badged status Co-badged status
Unit description Unit description
Historically, the police, policing and law enforcement has been a localised function reflecting the customs, practices and traditions of an identifiable community, in this case Australia. The fact there are less than 10 policing organisations in the western world with more than 10,000 police (NSW Police Force being one) that police a population in the millions, is rare. Modern policing in Australia now addresses multiple crime types and government policy perspectives. This unit provides students with the opportunity to critically reflect upon the role of the police, how policing and law enforcement exist and how it is influenced by in social systems, legal systems, economic development, conflict and globalisation of crime. As part of that understanding, State based policing, national policing and their relationship to international policing and policy will be explored.

Important Academic Dates

Information about important academic dates including deadlines for withdrawing from units are available at https://www.mq.edu.au/study/calendar-of-dates

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this unit, you will be able to:

  • ULO2: Examine the complexities of private/public sector safety and security relationships
  • ULO1: Analyse the history and development of public and private organisations in the delivery of policing
  • ULO3: Critically evaluate the role and function of government in providing opportunities for the pluralisation in policing
  • ULO4: Evaluate the delivery of policing services in differing public settings
  • ULO5: Evaluate the delivery of policing in differing private settings

General Assessment Information

 

Assessment Tasks

Name Weighting Hurdle Due
Minor Assignment 30% No 11.55pm Sunday 6th September
Major Assignment 50% No 11.55pm Sunday 18th October
Quiz 20% No OPENS 8am Sunday 1st Nov. CLOSES 11.55pm Sunday 8th November

Minor Assignment

Assessment Type 1: Essay
Indicative Time on Task 2: 30 hours
Due: 11.55pm Sunday 6th September
Weighting: 30%

 

2,000 word Essay.

You will be required to research and critical engagement with the literature on the historical evolution of Peelian policing and how it is relevant to contemporary policing with a national setting. You will be drawing upon academic texts, lectures and produce a logical and coherent argument in response to the question

 


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Examine the complexities of private/public sector safety and security relationships
  • Analyse the history and development of public and private organisations in the delivery of policing
  • Critically evaluate the role and function of government in providing opportunities for the pluralisation in policing
  • Evaluate the delivery of policing services in differing public settings

Major Assignment

Assessment Type 1: Essay
Indicative Time on Task 2: 50 hours
Due: 11.55pm Sunday 18th October
Weighting: 50%

 

2500 words

You will be required to research and critical engagement with the literature on austerity, through Global Financial Crisis and its impact on policing in austerity. You will be drawing upon academic texts, lectures and produce a logical and coherent argument in response to the question in answering the 'how' police are going to reduce crime within the framework of austerity

 


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Examine the complexities of private/public sector safety and security relationships
  • Analyse the history and development of public and private organisations in the delivery of policing
  • Critically evaluate the role and function of government in providing opportunities for the pluralisation in policing
  • Evaluate the delivery of policing services in differing public settings
  • Evaluate the delivery of policing in differing private settings

Quiz

Assessment Type 1: Quiz/Test
Indicative Time on Task 2: 8 hours
Due: OPENS 8am Sunday 1st Nov. CLOSES 11.55pm Sunday 8th November
Weighting: 20%

 

Online quiz

 


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Examine the complexities of private/public sector safety and security relationships
  • Analyse the history and development of public and private organisations in the delivery of policing
  • Critically evaluate the role and function of government in providing opportunities for the pluralisation in policing
  • Evaluate the delivery of policing services in differing public settings
  • Evaluate the delivery of policing in differing private settings

1 If you need help with your assignment, please contact:

  • the academic teaching staff in your unit for guidance in understanding or completing this type of assessment
  • the Writing Centre for academic skills support.

2 Indicative time-on-task is an estimate of the time required for completion of the assessment task and is subject to individual variation

Delivery and Resources

Coronavirus (COVID-19) Update

Any references to on-campus delivery below may no longer be relevant due to COVID-19.

Please check here for updated delivery information: https://ask.mq.edu.au/account/pub/display/unit_status

UNIT REQUIREMENTS AND EXPECTATIONS

  • You should spend an average of 12 hours per week on this unit. This includes listening to lectures prior to seminar or tutorial, reading weekly required materials as detailed in iLearn, participating in Ilearn discussion forums and preparing assessments.
  • Internal students are expected to attend all seminar or tutorial sessions, and external students are expected to make significant contributions to on-line activities.
  • In most cases students are required to attempt and submit all major assessment tasks in order to pass the unit.

 

REQUIRED READINGS

  • The citations for all the required readings for this unit are available to enrolled students through the unit iLearn site, and at Macquarie University's library site. Electronic copies of required readings may be accessed through the library or will be made available by other means.

 

TECHNOLOGY USED AND REQUIRED

  • Computer and internet access are essential for this unit. Basic computer skills and skills in word processing are also a requirement.
  • This unit has an online presence. Login is via: https://ilearn.mq.edu.au/
  • Students are required to have regular access to a computer and the internet. Mobile devices alone are not sufficient. 
  • Information about IT used at Macquarie University is available at http://students.mq.edu.au/it_services/

 

SUBMITTING ASSESSMENT TASKS

  • All text-based assessment tasks are to be submitted, marked and returned electronically. This will only happen through the unit iLearn site.
  • Assessment tasks must be submitted as a MS word document by the due date.
  • Most assessment tasks will be subject to a 'TurnitIn' review as an automatic part of the submission process.
  • The granting of extensions is subject to the university’s Special Consideration Policy. Extensions will not be granted by unit conveners or tutors, but must be lodged through Special Consideration: https://students.mq.edu.au/study/my-study-program/specialconsideration

 

LATE SUBMISSION OF ASSESSMENT TASKS

  • Unless a Special Consideration request has been submitted and approved, (a) a penalty for lateness will apply – two (2) marks out of 100 will be deducted per day for assignments submitted after the due date – and (b) no assignment will be accepted seven (7) days (incl.weekends) after the original submission deadline. No late submissions will be accepted for timed assessments – e.g. quizzes, online tests. 

 

WORD LIMITS FOR ASSESSMENT TASKS

  • Stated word limits include footnotes and footnoted references, but not bibliography, or title page.
  • Word limits can generally deviate by 10% either over or under the stated figure.
  • If the number of words exceeds the limit by more than 10%, then penalties will apply. These penalties are 5% of the awarded mark for every 100 words over the word limit. If a paper is 300 words over, for instance, it will lose 3 x 5% = 15% of the total mark awarded for the assignment. This percentage is taken off the total mark, i.e. if a paper was graded at a credit (65%) and was 300 words over, it would be reduced by 15 marks to a pass (50%).
  • The application of this penalty is at the discretion of the course convener. 

 

REASSESSMENT OF ASSIGNMENTS DURING THE SEMESTER

 

STAFF AVAILABILITY

  • Department staff will endeavour to answer student enquiries in a timely manner. However, emails or iLearn messages will not be answered over the weekend or public holiday period.
  • Students are encouraged to read the Unit Guide and look at instructions posted on the iLearn site before sending email requests to staff.

Unit Schedule

Week 1

Introduction - Unit overview and Objectives. This session gives an overview of Unit Guide on assessments, expectations etc. Once this is completed the session examines the fundamentals in the birth of policing from Ancient Japan, Greece and France. What occurred centuries ago in 'policing' is still reflected today

Week 2

Birth of Policing in Colonial Australia. This week contrast how policing in Australia commenced 64 years before the appearance of Peels Police. It explores for example, how and why policing in Australia became semi-militarised. It compares the Australian Policing setting to that of England about the same period. The two social environments that lead to different policing styles could not be more dissimilar.

Week 3

International Policing Systems. Scholars who advocate democratic policing have identified several tenets that are fundamental to democratic policing, such as the rule of law, accountability to the public, open decision making, minimal use of force, involvement of public in policing, maximum respect for human rights, and internal democracy in the organization. At the other end of the policing spectrum is authoritarian policing and religious police. This session will examine the systems of law enforcement and policing employed in some of those countries. Then session will providing a contrast with other policing systems and see how policing in Australia (& other Western Democratic) may benefit or not, from these policing regimes.

Week 4

Customs/Border Protection: This is the first of the “drill down” subject areas that looks at the practicalities of how the Law Enforcement Industry operates. State police forces have clearly defined boundaries, responsibilities and authority. The same cannot be said for organised crime and criminals. Increasingly organised crime is operating on an international scale, with the movement of contraband and the proceeds of crime expanding beyond national borders. The partnership of national bodies such as Customs with police forces and private security organisations is crucial. The synergy that can be achieved through the application of powers, authority and capability is an important element of the ability of a nation to secure its borders.  

Week 5

Policing in Weak Nation States. This session examines the development and implementation of Law Enforcement in environments where the separation between the external goals of a nation and the internal goals of a community is less clear. There has been an increasing trend internationally for the global community to engage in securing “rogue” states and then bringing about stability through peacekeeping and community building activities. Whereas in developed nations the lines of demarcation between military and police/private contractors are well defined, in conflict zones the lines are less clear. At what point does a military operation become a law enforcement function? Can both operate concurrently? These are just some of the issues that require greater analysis and thought.

Week 6

Public/Private Spaces: The notion that public police are the sole provider of safety and security in either the public or private domain is completely outmoded. In the modern context local government, state government, national government and any number of private agencies all provide a level of service that collectively comprises law enforcement in public and private spaces. Critical infrastructure is protected by a host of participants. There are an increasing number of gated communities, controlled by private security. Shopping centres have private guards and access control. Public parks are patrolled by police, council officers and private security. How has this come to pass? How does it work? Are there best practice examples? This session will look at the environment that is security in public and private spaces.

Week 7

The Partnership Process. The ‘State’ Police and Private Policing. The advent of multi-layered partnerships between police forces and other publicly funded agencies has not happened by chance. It has been the result of a changing socio/political landscape that has placed greater emphasis on control of budgets and assignation of responsibility through decentralised decision making. Where once it was considered standard practice that to reduce crime an increase in police numbers was necessary, now there are an increasing number of public agencies providing safety and security functions to the Law Enforcement Industry. This session will look at what these agencies do and how they contribute to an improved level of safety and security in the community.

Week 8

The Role of Government: As the military is necessary to provide external border protection, the participants in the Law Enforcement Industry are responsible for ensuring that the internal health of the community is protected. On that basis, the government/s of the day has a significant responsibility to put in place the policies, legislation and operating conditions to create both stability and security of the populace. Further, it needs to create the circumstances where the partnerships can develop and where appropriate flourish to provide the type and level of safety and security that the community needs. In looking at some of the different forms of government, their philosophical bases and decision making constraints, we can gain an understanding of both the complexity of their involvement and the impact that governments have on creating the most appropriate Law Enforcement Industry environment.

Week 9

Counter Terrorism: Counter terrorism operations have become so complex in recent years that it is effectively an industry on its own. That of itself has created significant issues internationally as gaps in the coordination of prevention and response strategies have appeared. There has been a concerted push by governments to bring a greater sense of coordination to these vital public safety and security functions. In this session we will examine who these participants are and how they come together within the Law Enforcement context to create a cohesive operating environment and build perceptions of safety and security within the community.

Week 9

Public Agency Involvement. The advent of multi-layered partnerships between police forces and other publicly funded agencies has not happened by chance. It has been the result of a changing socio/political landscape that has placed greater emphasis on control of budgets and assignation of responsibility through decentralised decision making. Where once it was considered standard practice that to reduce crime an increase in police numbers was necessary, now there are an increasing number of public agencies providing safety and security functions to the Law Enforcement Industry

Week 10

Major Events: The increased mobility and affluence of the community has in recent years given rise to an increasing number of major events being conducted in world cities. These events are no longer confined to stadia nor purpose built structures. In fact those attending major events may not even attend for the purpose that the event was created. Major protests and community led reactions to issues that may in some way relate to the event can create even greater problems than the logistics of the event itself. Examples such as the G20, APEC and WTO meetings can attract tens of thousands of protestors even though the participants may number in the hundreds. The Olympic Games are held in at least 14 different facilities with many running concurrently, in addition to common domain locations. Iconic rock concerts can be held in open areas with little infrastructure.  The need for a collaborative effort between dozens of participants in the Law Enforcement Industry is paramount if these events are to be successful. This session will focus on the partnership practices that develop as organisations work together to provide a safe and secure environment.

Week 11  

The Liquor Industry: Perhaps one of the most heavily regulated and controlled industries in the western world, the Liquor Industry provides a huge source of employment, wealth and entertainment to communities. Unfortunately, one of the by-products of these benefits has been the anti-social, criminal and often violent activities associated with the sale, distribution and service of alcohol. Policing resources are inordinately committed to alcohol related crime, but they are not the only agency to do so. A host of public agencies commit resources to compliance, investigation and prosecution of those in the Liquor Industry who work outside their obligations. The role of private security in the Liquor Industry is also significant. How then do the participants work together to develop more safe and secure environments? Are they successful? How can it be done better? What is the role of Government?

 

Policies and Procedures

Macquarie University policies and procedures are accessible from Policy Central (https://staff.mq.edu.au/work/strategy-planning-and-governance/university-policies-and-procedures/policy-central). Students should be aware of the following policies in particular with regard to Learning and Teaching:

Students seeking more policy resources can visit the Student Policy Gateway (https://students.mq.edu.au/support/study/student-policy-gateway). It is your one-stop-shop for the key policies you need to know about throughout your undergraduate student journey.

If you would like to see all the policies relevant to Learning and Teaching visit Policy Central (https://staff.mq.edu.au/work/strategy-planning-and-governance/university-policies-and-procedures/policy-central).

Student Code of Conduct

Macquarie University students have a responsibility to be familiar with the Student Code of Conduct: https://students.mq.edu.au/study/getting-started/student-conduct​

Results

Results published on platform other than eStudent, (eg. iLearn, Coursera etc.) or released directly by your Unit Convenor, are not confirmed as they are subject to final approval by the University. Once approved, final results will be sent to your student email address and will be made available in eStudent. For more information visit ask.mq.edu.au or if you are a Global MBA student contact globalmba.support@mq.edu.au

Student Support

Macquarie University provides a range of support services for students. For details, visit http://students.mq.edu.au/support/

Learning Skills

Learning Skills (mq.edu.au/learningskills) provides academic writing resources and study strategies to help you improve your marks and take control of your study.

The Library provides online and face to face support to help you find and use relevant information resources. 

Student Services and Support

Students with a disability are encouraged to contact the Disability Service who can provide appropriate help with any issues that arise during their studies.

Student Enquiries

For all student enquiries, visit Student Connect at ask.mq.edu.au

If you are a Global MBA student contact globalmba.support@mq.edu.au

IT Help

For help with University computer systems and technology, visit http://www.mq.edu.au/about_us/offices_and_units/information_technology/help/

When using the University's IT, you must adhere to the Acceptable Use of IT Resources Policy. The policy applies to all who connect to the MQ network including students.