The flourishing sub-discipline of ‘police studies’ reflects the increasing centrality of policing in political debate and popular culture, and as a major concern of government policy. This course aims to familiarise students with the formidable volume of research knowledge that has now been built up.  The course will enable students to understand the development and functioning of police organisations as well as providing them with an understanding of some of the key issues and debates affecting contemporary policing. The topics covered will include: the role and purposes of policing; the media and policing; governance and legitimacy; integrity and corruption; and policing and (in)equality.