Aims

The course seeks to provide students with the informational and analytical tools to enable them to compare the operation and the activity of police services from both a legal and a criminological standpoint.

The course is intended for students undergoing training for their degree in criminology with a police service or a legal service and to those who plan a career in these fields.

Main themes

The course deals with the following areas :
- the socio-historical development of the Belgian police systems;
- the various police techniques, primarily in their relationship to the investigation of crimes and their perpetrators;
- relations between the police services and the authorities;
- criminological analysis of police strategies.

Content and teaching methods

The course is taught by lectures illustrated by practical cases taken from the students'own experience in the field.
Emphasis is placed on integration of the practical approach with the theoretical approach.

Other information (prerequisite, evaluation (assessment methods), course materials recommended readings, ...)

Pre-requirements : Criminal Law and Criminal Procedure.
Support : C. De Valkeneer, "Manuel de l'enquête pénale", Ed. Larcier, 2005, 2e ed.
Evaluation : oral examination.

Other credits in programs