Module LAW3221: ORGANISED CRIME

Department: Law

LAW3221: ORGANISED CRIME

Prerequisites

• Legal Skills (LAW 1041) and either (1) Tort Law (LAW 1051) and Contract Law (LAW 1071) or (2) EU Constitutional Law (LAW 1061) and The Individual and The State (LAW 1081) and UK Constitutional Law (LAW 1091)

Corequisites

• None.

Excluded Combination of Modules

• None.

Aims

• To provide students with an introduction to organised crime.
• In addition, the module aims to encourage students to evaluate established political and socio-economic concepts of organised crime3.
• A further aim is to develop students' critical awareness of both crime in its broader social and political context.

Content

• The module will be divided into two parts: Part 1: Introduction to organised crime.
• the historical development of organised crime.
• traditional theories of organised crime in the UK, USA and Europe.
• The relationship between organised crime and the state.
• Part 2: Contemporary concepts of organised crime.
• marketisation.
• globalisation.
• substantive forms of organised crime, including drugs, people smuggling, firearms, counterfeiting etc.
• the role of violence.
• the policing of organised crime including the evolution of cross border policing agencies.
• the future of organised crime.

Learning Outcomes

• On completion of the module students should be able to:
• Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the main theoretical approaches to organised crime.
• Evaluate critically the relevance of political and socio-economic change in the creation of organised crime and the subsequent determination of law and criminal justice policy.
• Demonstrate analytical and critical skills in regard to the social implications of existing perceptions of organised crime.

• Students should be able to:
• Demonstrate a sound understanding of organised crime;
• Analyse academic and law enforcement literature on organised crime;
• Engage in informed debate concerning organised crime.

• Students should be able to demonstrate developed research and writing skills including the ability to work independently and to take responsibility for their own learning.

Modes of Teaching, Learning and Assessment and how these contribute to the learning outcomes of the module

• The modes of teaching, learning and assessment have been chosen in order to facilitate the achievement of the learning outcomes of the module.
• Lectures will concentrate on developing students' knowledge of the subject area and introducing students to the relevant critical, evaluative and analytical skills.
• Tutorials will be used to develop students critical and analytical skills, and their understanding of the subject area.
• The modes of assessment will encourage independent learning and advanced research skills, and will examine students ability to meet the learning outcomes of the module.

Teaching Methods and Learning Hours

Summative Assessment

Formative Assessment:

Mich term: 1 essay 1500 words max.

■ Attendance at all activities marked with this symbol will be monitored. Students who fail to attend these activities, or to complete the summative or formative assessment specified above, will be subject to the procedures defined in the University's General Regulation V, and may be required to leave the University