Stuart Woodcock
Senior Lecturer
I am a senior lecturer within the School of Law and Social Justice department (Institute of Policing) and programme lead for the BSC Police Law and Investigation level 6 top up degree and the BSc Community Policing and Criminal Investigation degree programme. I am a member of FHEA. Prior to being at the university of Chester I had been a police officer for over 30 years with Cheshire Police, during which time I had worked at various ranks on many operational policing roles including uniform section duties, custody officer, plain clothes squads focusing on vehicle crime and drug offences.
My time on the traffic unit and motorway unit involved high speed pursuits dealing with multiple fatal and serious collisions and crime. I worked on the police support group as a public order commander which involved dealing with riots, industrial disputes and political groups opposed to the development of the second runway at Manchester. Other duties included being a match commander and part of the safety committee for super league club rugby matches. Some office-based roles included being the Chief Constables staff officer which involved strategic planning research and evaluation work across the country.
I achieved qualifications as a lecturer whilst in the police service and taught interview skills training to Cheshire police officers. I was also the force evaluation officer working on national evaluations forming recommendations which shaped changes in national probationer training. Having retired from the police service in 2008 I worked for Cheshire police as the community policing training manager. This role involved the completion of research and creating a bespoke training programme. As a partnership between Cheshire police and the university of Chester emerged the programme was accredited by the university of Chester.
This was one of the first joint programmes to be taught to Cheshire police officers where they gained an academic qualification. Shortly after this I was employed by the university of Chester to develop and teach new programmes involving the existing Police Law and investigation and Community Policing and Criminal Investigation degree programmes.
As well as being the programme lead for BSC Police Law and Investigation level 6 top up degree and the BSc Community Policing and Criminal Investigation degree programme. I am the Module leader for, Leading and Managing People, Community Engagement and Partnership Working, Policing Communities and Problem Solving and Drugs and Alcohol in Society which are delivered to students at level 4, 5 and 6.
In addition I am a dissertation supervisor for the level 7 master’s programme. My specialist topics include Leadership and management, political and economic issues associated with drugs and alcohol in society, community cohesion and policing legitimacy. I am also a dissertation supervisor for the master’s programme. Additional responsibilities include departmental lead for outreach activities and degree programme marketing with regional colleges,
Being the Module leader for, Leading and Managing People, Community Engagement and Partnership Working, and Drugs and Alcohol in Society my research interests are around these subjects. I am especially interested in the political and economic aspects of policing and the association to my key subjects.
This has led me to research some criminological aspects in relation to power and control and human behaviour. These topics have led me to understand and research further the complexities of policing and the often-unseen pressures which effect strategic approaches. Research not only involves academic theories but there is a requirement to research the various strategies produced by governments and ensure interpretation and changes are current.