FEATURED STORY

Police Station Trip

Studio 6 Psychologists, Sociologists and Forensic Scientists took the chance to be a part of a visit to the Thames Valley Police Station on Wednesday 16^th February 2011.

The day was spent experiencing police life through seeing the CCTV area, the custody area, the forensics zone and of course having the chance to meet the police dogs and horses.

Students also felt the tension mount when they had to become a part of the Anti-Terrorism Unit.  Here they had to deal with issues that for members of the police were all too common.  How do you deal with intelligence reports?  When do you make a choice between whether to raid or not?  How do you reassure the community? T hese were just a few of the dilemmas that our acting officers had to face.  This gave our students experience of a real investigation that takes place and the preparation and consideration that has to go into it.

Students were able to put their knowledge into practice throughout the day.  Forensic scientists saw how DNA samples and fingerprints of the offenders were taken and how they were then used as evidence.  Due to the new fingerprint technology 45,500 scenes of crime had offenders identified over the last 6 months.  The Psychologists applied theory learnt in class.  They are taught that the Marxist theory suggests that law benefits the ruling class and that the laws are reinforced from the values of the ruling class. However after the trip on Wednesday they learnt that police are not part of the ruling class even though they support the laws; they also have laws of their own that they have to follow, for example they can't stop and search someone for drugs or weapons without reason.  This proves how the ruling class has a mass control on the authority figure.

Many of the students walked away wanting to enrol into the service.  A job well done by all at Thames Valley Station who made us feel very welcome.

‘It was a fun day.  It was good to learn more about forensic science.  I learnt more about how it all works' - Damon Batemon

‘The day left me buzzing.  I loved meeting the police dogs.  Trying on the Uniform was the BEST!  It all strengthened my desire to work as a forensic scientist.' - Kimsley Avery-Hawkins

‘It was really hard when we were doing the Anti-Terrorism task.  We had to decide on when, how and who to arrest based on the little information we had but it taught me that you have to think of all the consequences before you make a move.  Real respect for the police!' - Naila Tulla

‘I feel that the trip was really helpful as it allowed me to have deeper understanding of a police job and now I have much more respect for them.  I now know that their job is really difficult and sometimes they have to make quick decisions even if they are the right ones or wrong' - Eneza Mulenga

‘Best part was when we went to see the horses and the CCTV as it made you feel like you're part of a big secret' - Zuhura Ibrahim