Blackstone’s Handbook for Policing Students 2025

Comprehensive and reliable, Blackstone’s Handbook for Policing Students 2025 is the ideal companion for the multitude of avenues into policing now open to future police officers, from pre-join degree courses, degree holder entry and degree apprenticeships, to the police constable entry programme. The book will also be of interest to Specials and PCSOs, especially those looking to join the police service as a constable.

Divided into five parts, representing key stages in your progression from entry into policing, to initial training and then confirmation, the Handbook leads you through each topic, covering theory, discussion, and practice while helping you to develop your skills of analysis, problem solving, and forms of reasoning. Coupled with a clear structure and accessible style, the book will provide you with the knowledge and understanding necessary to undertake independent patrol in a professional and competent manner. Key topics covered include stop, search, and entry; alcohol and drug offences; sexual offences; interviewing; and intelligence, as well as policing communities and wellbeing. Those aspects of police training which are common to all new entrants are clearly identified. There are specific chapters on evidence-based policing and understanding the Police Constable role, making the Handbook the ideal resource whether you are entering policing through a pre-join scheme or through an alternative qualification route.

Dominic Wood, Head of the School of Law, Policing and Social Sciences, and Professor of Ethical Policing, Canterbury Christ Church University, Sarah Bradshaw, Professor and Strategic Lead for Policing, Middlesex University, Tara Dickens, Director of Policing, Canterbury Christ Church University, Julian Parker-McLeod, Head of School of Policing Studies, Charles Sturt University, Christina Davis, Project Manager of 2025 Edition,

Dominic Wood is Head of the School of Law, Policing and Social Sciences, and Professor of Ethical Policing at Canterbury Christ Church University. After organizing and chairing an international policing conference at CCCU on Knowledge Led Policing, Dominic helped to establish the Higher Education Forum for Learning and Development in Policing.

Sarah Bradshaw is a Professor and Strategic Lead for Policing at Middlesex University. Her research is focused on gender equality and human rights. She also works on post-disaster response and recovery. She has advised many organizations on gender issues including the United Nations and briefed the armed forces and first responders on gendered response to disaster including a high-level military conference at the invitation of the Supreme Commander of the Swedish Armed Forces.

Tara Dickens is the Director of Policing at Canterbury Christ Church University. Previously, she spent 20 years as a Kent Police officer working at different ranks in uniformed response, criminal investigation, intelligence, and public protection.

Julian Parker-McLeod is Head of School of Policing Studies, Charles Sturt University, NSW, Australia. Previously he was Director of Professional Education Programmes at the University of Portsmouth. He was also a Police Sergeant with the Cumbria Constabulary for over 15 years.