Why I chose Crime and Investigative Studies at ARU

Studying crime and investigation is a goal that I have been working towards for the last five years - and now I'm realising that goal at ARU in Cambridge.

Realising that a person has the ability to detect, solve and prevent crime, is what sparked my interest in this sphere. Growing up, I was quick to acknowledge my passion and understand what I wanted from life.

Unlike a large number of people who base their interest on TV shows about crime and investigation, I used murder documentaries and criminology books as a motivational source. I remember spending weeks researching cold cases and reading about psychology just to understand the criminal mind and what kind of impact it leaves on victims and society.

As time went by and I grew older, I became more and more fascinated with criminal investigation. Unfortunately, in Bulgaria, this profession is poorly developed – so I made the decision to study in the UK.

Crime in both countries is very different. For example, the UK has seen a rise in knife crime, as well as moped crimes. In Bulgaria, some of the most pressing issues are document fraud, organised crime and phone scamming. Organised crime controls a large number of nightclubs and prostitution rings. Document fraud continues to be an issue. Phone scamming, despite numerous strategies employed by the police, remains an issue and the victims of this crime are mostly senior citizens.

In comparison to policing in the UK, Bulgaria uses different methods and strategies. Some of the most evident differences include officer training and community relations. I personally believe efforts must be made to foster relations between police forces and the public in Bulgaria. This is in fact one of the reasons behind my decision to leave Bulgaria. Most of my encounters with police officers in Bulgaria have been disappointing. Personally, I think that efforts should be made to monitor Bulgarian officers, for instance, with the usage of body/dash cameras to encourage a respectful and professional attitude.

I came to study in the UK due to the police force itself. I am fond of the community relations that the UK police maintain. Another reason behind my desire to study (and subsequently work) here is the modern equipment that allows public safety workers to conduct their duties in an efficient manner.

When I graduate, I will have the ability to work in numerous aspects of the criminal justice system, hence my decision to enrol at ARU.

The practical approach which this University has adapted sparked an interest in me, too. I prefer a course with mixed methods of learning as in my opinion, both practice and theory are vital for the successful development of a student.

I have not yet made a final decision as to what I am going to do after graduation. However, I am interested in becoming an authorised firearms officer or a detective constable. Due to the nature of my course and my interest, I am leaning towards the detective constable position. It's great to have options.