Global first as leading police thinkers gather for 24-hour evidence-based policing conference

Broadcast live over 24 hours, both in front of an audience and online, the Societies of Evidence-Based Policing in the UK, Australia, New Zealand, the US and Canada have been showcasing the “latest and best research evidence” to support excellence in fighting crime, building trust and leadership.

Deputy Chief Constable Alex Murray of West Mercia Police and chair of the UK Society of Evidence-Based Policing (SEBP), said: “I don’t think a conference like this has ever been held before – TV production quality, over 24 hours, broadcast live, with a live studio audience, being able to tune in from around the world.

“The whole conference is brigaded around three main topics: What’s the best research evidence around leadership? What’s the best research evidence around trust and confidence; and What’s the best research evidence around crime fighting?

“This is 24 hours of the latest best research evidence that changes how we operate – from Australia, New Zealand, the UK, Canada and the US.

“This is relevant to everyone – from police and crime commissioners who commission activity, through to leaders who make stuff happen, through to frontline officers on response or in neighbourhood.

“This is relevant and applied. What works is what we’re interested in; in evidence-based policing (EBP). Take it, and use it.”

Over 24 hours, the ‘Exceptional Policing’ conference is being broadcast live from the Kia Oval in London and from Christchurch in New Zealand, in front of a live studio audience.

Attendees have been able to watch the broadcast live from wherever they are in the world, as well as having exclusive access to all the content for six months after the event.

Speakers have included Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley, and the force’s first ever Chief Scientific Officer Professor Lawrence Sherman, the so-called ‘father of evidence-based policing’. They have been sharing their vision for tackling crime based on science, technology and research.

The Commissioner set out how data, research and evidence will be the cornerstone of a modern approach to policing at the MPS so that police officers are better able to tackle crime, keep people safe and build more trust.

Sir Mark Rowley outlined plans that include:

• Using data to rebuild trust with communities by being more transparent about the information the MPS holds and how it uses it, and by analysing public opinion data to ensure it is on the road to rebuilding trust;
• Exploring how the MPS could use precision data analytics to better understand and reduce high-harm crimes, including building a sophisticated city-wide data picture of predatory men who commit violent crime against women and girls; and
• Exploring how tactics already used successfully in counter terrorism policing could work for other crime types: whether threats and crimes against women and girls can be triaged and treated in the systemic way in which terrorism threats and crimes have been.

Going further, Sir Mark said the MPS hopes to identify who is most likely to commit further crime to enable early interventions that keep people safer.

He also outlined how evidence will be used to uphold high standards and performance by constantly checking the workings of the MPS “like an airline examines every airplane” – an intensive quality control procedure that has begun with the launch of a new proactive Anti-Corruption and Abuse Command.

Professor Sherman highlighted the importance of the MPS putting “scientific evidence at the core of its operating model”.

In his new role, Professor Sherman, who has trained police officers across the world in evidence-based policing, will be dedicated to bringing his wealth of experience to the MPS and the Commissioner’s ambitious plans for the organisation.

Participants have also been hearing from more than 60 presenters, including Assistant Commissioner Deborah Platz (Queensland Police), Assistant Commissioner Bruce O’Brien (New Zealand Police), Dr David Weisburd (George Mason University, US and The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Israel), and Dr Rick Muir, director of the Police Foundation, who is helping organise the event.

Broadcasting began yesterday (October 11) at 8pm in the UK, 3pm in New York and 12 noon in Los Angeles, and from 8am on Wednesday (October 12) in New Zealand. The broadcast is running for a continuous 24 hours from then – coming live, fully interactive and to any device participants choose to use.

EBP is regarded as a way of looking at police decision-making that moves beyond traditional police assumptions and tactics.

It involves testing and comparing police practices to establish their impact and effectiveness, or lack of.

Organisers say EBP is growing globally, ensuring that policing strategy, operations, and tactics are based on what works, according to evidence and research.

“EBP combines the existing skills, knowledge and experience of police with research, crime science, problem-solving and testing to make a real difference to communities across the world,” they added.

Mark Evans, deputy chief executive at New Zealand Police, said: “This is a unique opportunity to connect police practitioners with academics, criminologists and others with an interest in the policing field

“Many of the sessions are very much focused on the sorts of things that we can do on the ground, in the way that we engage with the community, in the way that we build operational models, in the way that we deploy.

“We’ve very much tailored the programme to the needs of policing practitioners. It’s a fantastic opportunity, given policing is under so much scrutiny around the world, to generate really good collaboration and partnership working”

The conference has been open to employees of policing agencies, police officers and staff, researchers, students and representatives from other organisations working in partnership with the police and their agencies to reduce crime and improve community safety.

Those who register for the event at globalebpconference.com/registration will have exclusive access to all 24 hours of content for six months afterwards.

The UK’s SEBP was founded by a group of police officers in 2010, and elected Professor Sherman Honorary President, together with Sir Peter Fahy, the then chief constable of  Greater Manchester Police. It now has more than 5,000 members.

The Australia and New Zealand SEBP (ANZSEBP) was formed in April 2013 in Brisbane, Australia. The mission of the ANZSEBP is to develop, disseminate and advocate for police to use scientific research (“the evidence”) to guide best practice in all aspects of policing. The society comprises both full members (current, serving police officers in Australia and New Zealand) and honorary members including police staff members (non-sworn), research professionals and others who aim to make evidence-based approaches part of everyday policing in Australia and New Zealand.

The American SEBP was founded in 2015 with the intent of educating police officers about the concept of EBP, advocating for the use of best available research to drive policing strategies and tactics and facilitating the creation of new research findings by connecting researchers and practitioners. Membership is open to all serving police officers, civilian staff members, researchers and academics.

The Canadian SEBP (CAN-SEBP) was launched in April 2015 as an affiliate of the UK-based SEBP. Partners in the society include representatives from several Canadian police forces and universities. Other agencies and researchers serve as active collaborators. CAN-SEBP’s membership consists of active and retired police officers, civilian police members, applied policing researchers, graduate researchers and representatives from provincial, federal and municipal community safety groups.

The conference has been sponsored by the Mayor’s Office for Policing and Crime, SAS, Accenture, Amazon Web Services, Fujitsu, KPMG Australia, The Australian Government and the Australian Institute of Criminology and supported by the College of Policing, Bank Vic, Microsoft, Zodiac Media and ESR.