Collaboration between academics and police service seen as good practice

Collaboration between Scotland’s senior police officers and academic researchers is being viewed as a model of good practice as the “unique collaboration” has contributed significantly to research in policing and been awarded £900,000 in external funding.

The Scottish Institute for Policing Research (SIPR) is a collaboration between 12 of Scotland’s Universities, the Association of Chief Police Officers in Scotland (ACPO), and the Scottish Funding Council. In his second annual report Professor Nick Fyfe, Director of SIPR, highlights the growth in research capacity created by the Institute and highlights key areas of research now being explored by academics in conjunction with Scotland’s eight police forces.

Money laundering, e-fraud, policing the night time economy and radicalisation are just some areas of research anticipated to inform more complex future policing activity. Further topics to be researched include the investigation of rape, the sharing of intelligence between the police and community partners, and interviewing people with learning disabilities.

Colleagues in the Dutch Police Academy, the Centre for Police Studies in Belgium, the Norwegian Police University College, and others, will soon be meeting with the Institute to discuss a programme of comparative research which will allow Scotland to learn from and contribute to discussions about policing in other parts of Europe.

Invitations have also been extended to visiting professors who will contribute to the Institutes three networks. Professor David Kennedy, from John Jay College, New York, is associated with the Police-Community Relations Network; Professor Anders Granhag of the University of Gothenberg joins the Evidence and Investigation Network; and Professor Philip Stenning of Keele University is engaged with the Police Organisation Network.

SIPR has plans to further relationships with the international academic community, develop a Graduate Programme in Policing in conjunction with the Scottish Police College, and explore ways in which the reputation and research from Scottish Policing could be developed and shared with others. It is hoped that these relationships will also bring international knowledge and good practice into Scotland.

Professor Fyfe, of the University of Dundee, said “The key to the success of the Institute during its first two years has been the unique collaboration between Scotland’s Chief Constables and the Universities. This has led to real engagement between academics and police professionals who have been increasingly interested in understanding what research evidence has to tell them about how they can do their job better. One of the most visible successes has been the range of topics discussed under the general banner of knowledge transfer, and this is now attracting the interest of the international academic and policing communities.”

Chief Constable Patrick Shearer, Vice-President of ACPOS, due to be president from April 1, 2009, said: “There is no doubt that SIPR has established itself as a credible reference point for knowledge improvement. The range of topics now being debated with the benefit of evidence from internationally recognised researchers is testimony to the desire for enhanced professional knowledge across the Scottish Police Service.”

More information and a full copy of the Annual Report can be found on www.sipr.ac.uk.