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Vulnerability and Policing Futures Research Centre

Lead Research Organisation: University of York
Department Name: Social Policy Social Work

Abstract

Policing is undergoing rapid transformation. As societies face new and more complex challenges, police workloads increasingly focus on managing risks of harm to vulnerable people. At the same time, public debate voicing concerns about police priorities is rising, driven by questions about what the police do and about legitimacy in the face of discriminatory practices. Dramatic increases in complex cases coupled with cuts to public services have resulted in the police frequently acting as 'the service of first resort', at the frontline of responding to urgent social problems such as mental illness, homelessness and exploitation. The presence of such vulnerabilities draw the police into responses alongside other service providers (such as health, social care and housing) often with little clarity of roles, boundaries or shared purpose. Simultaneously, the transformation of data and its use are beginning to reshape how public services operate. They raise new questions about how to work in ethical ways with data to understand and respond to vulnerability. These shifts in police-work are mirrored around the world and pose significant challenges to how policing is undertaken and how the police interact with other public services, as well as how policing affects vulnerable people who come into contact with services.
The Vulnerability and Policing Futures Research Centre aims to understand how vulnerabilities shape demand for policing and how partner organisations can prevent future harm and vulnerability through integrated public service partnerships. Rooted in rich local data collection and deep dives into specific problems, the Centre will build a knowledge base with applications and implications across the UK and beyond. It will have significant reach through collaborative work with a range of regional, national and international partners, shaping policy and practice through networks, practitioner exchanges and comparative research, and through training the next generation of scholars to take forward new approaches to vulnerabilities research and co-production with service providers, service receivers and the public.
The Centre will be an international focal point for research, policy, practice and public debate. Jointly led by York and Leeds, with expertise from Durham, Lancaster, Liverpool, Manchester, Sheffield, UCL, Monash and Temple universities and the Police Foundation, and working with a network of 38 partners, it will explore fundamental questions regarding the role police and their partners should play in modern society. While focusing policing effort on the most vulnerable holds promise for a fairer society, targeting specific groups raises questions about who counts as vulnerable and has the potential to stigmatise and increase intervention in the lives of marginalised citizens. At a critical time of change for policing, the Centre will ensure that research, including evidence drawing on public opinion and the voices of vulnerable people, is at the heart of these debates.
The Centre will undertake three interconnected strands of research. The first focuses on how vulnerability develops in urban areas, drawing together diverse public sector datasets (police, health, social services and education) to understand interactions between agencies and the potential to prevent vulnerabilities. The second explores how police and partners can best collaborate in response to specific vulnerabilities, including exploitation by County Lines drug networks, online child sexual exploitation, domestic abuse, modern slavery, mental illness and homelessness. The third will combine research into public opinion with a programme to embed research evidence into policy, practice and public debate, creating a new understanding of vulnerability and transforming capability to prevent harm and future vulnerabilities through integrated partnership working, reshaping the future of policing as a public service.

Organisations

 
Title OCSV Project - animated short film co-produced with young people 
Description The 'Designing Community Resilience to Online Child Sexual Victimisation' project worked with a spoken word artist, Nathan Parker, to co-produce a short animated film with young people in Blackpool, which expresses young people's own views in terms of what is needed to prevent/protect them from online victimisation. The video was shared with members of the local community at the project's Visioning Day held at Blackpool Football Club (see Engagement Activities) in November 2023. 
Type Of Art Film/Video/Animation 
Year Produced 2023 
Impact There was discernable impact in terms of engagement of the young people involved with the research. Also fantastic response from members of the community, to hearing young people's views expressed in their own words, to contribute to the collective planning for future prevention. 
URL https://youtu.be/n6Ugzke_9GY
 
Title VPRC overview - short animated film 
Description The Centre commissioned a short animated film giving an overview of our work, to support engagement with a range of stakeholders. 
Type Of Art Film/Video/Animation 
Year Produced 2024 
Impact Anecdotal feedback from stakeholders has been positive; the film is helping to clarify the aims and work of the Centre in a succinct and engaging way. 
URL https://vulnerabilitypolicing.org.uk/about/
 
Description Co-Designing Community Resilience to Online Child Sexual Victimisation (https://vulnerabilitypolicing.org.uk/online-child-sexual-victimisation/)
Drawing on a co-designed study of service provision to prevent online child sexual victimisation through the development of quality standards in Blackpool, this study found:
- Community practitioners struggle to respond to online child sexual exploitation and abuse (OCSEA) victimisation due to its volume, complexity and the lack of relevant evidence-informed guidance and training.
- Police reactions to peer-on-peer abuse can influence the extent to which enforcement, social care or educational approaches dominate local responses. Holistic and multi-agency informed practices are needed to combat the problem.
- There needs to be meaningful engagement with children and parents when delivering community-based responses to OCSEA.
- Empowering communities to tackle OCSEA requires collaboration to agree local priorities and co-produce quality response standards.

A toolkit has been developed in collaboration with community representatives and organisations in Blackpool, to better respond to and prevent online child sexual abuse. The toolkit has been transferred and adapted within West Yorkshire in consultation with key stakeholders from across the region, to explore how it can be implemented and applied across a Combined Authority area through a Centre 'demonstration project'.

Minimum Policing Standard Project (https://vulnerabilitypolicing.org.uk/minimum-policing-standard/)

What do the public want from police?
- Drawing on data from deliberative focus groups with members of the public and a nationally representative survey this study showed that:
- There is considerable agreement among the public about what service police should provide and on the minimum standards to which police should adhere.
- People take a very process-based approach to questions about 'what the police are for'- i.e. they are less exercised about the outcomes police might achieve than the processes through which policing is conducted.
- People feel very strongly that, as a desired minimum, police should be responsive, fair and respectful, as well as engaged and 'present'.
- The public are clear on the distinctive need for police as a service to respond effectively in moments of danger, risk and uncertainty.
- Generic lists prioritising crimes are not seen as useful for thinking about how police should respond to and protect communities.

Do people think that police are meeting minimum standards of service delivery?
- The public does not think police are meeting what they see as minimum standards of service delivery.
- Many people do not think the police are currently a visible, viable and engaged presence in their communities.
- Negative judgements about police performance are feeding into wider concerns. Many lack confidence in police and question the legitimacy of police. Nonetheless, the public retain significant trust in the idea, and the figure, of 'the police'.
- Current efforts to reverse declining confidence in policing stress internal reform, greater efforts to fight crime, and revitalising neighbourhood policing. Though all are important, this research suggests that the last of these is likely to be most vital.

Findings have been and continue to be disseminated with the public and with police, notably via the APCC/NPCC annual conference in November 2024 (see details of Professor Adam Crawford's talk and subsequent article in The Conversation). Discussion of findings is being taken forward through Professor Crawford's and Professor Ben Bradford's invited membership to the Trust and Confidence in Policing Symposium, chaired by ACC Dennis Murray - a quarterly meeting with strategic leads across UK police forces.

Bradford mapping research: service provision for vulnerable groups in contact with the police (https://vulnerabilitypolicing.org.uk/bradford-mapping/)
Drawing on data from a place-based study across the city of Bradford, this research found:
- 'Vulnerability' provides a valuable but contested shared language for framing elements of local service provision that support people at risk of contact with the police.
- Severe cuts to public and third sector services and increasing levels of need make it difficult to implement holistic interventions that support vulnerable groups.
- Third sector organisations perform a vital role in providing services for vulnerable people in contact with the police. However, they remain marginal to strategic decision-making, oversight and coordination.
- In focusing service provision on vulnerability, unintended consequences can arise where differing expectations and understandings lead to interorganisational misunderstandings and conflict.
Exploitation Route OCSV project
The toolkit could be taken up and rolled out by other local authority areas across the UK. Further details will be published by the Centre following completion of the demonstration project to consult on and explore application of the toolkit in West Yorkshire.

Minimum Policing Standard project
Policing policy and leadership are being encouraged to consider the evidence shared, which should inform changes to policing practice/funding/priorities, to help restore public confidence in policing.

Bradford Mapping (place-based work)
The research team is undertaking neighbourhood and problem-based case studies to complement the strategic level analysis. These will provide more detailed, frontline perspectives of the interactions between vulnerability and policing. Neighbourhood attributes, conditions and resources significantly shape need, service provision and trajectories across time. By combining insights from strategic level perspectives with bottom-up experiences, from frontline practitioners and people who access services, the team can better understand how language, strategies and priorities are realised.

The research team will continue to work closely with Centre data scientists to explore how routinely collected public service data can advance understandings of local services and individuals' journeys through them. Learning from this project is also informing the Centre's second place-based study in Leeds.
Sectors Communities and Social Services/Policy

Education

Healthcare

Government

Democracy and Justice
URL https://vulnerabilitypolicing.org.uk
 
Description Working in close collaboration with our national and regional partners across policing and public services, the Vulnerability & Policing Futures Research Centre is beginning to have impacts upon professional practices derived from its research in the following fields: 1. Place-based transformations in professional service delivery - the Centre is mobilising insights from connected data and neighbourhood service provision across Bradford through working with local partners, including West Yorkshire Police, West Yorkshire Violence Reduction Partnership, Bradford Council, and NGOs and community groups. 2. Improving professional practices through thematic case studies - Researchers are working to prevent online child sexual abuse and exploitation (OCSEA) through co-produced quality standards developed with young people and local partners in Blackpool. These are being rolled out in Blackpool and further applied in West Yorkshire. Other thematic case studies are ongoing including: County Lines, Domestic Abuse, Modern Slavery and the policing of mental illness and homelessness as well as the use of police based diversion for vulnerable people. 3. Shifting public understanding and debate about trust and confidence in policing through the minimum policing standards. We have shared this with police chiefs, police and crime commissioners, and representatives from the Centre's National Engagement Group, including the College of Policing, VKPP, NPCC, Chief Scientific Adviser for Policing and Police Science Council. The work has been picked up and is shaping thinking across a trust and confidence network of senior police officers (chaired by ACC Dennis Murray, Thames Valley Police). 4. Informing public debate about the role and limits of the police in responses to vulnerability and harm and encouraging the use of up-stream prevention through education, health, social care and welfare and police diversion - including through the Child of the North Report - An Evidence-Based Plan for Childhood Vulnerability, Crime and Justice. Capacity building has also been achieved within the academic and practitioner communities in line with the Centre's stated aims, including (as at March 2025): - Completion of eight ECR development grant awards in the first two rounds and the award of five more (in the third round). - Establishment of an international PhD network supported by a webinar series. - Successful completion of first Translational Fellowship grants and the award of another one.
First Year Of Impact 2024
Sector Communities and Social Services/Policy,Government, Democracy and Justice
Impact Types Policy & public services
 
Description Participation in a Trust and Confidence in Policing Symposium Chaired by ACC Dennis Murray - a quarterly meeting with strategic leads across UK police forces
Geographic Reach National 
Policy Influence Type Participation in a guidance/advisory committee
 
Description Police Scientific Advisory Council membership - A Crawford
Geographic Reach National 
Policy Influence Type Participation in a guidance/advisory committee
 
Description VKPP micro CPD session for police staff-OCSV project-Nov24
Geographic Reach National 
Policy Influence Type Influenced training of practitioners or researchers
 
Description ESRC IAA 2024 University of York
Amount £1,000 (GBP)
Funding ID IFPT.2024.186 
Organisation Economic and Social Research Council 
Sector Public
Country United Kingdom
Start 09/2024 
End 11/2024
 
Description Good Practice in the Transfer of Care - Mental Health Responsive Research Fund - SIPR
Amount £15,277 (GBP)
Organisation Scottish Centre for Crime and Justice Research 
Department Scottish Institute for Policing Research
Sector Academic/University
Country United Kingdom
Start 11/2024 
End 05/2025
 
Description Healthy Urban Places: a systems approach to understanding how to harness the power of local places to improve population health and reduce inequalities: HUP-North (Funding call: Population health improvement network of clusters)
Amount £6,998,633 (GBP)
Funding ID MR/Y022785/1 
Organisation Medical Research Council (MRC) 
Sector Public
Country United Kingdom
Start 03/2024 
End 03/2028
 
Description Interactions Between People Who Use Drugs and the Police: Experiences and Impacts (INTERPRET) - APP9112
Amount £236,271 (GBP)
Funding ID ES/Z503368/1 
Organisation Economic and Social Research Council 
Sector Public
Country United Kingdom
Start 03/2025 
End 04/2028
 
Description LASER secure data storage funding
Amount £80,000 (GBP)
Organisation University of Leeds 
Sector Academic/University
Country United Kingdom
Start 12/2023 
End 04/2027
 
Description University of Leeds - match funding
Amount £982,692 (GBP)
Organisation University of Leeds 
Sector Academic/University
Country United Kingdom
Start 04/2022 
End 04/2027
 
Description University of York - Research Development Fund
Amount £395,668 (GBP)
Funding ID 50096735 
Organisation University of York 
Sector Academic/University
Country United Kingdom
Start 04/2022 
End 04/2027
 
Description University of York Faculty of Social Sciences Research Funding (awarded Jan23)
Amount £306,751 (GBP)
Organisation Research Centre for the Social Sciences, University of York 
Sector Academic/University
Country United Kingdom
Start 05/2023 
End 07/2025
 
Description University of York match funding
Amount £2,408,580 (GBP)
Organisation University of York 
Sector Academic/University
Country United Kingdom
Start 04/2022 
End 04/2027
 
Title K Sian - THE ANTI-RACIST RESEARCH TOOLKIT 
Description This toolkit was developed by Dr Katy Sian (University of York), in her capacity as Centre Co-Investigator and lead for cross cutting them of race and ethnicity, thanks to £10k funding from the University of York's Building Research and Innovation Capacity Team. It was launched in June 2024. Anti-racist research relies upon a commitment to actively dismantle systemic and individual forms of racism, and promises to empower communities through research that centres social justice. The purpose of the toolkit is to support researchers and practitioners from different disciplinary backgrounds to generate projects that can create meaningful change in society. The toolkit focuses on conceptual, methodological, and structural concerns, and encourages researchers to reflect upon their practice and positionality. It invites researchers to develop innovative methodological frameworks through collaboration and co-production. It develops new ethical protocols to prevent harm and exploitation, whereby participants are viewed as active agents in shaping research and knowledge agendas. By engaging with the toolkit, users will learn about responsibility and accountability to ensure that the rights and dignity of participants are respected at all times. The toolkit also examines at the structural level, how research teams, centres, and projects can implement good practice through Equality, Diversity and Inclusivity initiatives (EDI) that will contribute to the development of an equitable research environment for all. The toolkit is a vital framework to support the further development of anti-racist research in the Vulnerability & Policing Futures Research Centre. As a Centre that works on issues of policing and vulnerability, we are involved in research that is highly complex and sensitive and therefore have a collective responsibility to reflect upon our own practices and develop new ways to eradicate harm and exploitation by holding ourselves to account. We cannot escape the fact that the fields of policing and vulnerability are inherently shaped by racism, and we must acknowledge this truth across our research. People of colour across the world remain vulnerable to over-policing, and through the routinisation of racial profiling, incarceration, police brutality and use of excessive force, they continue to experience high levels of trauma, fear, and a deep sense of mistrust. Historically and presently, people of colour have been criminalised and failed both by the police and wider support services. At the Centre, we plan to use to toolkit to bring questions of race to the fore across our research teams and projects, to drive forward work which has the opportunity to support and empower the most vulnerable in our society. Embedding anti-racist principles within our centre not only enhances the integrity and quality of our research, but also contributes to a more equitable and just society. This is the heart of anti-racist research, that is, to provide alternative, critical narratives that promote and facilitate social justice, by challenging hegemonic forms of whiteness. We are aware that we still have a long way to go, but we are committed to continuous learning and improvement to ensure that our Centre can play a vital role in driving anti-racism forward. 
Type Of Material Improvements to research infrastructure 
Year Produced 2024 
Provided To Others? Yes  
Impact Not currently aware of any specific impact. 
URL https://vulnerabilitypolicing.org.uk/launch-of-the-anti-racist-research-toolkit/
 
Title Q Methods study of vulnerability resources 
Description Centre Q Methods project methods have been published on the Centre website for other researchers to use. 
Type Of Material Improvements to research infrastructure 
Year Produced 2024 
Provided To Others? Yes  
Impact Unknown 
URL https://vulnerabilitypolicing.org.uk/q-methods-study-of-vulnerability-resources/
 
Description Adfam - Project Partner 
Organisation Adfam
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Charity/Non Profit 
PI Contribution We have developed multiple partnerships and formal collaborations to establish the Vulnerability & Policing Futures Research Centre. The Centre is governed centrally, led by a core team based at the Universities of York and Leeds. This team, through established governance structures, is co-ordinating and supporting all research activity across the Centre, including research led by Co-Investigators at partner institutions as well as contributions made by other partners.
Collaborator Contribution As a project partner listed in the original grant application, Adfam forms part of our network of stakeholders and service providers across a range of disciplines, which support the Centre's mission by providing access to institutional expertise, staff time and dissemination networks, among other resources.
Impact None as yet
Start Year 2022
 
Description Alan Turing Institute - Project Partner 
Organisation Alan Turing Institute
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Academic/University 
PI Contribution We have developed multiple partnerships and formal collaborations to establish the Vulnerability & Policing Futures Research Centre. The Centre is governed centrally, led by a core team based at the Universities of York and Leeds. This team, through established governance structures, is co-ordinating and supporting all research activity across the Centre, including research led by Co-Investigators at partner institutions as well as contributions made by other partners.
Collaborator Contribution As a project partner listed in the original grant application, the Alan Turing Institute forms part of our network of stakeholders and service providers across a range of disciplines, which support the Centre's mission by providing access to institutional expertise, staff time and dissemination networks, among other resources.
Impact None as yet
Start Year 2022
 
Description Bradford Institute of Health Research - Project Partner 
Organisation Bradford Institute for Health Research (BIHR)
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Academic/University 
PI Contribution We have developed multiple partnerships and formal collaborations to establish the Vulnerability & Policing Futures Research Centre. The Centre is governed centrally, led by a core team based at the Universities of York and Leeds. This team, through established governance structures, is co-ordinating and supporting all research activity across the Centre, including research led by Co-Investigators at partner institutions as well as contributions made by other partners.
Collaborator Contribution As a project partner listed in the original grant application, the Bradford Institute of Health Research forms part of our network of stakeholders and service providers across a range of disciplines, which support the Centre's mission by providing access to institutional expertise, staff time and dissemination networks, among other resources.
Impact No impact yet
Start Year 2022
 
Description Bradford Metropolitan District Council - Project Partner 
Organisation Bradford Metropolitan District Council
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Public 
PI Contribution We have developed multiple partnerships and formal collaborations to establish the Vulnerability & Policing Futures Research Centre. The Centre is governed centrally, led by a core team based at the Universities of York and Leeds. This team, through established governance structures, is co-ordinating and supporting all research activity across the Centre, including research led by Co-Investigators at partner institutions as well as contributions made by other partners.
Collaborator Contribution As a project partner listed in the original grant application, Bradford Metropolitan District Council forms part of our network of stakeholders and service providers across a range of disciplines, which support the Centre's mission by providing access to institutional expertise, staff time and dissemination networks, among other resources.
Impact No impact yet
Start Year 2022
 
Description Centrepoint - Project Partner 
Organisation Centrepoint
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Charity/Non Profit 
PI Contribution We have developed multiple partnerships and formal collaborations to establish the Vulnerability & Policing Futures Research Centre. The Centre is governed centrally, led by a core team based at the Universities of York and Leeds. This team, through established governance structures, is co-ordinating and supporting all research activity across the Centre, including research led by Co-Investigators at partner institutions as well as contributions made by other partners.
Collaborator Contribution As a project partner listed in the original grant application, Centrepoint forms part of our network of stakeholders and service providers across a range of disciplines, which support the Centre's mission by providing access to institutional expertise, staff time and dissemination networks, among other resources. The Director of Policy and Communication, Balbir Chatrik, sits on the Centre's National Engagement Group, which meets x3 times per year to support national policy engagement and provide connections with relevant national stakeholders. Balbir also sits on the Early Careers Researcher Development funding panel, which will determine a number of awards up to £25k for ECRs pursuing research projects in related areas of vulnerability and policing.
Impact None as yet
Start Year 2022
 
Description College of Policing - Project Partner 
Organisation College of Policing
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Academic/University 
PI Contribution We have developed multiple partnerships and formal collaborations to establish the Vulnerability & Policing Futures Research Centre. The Centre is governed centrally, led by a core team based at the Universities of York and Leeds. This team, through established governance structures, is co-ordinating and supporting all research activity across the Centre, including research led by Co-Investigators at partner institutions as well as contributions made by other partners.
Collaborator Contribution Dr Andy Myhill, Evidence and Evaluation Advisor, sits on the Centre's National Engagement Group, which meets x3 times per year to support national policy engagement and provide connections with relevant national stakeholders. Dr Myhill also sits on the Early Careers Researcher Development funding panel, which will determine a number of awards up to £25k for ECRs pursuing research projects in related areas of vulnerability and policing. As a project partner listed in the original grant application, the College of Policing forms part of our network of stakeholders and service providers across a range of disciplines, which support the Centre's mission by providing access to institutional expertise, staff time and dissemination networks, among other resources.
Impact None as yet
Start Year 2022
 
Description Crisis - Project Partner 
Organisation Crisis
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Charity/Non Profit 
PI Contribution We have developed multiple partnerships and formal collaborations to establish the Vulnerability & Policing Futures Research Centre. The Centre is governed centrally, led by a core team based at the Universities of York and Leeds. This team, through established governance structures, is co-ordinating and supporting all research activity across the Centre, including research led by Co-Investigators at partner institutions as well as contributions made by other partners.
Collaborator Contribution As a project partner listed in the original grant application, Crisis forms part of our network of stakeholders and service providers across a range of disciplines, which support the Centre's mission by providing access to institutional expertise, staff time and dissemination networks, among other resources.
Impact None as yet
Start Year 2022
 
Description Durham Constabulary - Project Partner 
Organisation Durham Constabulary
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Public 
PI Contribution We have developed multiple partnerships and formal collaborations to establish the Vulnerability & Policing Futures Research Centre. The Centre is governed centrally, led by a core team based at the Universities of York and Leeds. This team, through established governance structures, is co-ordinating and supporting all research activity across the Centre, including research led by Co-Investigators at partner institutions as well as contributions made by other partners.
Collaborator Contribution As a project partner listed in the original grant application, Durham Constabulary forms part of our network of stakeholders and service providers across a range of disciplines, which support the Centre's mission by providing access to institutional expertise, staff time and dissemination networks, among other resources.
Impact No impact yet
Start Year 2022
 
Description Durham University - Centre collaborating partner 
Organisation Durham University
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Academic/University 
PI Contribution We have developed multiple partnerships and formal collaborations to establish the Vulnerability & Policing Futures Research Centre. The Centre is governed centrally, led by a core team based at the Universities of York and Leeds. This team, through established governance structures, is co-ordinating and supporting all research activity across the Centre, including research led by Co-Investigators at partner institutions as well as contributions made by other partners.
Collaborator Contribution Durham University employs Centre Co-Investigator Professor Nicole Westmarland, who is co-leading the Workstrand 2 Domestic Abuse thematic research project. Co-Is lead methodological design and delivery of their projects, with support and collaboration from Centre postdoctoral researchers based at York and Leeds, as well as members of the Centre academic leadership team based at York and Leeds. In the case of the Domestic Abuse project, this is also a partnership with other Co-I institutions (Liverpool, Monash, Manchester). All Co-Is are included in the Centre's central governance, as members of the Core Academic Team, meeting to ensure cross-project collaboration and sharing of good practice, 3-4 times per year. Professor Nicole Westmarland has the additional shared responsibility of co-leading on the identified cross-cutting theme of Gender (with Professor Sandra Walklate, Liverpool).
Impact None as yet. Yes - Sociology and Criminology, Law and Social Policy.
Start Year 2022
 
Description Edinburgh Napier University - Centre collaborating partner 
Organisation Edinburgh Napier University
Department Health and Social Care
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Academic/University 
PI Contribution We have developed multiple partnerships and formal collaborations to establish the Vulnerability & Policing Futures Research Centre. The Centre is governed centrally, led by a core team based at the Universities of York and Leeds. This team, through established governance structures, is co-ordinating and supporting all research activity across the Centre, including research led by Co-Investigators at partner institutions as well as contributions made by other partners.
Collaborator Contribution Edinburgh Napier employed Centre Co-Investigator Professor Liz Hughes, who is co-leading the Workstrand 2 Mental Illness thematic research project, commencing in 2023. Following Liz's move from Napier to Glasgow Caledonian University in October 2023, the partnership with Napier was transferred to GCU. Co-Is are leading methodological design and delivery of their respective projects, with support and collaboration from Centre postdoctoral researchers based at York and Leeds, as well as members of the Centre academic leadership team based at York and Leeds. In the case of the Mental Illness project, this is also a co-led by York Co-I, Professor Martin Webber. All Co-Is are included in the Centre's central governance, as members of the Core Academic Team, meeting to ensure cross-project collaboration and sharing of good practice, 3-4 times per year.
Impact None as yet. Yes - Social Work, Social Policy, Health and Social Care
Start Year 2022
 
Description Glasgow Caledonian University - Centre collaborating partner 
Organisation Glasgow Caledonian University
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Academic/University 
PI Contribution We have developed multiple partnerships and formal collaborations to establish the Vulnerability & Policing Futures Research Centre. The Centre is governed centrally, led by a core team based at the Universities of York and Leeds. This team, through established governance structures, is co-ordinating and supporting all research activity across the Centre, including research led by Co-Investigators at partner institutions as well as contributions made by other partners.
Collaborator Contribution Glasgow Caledonian University employs Centre Co-Investigator Professor Liz Hughes, who is co-leading the Workstrand 2 Mental Illness thematic research project, commencing in 2023. Following Liz's move from Edinburgh Napier to Glasgow Caledonian University in October 2023, the partnership with Napier was transferred to GCU. Co-Is are leading methodological design and delivery of their respective projects, with support and collaboration from Centre postdoctoral researchers based at York and Leeds, as well as members of the Centre academic leadership team based at York and Leeds. In the case of the Mental Illness project, this is also a co-led by York Co-I, Professor Martin Webber. All Co-Is are included in the Centre's central governance, as members of the Core Academic Team, meeting to ensure cross-project collaboration and sharing of good practice, 3-4 times per year.
Impact None as yet. Mental health nursing.
Start Year 2023
 
Description HM Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Service - Project Partner 
Organisation Government of the UK
Department Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary HMIC
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Public 
PI Contribution We have developed multiple partnerships and formal collaborations to establish the Vulnerability & Policing Futures Research Centre. The Centre is governed centrally, led by a core team based at the Universities of York and Leeds. This team, through established governance structures, is co-ordinating and supporting all research activity across the Centre, including research led by Co-Investigators at partner institutions as well as contributions made by other partners.
Collaborator Contribution The Portfolio Director for Protecting Vulnerable People inspections, Simon Alexander, sits on the Centre's National Engagement Group, which meets x3 times per year to support national policy engagement and provide connections with relevant national stakeholders. As a project partner listed in the original grant application, Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Service forms part of our network of stakeholders and service providers across a range of disciplines, which support the Centre's mission by providing access to institutional expertise, staff time and dissemination networks, among other resources.
Impact None as yet
Start Year 2022
 
Description Home Office - Project Partner 
Organisation Home Office
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Public 
PI Contribution We have developed multiple partnerships and formal collaborations to establish the Vulnerability & Policing Futures Research Centre. The Centre is governed centrally, led by a core team based at the Universities of York and Leeds. This team, through established governance structures, is co-ordinating and supporting all research activity across the Centre, including research led by Co-Investigators at partner institutions as well as contributions made by other partners.
Collaborator Contribution The Deputy Director of the Tackling Child Sexual Abuse Unit, Christian Papaleontiou, sits on the Centre's National Engagement Group, which meets x3 times per year to support national policy engagement and provide connections with relevant national stakeholders. As a project partner listed in the original grant application, the Home Office forms part of our network of stakeholders and service providers across a range of disciplines, which support the Centre's mission by providing access to institutional expertise, staff time and dissemination networks, among other resources.
Impact None as yet
Start Year 2022
 
Description Independent Anti-Slavery Commissioner - Project Partner 
Organisation Independent Anti Slavery Commissioner
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Public 
PI Contribution We have developed multiple partnerships and formal collaborations to establish the Vulnerability & Policing Futures Research Centre. The Centre is governed centrally, led by a core team based at the Universities of York and Leeds. This team, through established governance structures, is co-ordinating and supporting all research activity across the Centre, including research led by Co-Investigators at partner institutions as well as contributions made by other partners.
Collaborator Contribution As a project partner listed in the original grant application, the Independent Anti Slavery Commissioner forms part of our network of stakeholders and service providers across a range of disciplines, which support the Centre's mission by providing access to institutional expertise, staff time and dissemination networks, among other resources. There has been a hiatus appointing a new IASC, but the former IASC Professor Dame Sara Thornton is a member of the Centre's National Engagement Group. We remain in contact with the office of the IASC and await news of appointment of a new Commissioner in due course.
Impact None as yet
Start Year 2022
 
Description Lancaster University - Centre collaborating partner 
Organisation Lancaster University
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Academic/University 
PI Contribution We have developed multiple partnerships and formal collaborations to establish the Vulnerability & Policing Futures Research Centre. The Centre is governed centrally, led by a core team based at the Universities of York and Leeds. This team, through established governance structures, is co-ordinating and supporting all research activity across the Centre, including research led by Co-Investigators at partner institutions as well as contributions made by other partners.
Collaborator Contribution Lancaster University employs Centre Co-Investigators Professor Corinne May-Chahal, who is leading the Workstrand 2 Online Child Sexual Victimisation thematic research project, which commenced in 2022. Professor May-Chahal is leading methodological design and delivery of the project, with support and collaboration from Centre postdoctoral researchers based at York and Leeds, as well as members of the Centre academic leadership team based at York and Leeds. All Co-Is are included in the Centre's central governance, as members of the Core Academic Team, meeting to ensure cross-project collaboration and sharing of good practice, 3-4 times per year. Professor May-Chahal has the additional responsibility of leading on the identified cross-cutting theme of Socio-technology.
Impact None as yet. Yes - Sociology, Law, Social Policy
Start Year 2022
 
Description Leeds City Council - Project Partner 
Organisation Leeds City Council
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Public 
PI Contribution We have developed multiple partnerships and formal collaborations to establish the Vulnerability & Policing Futures Research Centre. The Centre is governed centrally, led by a core team based at the Universities of York and Leeds. This team, through established governance structures, is co-ordinating and supporting all research activity across the Centre, including research led by Co-Investigators at partner institutions as well as contributions made by other partners.
Collaborator Contribution As a project partner listed in the original grant application, Leeds City Council forms part of our network of stakeholders and service providers across a range of disciplines, which support the Centre's mission by providing access to institutional expertise, staff time and dissemination networks, among other resources.
Impact No impact yet
Start Year 2022
 
Description Marie Collins Foundation - Project Partner 
Organisation The Marie Collins Foundation
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Charity/Non Profit 
PI Contribution We have developed multiple partnerships and formal collaborations to establish the Vulnerability & Policing Futures Research Centre. The Centre is governed centrally, led by a core team based at the Universities of York and Leeds. This team, through established governance structures, is co-ordinating and supporting all research activity across the Centre, including research led by Co-Investigators at partner institutions as well as contributions made by other partners.
Collaborator Contribution As a project partner listed in the original grant application, the Marie Collins Foundation forms part of our network of stakeholders and service providers across a range of disciplines, which support the Centre's mission by providing access to institutional expertise, staff time and dissemination networks, among other resources.
Impact No impact yet
Start Year 2022
 
Description Mayor's Office for Policing & Crime - Project Partner 
Organisation Mayors Office for Policing and Crime
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Public 
PI Contribution We have developed multiple partnerships and formal collaborations to establish the Vulnerability & Policing Futures Research Centre. The Centre is governed centrally, led by a core team based at the Universities of York and Leeds. This team, through established governance structures, is co-ordinating and supporting all research activity across the Centre, including research led by Co-Investigators at partner institutions as well as contributions made by other partners.
Collaborator Contribution As a project partner listed in the original grant application, the Mayor's Office for Policing and Crime forms part of our network of stakeholders and service providers across a range of disciplines, which support the Centre's mission by providing access to institutional expertise, staff time and dissemination networks, among other resources. The Deputy Mayor for Policing and Crime, Sophie Linden, sits on the Centre's National Engagement Group, which meets x3 times per year to support national policy engagement and provide connections with relevant national stakeholders.
Impact No impact yet
Start Year 2022
 
Description Merseyside Police - Project Partner 
Organisation Merseyside Police Service
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Public 
PI Contribution We have developed multiple partnerships and formal collaborations to establish the Vulnerability & Policing Futures Research Centre. The Centre is governed centrally, led by a core team based at the Universities of York and Leeds. This team, through established governance structures, is co-ordinating and supporting all research activity across the Centre, including research led by Co-Investigators at partner institutions as well as contributions made by other partners.
Collaborator Contribution As a project partner listed in the original grant application, Merseyside Police forms part of our network of stakeholders and service providers across a range of disciplines, which support the Centre's mission by providing access to institutional expertise, staff time and dissemination networks, among other resources. To date Centre researchers working on the County Lines project have interviewed officers as part of their phase 1 research activity. Chief Superintendent Ngaire Waine is also a member of the Centre's National Engagement Group.
Impact No impact yet
Start Year 2022
 
Description Ministry of Housing, Comunities & Local Government - Project Partner 
Organisation Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Public 
PI Contribution We have developed multiple partnerships and formal collaborations to establish the Vulnerability & Policing Futures Research Centre. The Centre is governed centrally, led by a core team based at the Universities of York and Leeds. This team, through established governance structures, is co-ordinating and supporting all research activity across the Centre, including research led by Co-Investigators at partner institutions as well as contributions made by other partners.
Collaborator Contribution The Deputy Director, Local Government and Communities, Ben Greener, sits on the Centre's National Engagement Group, which meets x3 times per year to support national policy engagement and provide connections with relevant national stakeholders. As a project partner listed in the original grant application, Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government has since been re-named the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, and forms part of our network of stakeholders and service providers across a range of disciplines, which support the Centre's mission by providing access to institutional expertise, staff time and dissemination networks, among other resources.
Impact None as yet
Start Year 2022
 
Description Ministry of Justice - Project Partner 
Organisation Ministry of Justice
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Public 
PI Contribution We have developed multiple partnerships and formal collaborations to establish the Vulnerability & Policing Futures Research Centre. The Centre is governed centrally, led by a core team based at the Universities of York and Leeds. This team, through established governance structures, is co-ordinating and supporting all research activity across the Centre, including research led by Co-Investigators at partner institutions as well as contributions made by other partners.
Collaborator Contribution The Chief Social Researchers, Rachel Dubourg and Alexy Buck, sit on the Centre's National Engagement Group, which meets x3 times per year to support national policy engagement and provide connections with relevant national stakeholders. As a project partner listed in the original grant application, the Ministry of Justice forms part of our network of stakeholders and service providers across a range of disciplines, which support the Centre's mission by providing access to institutional expertise, staff time and dissemination networks, among other resources.
Impact None as yet
Start Year 2022
 
Description Monash University - Centre collaborating partner 
Organisation Monash University
Country Australia 
Sector Academic/University 
PI Contribution We have developed multiple partnerships and formal collaborations to establish the Vulnerability & Policing Futures Research Centre. The Centre is governed centrally, led by a core team based at the Universities of York and Leeds. This team, through established governance structures, is co-ordinating and supporting all research activity across the Centre, including research led by Co-Investigators at partner institutions as well as contributions made by other partners.
Collaborator Contribution Monash University employs one of the Centre's two international Co-Investigators, Professor Kate Fitz-Gibbon, who is collaborating with Co-Is at Liverpool, Durham and Manchester on the Workstrand 2 Domestic Abuse thematic research project. Professor Fitz-Gibbon is also a member of the Centre's International Advisory Board. All Co-Is are included in the Centre's central governance, as members of the Core Academic Team, meeting to ensure cross-project collaboration and sharing of good practice, 3-4 times per year.
Impact None as yet. Yes - Gender and Family Violence Prevention, Social Policy, Criminology, Law
Start Year 2022
 
Description N8 Research Partnership - Project Partner 
Organisation N8 Research Partnership
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Learned Society 
PI Contribution We have developed multiple partnerships and formal collaborations to establish the Vulnerability & Policing Futures Research Centre. The Centre is governed centrally, led by a core team based at the Universities of York and Leeds. This team, through established governance structures, is co-ordinating and supporting all research activity across the Centre, including research led by Co-Investigators at partner institutions as well as contributions made by other partners.
Collaborator Contribution As a project partner listed in the original grant application, the N8 Research Partnership forms part of our network of stakeholders and service providers across a range of disciplines, which support the Centre's mission by providing access to institutional expertise, staff time and dissemination networks, among other resources.
Impact No impact yet
Start Year 2022
 
Description National Police Chiefs Council - Project Partner 
Organisation National Police Chiefs Council
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Charity/Non Profit 
PI Contribution We have developed multiple partnerships and formal collaborations to establish the Vulnerability & Policing Futures Research Centre. The Centre is governed centrally, led by a core team based at the Universities of York and Leeds. This team, through established governance structures, is co-ordinating and supporting all research activity across the Centre, including research led by Co-Investigators at partner institutions as well as contributions made by other partners.
Collaborator Contribution The Director of the NPCC's Vulnerability Knowledge & Practice Programme Gareth Edwards, and the Policing Chief Scientific Advisor, Paul Taylor, both sit on the Centre's National Engagement Group, which meets x3 times per year to support national policy engagement and provide connections with relevant national stakeholders. As a project partner listed in the original grant application, the National Police Chiefs Council forms part of our network of stakeholders and service providers across a range of disciplines, which support the Centre's mission by providing access to institutional expertise, staff time and dissemination networks, among other resources.
Impact None as yet
Start Year 2022
 
Description Safer Leeds, Leeds City Council - Project Partner 
Organisation Leeds City Council
Department Safer Leeds
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Public 
PI Contribution We have developed multiple partnerships and formal collaborations to establish the Vulnerability & Policing Futures Research Centre. The Centre is governed centrally, led by a core team based at the Universities of York and Leeds. This team, through established governance structures, is co-ordinating and supporting all research activity across the Centre, including research led by Co-Investigators at partner institutions as well as contributions made by other partners.
Collaborator Contribution As a project partner listed in the original grant application, the Safer Leeds forms part of our network of stakeholders and service providers across a range of disciplines, which support the Centre's mission by providing access to institutional expertise, staff time and dissemination networks, among other resources.
Impact No impact yet
Start Year 2022
 
Description Stanford Center for Population Health Sciences - Project Partner 
Organisation Stanford University
Department Center for Population Health Sciences
Country United States 
Sector Academic/University 
PI Contribution We have developed multiple partnerships and formal collaborations to establish the Vulnerability & Policing Futures Research Centre. The Centre is governed centrally, led by a core team based at the Universities of York and Leeds. This team, through established governance structures, is co-ordinating and supporting all research activity across the Centre, including research led by Co-Investigators at partner institutions as well as contributions made by other partners.
Collaborator Contribution As a project partner listed in the original grant application, the Stanford Center for Population Health Sciences forms part of our network of stakeholders and service providers across a range of disciplines, which support the Centre's mission by providing access to institutional expertise, staff time and dissemination networks, among other resources. Dr Lesley Park sits on the Centre's International Advisory Board which meets x2 times per year to share learning and innovations in theory, process and methods through collaborative academic networks and communities of practitioners, to embed international best practice and research comparisons in the Centre's research programme, and to forge new comparative research collaborations and exploit aligned research opportunities.
Impact No impact yet
Start Year 2022
 
Description Temple University - Centre collaborating partner 
Organisation Temple University
Country United States 
Sector Academic/University 
PI Contribution We have developed multiple partnerships and formal collaborations to establish the Vulnerability & Policing Futures Research Centre. The Centre is governed centrally, led by a core team based at the Universities of York and Leeds. This team, through established governance structures, is co-ordinating and supporting all research activity across the Centre, including research led by Co-Investigators at partner institutions as well as contributions made by other partners.
Collaborator Contribution Temple University employed one of our two international Co-Investigators, Professor Jennifer Wood. Professor Wood is bringing her expertise to bear in the Centre through contribution to the Early Career Researcher Development Grants funding panel, and membership of the Centre's International Advisory Board. She has also collaborated closely on Workstrand 1 place-based research, Workstrand 3 engagement and dissemination work, and the Workstrand 2 Mental Illness thematic research project. All Co-Is are included in the Centre's central governance, as members of the Core Academic Team, meeting to ensure cross-project collaboration and sharing of good practice, 3-4 times per year. Professor Wood took up a new administrative post at Temple in late 2023 meaning she has had to step back from the formal Co-Investigator role with the Centre, but remains involved as a voluntary member of the Centre's International Advisory Board.
Impact None as yet. Yes - Criminology, Law, Social Policy, Healthcare and Social Work.
Start Year 2022
 
Description UCL - Centre collaborating partner 
Organisation University College London
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Academic/University 
PI Contribution We have developed multiple partnerships and formal collaborations to establish the Vulnerability & Policing Futures Research Centre. The Centre is governed centrally, led by a core team based at the Universities of York and Leeds. This team, through established governance structures, is co-ordinating and supporting all research activity across the Centre, including research led by Co-Investigators at partner institutions as well as contributions made by other partners.
Collaborator Contribution UCL employs Centre Co-Investigator Professor Ben Bradford, who is leading the Workstrand 3 Minimum Policing Standard research project, which commenced in 2022, comprising both deliberative focus group research and a national representative survey, to identify public perceptions of what the police should do. Professor Bradford is leading methodological design and delivery of this respective project, with support and collaboration from Centre postdoctoral researchers based at York and Leeds, as well as members of the Centre academic leadership team based at York and Leeds. All Co-Is are included in the Centre's central governance, as members of the Core Academic Team, meeting to ensure cross-project collaboration and sharing of good practice, 3-4 times per year.
Impact None as yet. Yes - Criminology, Law and Social Policy.
Start Year 2022
 
Description University of Leeds - Centre co-lead 
Organisation University of Leeds
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Academic/University 
PI Contribution The Centre is jointly led by the Universities of York and Leeds. The proposal and establishment of the Centre's staffing and governance has been jointly led and implemented by our two organisations over the past three years (to 2023). The Co-Directors and core staffing team are split across the two institutions, which continue to be responsible for leadership, governance and Centre co-ordination.
Collaborator Contribution As above, the Centre is jointly led by York and Leeds, with budgets and responsibilities split evenly across the two institutions, for leadership and co-ordination of the Centre.
Impact to add
Start Year 2022
 
Description University of Liverpool - Centre collaborating partner 
Organisation University of Liverpool
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Academic/University 
PI Contribution We have developed multiple partnerships and formal collaborations to establish the Vulnerability & Policing Futures Research Centre. The Centre is governed centrally, led by a core team based at the Universities of York and Leeds. This team, through established governance structures, is co-ordinating and supporting all research activity across the Centre, including research led by Co-Investigators at partner institutions as well as contributions made by other partners.
Collaborator Contribution The University of Liverpool employs two of our Co-Investigators: Professor Ross Coomber is leading the Workstrand 2 County Lines thematic research project, which commenced in 2022; Professor Sandra Walklate is co-leading the Workstrand 2 Domestic Abuse thematic research project. Each of these Co-Is is leading methodological design and delivery of their respective project, with support and collaboration from Centre postdoctoral researchers based at York and Leeds, as well as members of the Centre academic leadership team based at York and Leeds. In the case of the Domestic Abuse project, this is also a partnership with other Co-I institutions (Durham, Monash, Manchester). All Co-Is are included in the Centre's central governance, as members of the Core Academic Team, meeting to ensure cross-project collaboration and sharing of good practice, 3-4 times per year. Professor Sandra Walklate has the additional shared responsibility of co-leading on the identified cross-cutting theme of Gender (with Professor Nicole Westmarland, Durham).
Impact None as yet. Multidisciplinary - Criminology & Sociology
Start Year 2022
 
Description University of Manchester - Centre collaborating partner 
Organisation University of Manchester
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Academic/University 
PI Contribution We have developed multiple partnerships and formal collaborations to establish the Vulnerability & Policing Futures Research Centre. The Centre is governed centrally, led by a core team based at the Universities of York and Leeds. This team, through established governance structures, is co-ordinating and supporting all research activity across the Centre, including research led by Co-Investigators at partner institutions as well as contributions made by other partners.
Collaborator Contribution The University of Manchester employs two of our Co-Investigators: Professor David Gadd and Dr Rosemary Broad are leading the Workstrand 2 Modern Slavery thematic research project, which formally commences in 2024. Professor Gadd is also collaborating on the Workstrand 2 Domestic Abuse project with Centre Co-Is at Monash, Liverpool and Durham. These Co-Is are leading methodological design and delivery of their project, with support and collaboration from Centre postdoctoral researchers based at York and Leeds, as well as members of the Centre academic leadership team based at York and Leeds. All Co-Is are included in the Centre's central governance, as members of the Core Academic Team, meeting to ensure cross-project collaboration and sharing of good practice, 3-4 times per year. Dr Rosemary Broad is also representing Co-Is on the Centre's Ethical Oversight Panel, examining and evaluating high level/meta ethical issues associated with the complex programme of sensitive research on policing vulnerabilities.
Impact None as yet. Yes - Criminology, Law & Social Policy
Start Year 2022
 
Description University of Oxford - Centre collaborating partner 
Organisation University of Oxford
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Academic/University 
PI Contribution We have developed multiple partnerships and formal collaborations to establish the Vulnerability & Policing Futures Research Centre. The Centre is governed centrally, led by a core team based at the Universities of York and Leeds. This team, through established governance structures, is co-ordinating and supporting all research activity across the Centre, including research led by Co-Investigators at partner institutions as well as contributions made by other partners.
Collaborator Contribution The University of Oxford employs Centre Co-Investigator Professor Iyiola Solanke, who is co-chairing the Centre's Ethical Oversight Panel with York Co-I, Professor Stephen Holland. All Co-Is are included in the Centre's central governance, as members of the Core Academic Team, meeting to ensure cross-project collaboration and sharing of good practice, 3-4 times per year. Professor Solanke has the related responsibility of leading on the identified cross-cutting theme of Anti-discriminatory Practices.
Impact None as yet. Yes - Law, Philosophy, Social Policy
Start Year 2022
 
Description University of Sheffield - Centre collaborating partner 
Organisation University of Sheffield
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Academic/University 
PI Contribution We have developed multiple partnerships and formal collaborations to establish the Vulnerability & Policing Futures Research Centre. The Centre is governed centrally, led by a core team based at the Universities of York and Leeds. This team, through established governance structures, is co-ordinating and supporting all research activity across the Centre, including research led by Co-Investigators at partner institutions as well as contributions made by other partners.
Collaborator Contribution The University of Sheffield employs Co-Investigator Dr Adam White, who is collaborating on the Workstrand 1 place-based research, initially in Bradford and then moving to other locations. Dr White brings expertise in policing enacted by agencies other than the police/public sector organisations themselves, and how this interacts with and impacts on vulnerability. All Co-Is are included in the Centre's central governance, as members of the Core Academic Team, meeting to ensure cross-project collaboration and sharing of good practice, 3-4 times per year.
Impact None as yet. Yes - law & criminology.
Start Year 2022
 
Description Unseen - Project Partner 
Organisation Unseen
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Charity/Non Profit 
PI Contribution We have developed multiple partnerships and formal collaborations to establish the Vulnerability & Policing Futures Research Centre. The Centre is governed centrally, led by a core team based at the Universities of York and Leeds. This team, through established governance structures, is co-ordinating and supporting all research activity across the Centre, including research led by Co-Investigators at partner institutions as well as contributions made by other partners.
Collaborator Contribution As a project partner listed in the original grant application, Unseen forms part of our network of stakeholders and service providers across a range of disciplines, which support the Centre's mission by providing access to institutional expertise, staff time and dissemination networks, among other resources.
Impact None as yet
Start Year 2022
 
Description West Yorkshire Police - Project Partner 
Organisation West Yorkshire Police
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Public 
PI Contribution We have developed multiple partnerships and formal collaborations to establish the Vulnerability & Policing Futures Research Centre. The Centre is governed centrally, led by a core team based at the Universities of York and Leeds. This team, through established governance structures, is co-ordinating and supporting all research activity across the Centre, including research led by Co-Investigators at partner institutions as well as contributions made by other partners.
Collaborator Contribution As a project partner listed in the original grant application, West Yorkshire Police forms part of our network of stakeholders and service providers across a range of disciplines, which support the Centre's mission by providing access to institutional expertise, staff time and dissemination networks, among other resources. To date, Centre researchers working on the County Lines project have interviewed officers as part of their phase 1 research activity.
Impact No impact yet
Start Year 2022
 
Description Youth Justice Board for England and Wales - Project Partner 
Organisation Ministry of Justice
Department Youth Justice Board for England and Wales
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Public 
PI Contribution We have developed multiple partnerships and formal collaborations to establish the Vulnerability & Policing Futures Research Centre. The Centre is governed centrally, led by a core team based at the Universities of York and Leeds. This team, through established governance structures, is co-ordinating and supporting all research activity across the Centre, including research led by Co-Investigators at partner institutions as well as contributions made by other partners.
Collaborator Contribution As a project partner listed in the original grant application, the Youth Justice Board for England and Wales forms part of our network of stakeholders and service providers across a range of disciplines, which support the Centre's mission by providing access to institutional expertise, staff time and dissemination networks, among other resources.
Impact None as yet
Start Year 2022
 
Description 'Learning Symposium' delivered in Holme Wood, Bradford - Nov23 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Regional
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact Working together with ACT Locally and CAER, Centre researchers (Dr Larissa Engelmann and Dr David Rowlands) supported a 'Learning Symposium' in Holme Wood, Bradford to bring together local practitioners and community around a focus on crime and anti-social behaviour to plan responses and future work.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2023
 
Description A Brake - ADRUK2023 Conference - What insights can ambulance data provide on vulnerable groups? Nov23 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact Centre data scientist Abigail Brake presented on her Centre project at the ADR UK conference 2023 'Public data for resilience and inclusion - using administrative data to inform policy and practice in challenging times'
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2023
URL https://ijpds.org/article/view/2226
 
Description A Crawford - Presentation - European Forum for Urban Security Annual Conference 'Security, Democracy & Cities' Brussels, Mar24 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Policymakers/politicians
Results and Impact Centre Co-Director Adam Crawford gave a presentation on the Centre at this international conference including academics and practitioners on 20 March 2024.

The conference is organised every three years by Efus, the Security, Democracy & Cities conference gathers 800+ participants from 150 cities and regions in Europe and around the world. Open to all urban security stakeholders (elected officials, public officers, magistrates, security professionals, social workers, researchers, civil society representatives), Efus' Security, Democracy & Cities conference offers 3 days of workshops, field visits and plenary sessions to discuss local responses to security challenges facing local authorities that would complement national and European responses.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2024
URL https://www.eucpn.org/events/security-democracy-cities-conference-efus
 
Description A Crawford - Presentation at APCC NPCC Summit 2024 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact ESRC Vulnerability & Policing Futures Research Centre Co-Director Professor Adam Crawford spoke at the APCC NPCC Partnership Summit on 19 November 2024, attended by the Home Secretary, police and crime commissioners and police chiefs across the UK, where he shared findings from the Centre's report "Do people think police are meeting minimum standards of service delivery?".
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2024
URL https://vulnerabilitypolicing.org.uk/news/improve-local-police-interactions-to-build-public-trust-ce...
 
Description A Crawford - Vulnerability and Policing: Rethinking the Role and Limits of the Police, Political Quarterly (blog), Jul24 
Form Of Engagement Activity Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Policymakers/politicians
Results and Impact Adam Crawford wrote a blog related to his article published in The Political Quarterly ( https://doi.org/10.1111/1467-923X.13422).
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2024
URL https://politicalquarterly.org.uk/blog/vulnerability-and-policing-rethinking-the-role-and-limits-of-...
 
Description Adam Crawford - Blog: Redesigning the contribution of police to public safety, 21 May 2024 
Form Of Engagement Activity Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact Adam Crawford provided a blog for the Academy of Social Sciences.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2024
URL https://acss.org.uk/redesigning-the-contribution-of-police-to-public-safety/
 
Description Adam Crawford - NPCC Crime Prevention Committee, Jun23 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact Professor Adam Crawford (Centre Co-Director) gave a talk to the Crime Prevention Committee, one of 13 national co-ordination committees of the National Police Chiefs Council, chaired by Serena Kennedy, Dep Chief Constable Merseyside.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2023
 
Description Adam Crawford - Public lecture at Warwick University, School of Law and Vulnerable State Project, May24 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Regional
Primary Audience Postgraduate students
Results and Impact Professor Adam Crawford delivered Warwick Law School's Guest Lecture titled "Vulnerability and Policing: Rethinking the Role and Limits of the Police".

Abstract: Police are increasingly called upon to manage a host of social ills and vulnerable people, often filling gaps left by the withdrawal of other public and third sector services. Yet, there remains a distinct lack of critical assessment of what problems the police are expected to solve and whether they are the most appropriate agency to do so. This paper highlights the need to rethink policing through multilateral networks that explicitly locate police within broader tasks of public safety and the protection of vulnerable citizens. It argues for a whole-system response that harnesses the roles of diverse public, private and voluntary organisations and clarifies the parameters of police within that system. It explores the opportunities and challenges that attend to delimiting the police role through recent developments and debates concerning responses to mental health-related problems and the 'Right Care, Right Person' Agreement. It concludes with some thoughts on how we might recast, through the lens of vulnerability, a decentred role for police within a wider system of public safety.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2024
URL https://warwick.ac.uk/fac/soc/newsandevents/events/?calendarItem=8a1785d88eeb7c7b018eec55b76816a8
 
Description Adam Crawford, Sentencing & Mental Health event, Mar24 
Form Of Engagement Activity A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Regional
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact Centre Co-Director Professor Adam Crawford chaired a panel at a public event on current issues relating to mental health and sentencing. The event was hosted by the Institute for Mental Health Research at the University of York and led by the Sentencing Academy. Expert speakers included Dr Ailbhe O'Loughlin, Senior Lecturer in Law, York Law School, University of York, Sandra Drysdale, Senior Probation Officer, North East Probation Service, Dr Christopher Ince, Consultant Psychiatrist in Intellectual Disabilities (Cumbria Northumberland Tyne and Wear NHS Trust) and National Specialty Advisor - Autism (NHS England)
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2024
 
Description Adam Crawford-NPCC meeting, out of court resolutions/police diversion, Feb24 
Form Of Engagement Activity A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact Prof Adam Crawford met with Temporary Deputy Assistant Chief Constable and Programme Director for the police race action plan, Alison Heydari & her colleagues (Met Police), to discuss police diversion programmes and possible research linked to the police science council. Alison is the NPCC lead for out of court resolutions. They are assisting with collecting data.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2024
 
Description Adam Crawford-Police Science Council presentation, mental health, Sep23 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact Professor Adam Crawford (Centre Co-Director) presented on a range of mental health projects related to policing (4 projects within/attached to the Centre), to the police scientific council at the Cumberland Hotel, London.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2023
 
Description Blackpool Awaken Service Practice Forum, OCSV project, Sep24 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Local
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact Discussion about implementation of quality standards, agreed next steps in further developing these locally, feeding back findings from study and engaging with local practitioners at different level. This meeting was with a practitioner audience (social workers) in Blackpool and the impact was integration of research findings into local practice as well as additional invitations to present findings at local practitioner forums to share the learning more broadly and support local practice in line with best practice guidance we've developed with the local community.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2024
 
Description C Devany - County Lines - Stockholm Criminology Symposium, Jun24 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact Centre researcher Dr Chris Devany presented on the Centre's County Lines projects at the Stockholm Criminology Symposium, 10-12 June 2024.
Presentation Abstract
County Lines, a form of drug trafficking prevalent in the UK, has garnered significant attention due to its exploitation of vulnerable individuals, particularly young people. Based on interviews with senior officers across all 45 territorial police forces in the UK, representatives from national and regional policing bodies, front-line police officers, partner agencies and people with lived experience (n=96), this paper explores the multiple pathways into County Lines criminal networks.

Recruitment pathways into County Lines networks are often portrayed to be exploitative and predatory. Whilst this occurs, the analysis reveals that recruitment into County Lines is a complex interplay of social, economic, and psychological vulnerabilities. Factors such as poverty, lack of educational opportunities, family instability, and peer influence contribute to the formation of individual vulnerabilities and the susceptibility of young people to exploitation. Moreover, the allure of financial gain, status elevation, and a sense of belonging further incentivise youth involvement in county lines activities.

Recognizing the nuanced pathways and vulnerabilities involved in recruitment is essential for developing effective safeguarding measures, early intervention programs, and educational initiatives aimed at deterring young people from involvement in criminal networks. This research underscores the importance of addressing structural inequalities that render young individuals susceptible to exploitation, offering insights into pathways for disrupting the cycle of county lines involvement and safeguarding vulnerable youth.

The Stockholm Criminology Symposium is an annual event featuring over 500 attendees from close to 40 countries.
The primary purpose of the Symposium is to create an environment where international criminologists, policy makers, practitioners and others engaged in criminal policy matters can take part of the latest research findings of importance for crime policy.
The participants discuss strategies, methods and measures to reduce crime and improve levels of safety in society. The Symposium is organized by the Swedish National Council of Crime Prevention (abbreviated Brå in Swedish) on behalf of the Swedish Government.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2024
URL https://criminologysymposium.com/program/programpunkter/mon05-children-and-youth-criminal-networks-a...
 
Description C Lloyd - County Lines contribution - European Crime Prevention Conference, Apr24 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact Charlie spoke on a panel on 'Emerging themes from efforts to prevent the recruitment of young people into organised crime- Cross jurisdictional perspectives. He drew on insights from the County Lines project (and the NEET work in Bradford).
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2024
URL https://eucpn.org/events/ecpc2024
 
Description C Loyd - County Lines - European Conference on Drug Related Violence (Brussels), Dec24 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Policymakers/politicians
Results and Impact Professor Charlie Lloyd presented at the European Conference on Drug Related Violence (Brussels) organised by the European Union Drug Agency. His presentation title was: Drug Market Related Violence, the UK County Lines phenomenon and Implications for Policing.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2024
URL https://www.eucpn.org/events/european-conference-on-drug-related-violence
 
Description Centre Leeds Launch Event Oct22 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Regional
Primary Audience Other audiences
Results and Impact Launch event celebrating the Centre's set up was held at the University of Leeds Law School, Liberty Building, attracting 50+ attendees including University staff and students, as well as external partners and interested parties from the West Yorkshire region, including those involved with the Born in Bradford study and regional police forces.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2022
URL https://vulnerabilitypolicing.org.uk/news/vulnerability-and-policing-research-centre-launches/
 
Description Centre National Launch Event Nov22 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact Launch event for the Centre was held at the Congress Centre in London, to mark the establishment of the Centre and to engage in particular both existing and new external partners (policy makers, policing organisations, NGOs) with the planned programme of work, to maintain and continue to build relationships in order to foster co-production, research collaboration and impact.

Included talks about the Centre's mission, objectives, plans and values, as well as an expert panel discussion on the future of policing and vulnerability including representation from the College of Policing, the Police Foundation and the former Independent Anti Slavery Commissioner.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2022
URL https://vulnerabilitypolicing.org.uk/news/relationship-between-policing-and-vulnerability-needs-to-b...
 
Description Centre York Launch Event Nov22 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Regional
Primary Audience Other audiences
Results and Impact Launch event was held at the University of York to celebrate the establishment of the Centre, attended by 60+ university staff, students and representatives of regional partners and interested parties, including North Yorkshire Police.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2022
URL https://vulnerabilitypolicing.org.uk/news/vulnerability-policing-futures-research-centre-sets-out-vi...
 
Description Centre blog article on ESRC Festival of Social Science public engagement event - Safety in Bradford: Voices of Women and Girls, Oct24 
Form Of Engagement Activity Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact The team wrote about their recent ESRC Festival of Social Science event Bradford Broadway Shopping Centre and their plans for next steps based on the engagement and input of 80+ women in a blog on the Centre website, published 4/12/24 (see link).
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2024
URL https://vulnerabilitypolicing.org.uk/safety-in-bradford-voices-of-women-and-girls/
 
Description Centre presence at the European Society of Criminology Conference - Sept23 
Form Of Engagement Activity A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Other audiences
Results and Impact Presence at conference included a pre-arranged panel with VPRC research/researchers, including presentations on Bradford Mapping (delivered by Centre Researcher Dr David Rowlands), Q-study on perceptions of vulnerability (delivered by Dr Oznur Yardimci), County Lines (delivered by Dr Chris Devany) and Online Child Sexual Victimisation (delivered by Dr Larissa Engelmann), and a roundtable exploring policing vulnerability and how research can be used to address issues associated with this. Speaking on this subject were Centre Co-Director Professor Adam Crawford with Co-Invesgators Dr Laura Bainbridge and Professor Ben Bradford, and researchers Dr Chris Devany, Dr Larissa Engelmann, Dr David Rowlands and Dr Öznur Yardimci.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2023
URL https://vulnerabilitypolicing.org.uk/news/centre-researchers-address-renowned-european-criminology-c...
 
Description Centre public lecture, Ana Aliverti, York, Oct23 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Regional
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact The Centre hosted a public lecture given by Professor Ana Aliverti, University of Warwick, which was well attended by 70+ participants both in person and online. The lecture entitled 'The Heart of the State' looked at dilemmas of migration policing, based on Prof Aliverti's research.
Prof Aliverti and her colleagues also participated in meetings with the Centre team following the lecture, resulting in plans for future collaboration.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2023
URL https://vulnerabilitypolicing.org.uk/news/lecture-explores-the-dilemmas-of-migration-policing/
 
Description Chris Devany YorkTalk on police responses to victims and offenders in County Lines policing - Jan24 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Regional
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact Dr Chris Devany delivered a YorkTalks presentation sharing emergent findings from the workstrand 2 County Lines project,
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2024
URL https://vulnerabilitypolicing.org.uk/news/talk-highlights-how-policing-navigates-challenges-of-count...
 
Description Claire Warrington, article in Policing Insight, Nov23 
Form Of Engagement Activity A magazine, newsletter or online publication
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact Dr Claire Warrington (Centre Researcher, University of York) published an article focused on police mental health (related to Centre project jointly funded not by the ESRC, but by the Faculty of Social Sciences at York and the Institute for Mental Health Research at York).
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2023
URL https://policinginsight.com/feature/opinion/promising-solutions-to-thorny-problems-researching-the-c...
 
Description Claire Warrington, article in The Conversation, Jul23 
Form Of Engagement Activity A magazine, newsletter or online publication
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact Dr Claire Warrington (Centre Researcher, University of York) published an article in The Conversation entitled: Police forces across England plan to respond to fewer mental health calls - here's why.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2023
URL https://theconversation.com/police-forces-across-england-plan-to-respond-to-fewer-mental-health-call...
 
Description Climate Change & Policing Futures research planning workshop, Mar24 
Form Of Engagement Activity A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact Centre Co-Director Adam Crawford convened a workshop session to develop collaborative research ideas around policing responses to climate change. The session involved the Police Science Council, the Office of the Chief Scientific Adviser for Policing, Climate Security National Foresight Group an the ESRC Centre for Climate Change Economics and Policy.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2024
 
Description Connected Data Science talk to Digital Footprints Conference, May23 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Industry/Business
Results and Impact Amanda Brake (Data Scientist) gave a talk as part of the Digital Footprints Conference, titled 'Exploring spatial patterns of vulnerability using linked health data', based on Amanda's data science project under workstrand 1.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2023
URL https://ijpds.org/article/view/2280
 
Description Connected Data Science team talk to Age of Wonder Adolescent Mental Health Collaboratory, NIHR Yorkshire and Humber ARC, 8Nov23 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Regional
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact James Battye (Data Scientist), Dan Birks (Centre Deputy Director), Megan Wood (Data Science supervisor), Mark Mon-Williams (Centre Co-I) gave a talk to Age of Wonder Adolescent Mental Health Collaboratory, NIHR Yorkshire and Humber ARC, based on James' Centre workstrand 1 data science project titled 'Mapping Potential Vulnerability Indicators in Connected Bradford Department for Education Data'.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2023
 
Description Connected Data Science team talk to Bradford Children and Families Trust, 23Sep23 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Regional
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact James Battye (Centre Data Scientist), Dan Birks (Centre Deputy Director), Megan Wood (Data Science supervisor) and Mark Mon-Williams (Centre Co-I) gave a talk to Bradford Children and Families Trust based on James' data science project titled 'Mapping Potential Vulnerability Indicators in Connected Bradford Department for Education Data'.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2023
 
Description County Lines - blog post - N8PRP 
Form Of Engagement Activity Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact Dr Tobias Kammersgaard and Dr Chris Devany (Centre researchers, University of York) wrote a piece for the N8 PRP (Policing Research Partnership) online blog, about the Centre's County Lines research project.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2023
URL https://www.n8prp.org.uk/2023/10/20/through-the-cracks-in-county-lines/
 
Description Dan Birks & Data Scientists talk to West Yorkshire Police at Wolfson Centre, 23Mar23 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Regional
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact Dan Birks, Centre Deputy Director, and the first cohort of Centre Data Scientists, Amanda Hass, Abigail Brake and Alexander Davie, gave a presentation to West Yorkshire Police (Nick Ireland) at the Wolfson Centre, Bradford, including details from individual data science projects on vulnerability related demand, ambulance service data & vulnerability, and adult social care referral pathways.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2023
 
Description Dan Birks keynote at Social Simulation Conference, Glasgow, 8Sep23 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Other audiences
Results and Impact Centre Deputy Director Dan Birks was invited to deliver the final keynote address at the Social Simulation Conference 2023, which was organised by the Medical Research Council/Chief Scientist Office Social and Public Health Sciences Unit at the University of Glasgow, on 4-8 September 2023. The conference is one of the key activities of the European Social Simulation Association (ESSA) to promote social simulation and computational social science in Europe and elsewhere.

The theme of this year's conference was Social Simulation and Public Health with focus on the areas of Health Inequalities, Simulation and Evidence and Simulation for Policy and Dr Birks discussed research he has undertaken employing agent-based models to study crime and criminal-justice related problems.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2023
URL https://essl.leeds.ac.uk/law/news/article/1795/dr-daniel-birks-gives-keynote-at-social-simulation-co...
 
Description Dan Birks talk to Centre for Applied Education Research Board, 1Dec22 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact Dan Birks, Centre Deputy Director, delivered a talk to the Centre for Applied Education Research Board on the Centre's data science programme.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2022
 
Description Dan Birks talk to Centre for Applied Education Research Executive, 1Feb23 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Other audiences
Results and Impact Dan Birks, Centre Deputy Director, delivered a talk to the Centre for Applied Education Research Executive on the Centre's data science programme.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2023
 
Description Dan Birks talk to Connected Bradford board, 2Dec22 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Regional
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact Dan Birks, Centre Deputy Director, delivered a talk to the Connected Bradford Board on the Centre's data science programme.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2022
 
Description Dan Birks, Home Office roundtable on AI & Public Safety, Oct23 
Form Of Engagement Activity A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Policymakers/politicians
Results and Impact Dan Birks, Centre Deputy Director, was part of the first roundtable event on AI and Public Safety - Threats + Opportunities, hosted at the Home Office by the Minister of State for Crime, Policing and Fire; attended by 4 academics and various private sector organisations. A working group is to be formed to follow up.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2023
 
Description Data Science presentation to Bradford Local Authority Absence Task and Finish Group and Education Alliance for Life Chances, Sep23 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Regional
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact James Battye (Centre Data Scientist), Dr Dan Birks (Centre Deputy Director), Dr Megan Wood, & Prof Mark Mon-Williams gave a talk to Bradford Local Authority Absence Task and Finish Group and Education Alliance for Life Chances, 19Sep23, on James' data science project titled 'Mapping Potential Vulnerability Indicators in Connected Bradford Department for Education Data'.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2023
 
Description Data Science presentation to Connected Bradford, Sep23 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Regional
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact Dr Dan Birks (Centre Deputy Director), Prof Mark Mon Williams, Dr Megan Wood and James Battye (Centre Data Scientist) presented to Connected Bradford about James' data science project titled 'Mapping Potential Vulnerability Indicators in Connected Bradford Department for Education Data'
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2023
 
Description Domestic Abuse Service Providers project (ECR Grant) - blog post N8 PRP 
Form Of Engagement Activity Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact Dr Rebecca Shaw (one of the Centre's first co-hort of ECR Development Fund grant holders), wrote a piece for the N8 PRP (Policing Research Partnership) blog about her Centre-funded project.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2024
URL https://www.n8prp.org.uk/2024/02/16/the-stories-we-tell-about-domestic-abuse-with-da-service-provide...
 
Description ESRC Festival of Social Science public engagement event - Safety in Bradford: Voices of Women and Girls Oct24 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Local
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact As part of the ESRC Festival of Social Science 2024, Dr Larissa Engelmann and Dr David Rowlands from the Centre's Bradford Mapping research team worked with Dr Nadia Jessop (ECR grant holder) and Dr Anna Barker (Centre Affiliate and PI on ESRC Safer Parks project) and Dr Vikki Houlden to hold a public engagement event in the Broadway Shopping Centre, Bradford. The purpose of the event for the researchers was to think about how they can make sure these voices inform future practice. The team shared findings from their research and engaged members of the public, particularly women, in conversation and providing their views about their safety in public places in Bradford, and what they want police to do. The team wrote about the event and their plans for next steps based on the engagement and input of 80+ women in a blog on the Centre website, published 4/12/24 (see link).

See also: https://x.com/Crawford1Adam/status/1851303684116005192
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2024
URL https://vulnerabilitypolicing.org.uk/safety-in-bradford-voices-of-women-and-girls/
 
Description Event showcasing findings from ESRC small grants projects - Jun23 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact The Centre coordinated a showcase of research findings delivered by PIs of the ESRC's funding call enabling researchers to partner with the police to tackle violence against women and girls, chaired by Co-Investigator Nicole Westmorland. The event was attended by police, practitioners, academics, members of the public and academics, featuring the below speakers:
Nicole Jacobs, Domestic Abuse Commissioner for England and Wales
Professor Nicole Westmarland (Durham University)
Professor Aisha K. Gill CBE (University of Bristol) - Policing race and gender: improving responses to sexual abuse offences against Black and minoritized women
Dr Tracee Green (University of Kent): Child Sexual Exploitation and Girls: An Interactive Training Tool for Child Protection Professionals
Dr Alison Jobe (Durham University) - Developing and sharing best practice to support victims of sexual violence with learning disabilities and/or autism
Professor Lesley McMillan (Glasgow Caledonian University): Understanding Domestic Homicide in Scotland: Exploring Patterns, Promoting Safeguarding
Dr Emily Setty (University of Surrey) - Re-imagining the relationship between schools and police in preventing and responding to harmful sexual behaviour in schools
Dr Emma Sleath (University of Leicester): East Midlands Partnership On violence against WomEn and giRls (EMPOWER)
Dr Kate Wood (University of Huddersfield): Ten Years On: Stalking in Kirklees, policing and support for victims
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2023
URL https://vulnerabilitypolicing.org.uk/news/event-showcases-new-research-on-tackling-violence-against-...
 
Description Global Policing Knowledge Exchange Programme Conference, UCL, 16May23 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact Adam Crawford, Centre Co-Director, Dan Birks, Centre Deputy Director, and Martin Webber, Co-I, spoke at this event cohosted by the Centre and UCL, with Centre Co-I Ben Bradford. The event sought to share ideas for good practice and further research required to inform development of good practice within policing.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2023
 
Description Home Office Research Seminar - Jun23 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Policymakers/politicians
Results and Impact Professor Charlie Lloyd (Centre Co-Director) spoke to Home Office researchers and policy-makers under their regular research seminars, giving overview of Centre with a focus on the County Lines project (workstrand 2)
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2023
 
Description International PhD Network: Vulnerability & Policing 
Form Of Engagement Activity A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Postgraduate students
Results and Impact The Centre researchers, led by Dr Larissa Engelmann and Dr Christine Weirich, co-ordinated and launched an international PhD network for the Centre, of postgraduate researchers working in related fields relevant to vulnerability and policing. The launch event was held online on 12th March 2024, with 45 people in attendance, demonstrating the need for such a network, for providing mutual support and sharing of ideas. The network includes the Centre's existing five associated PGRs based at the University of York and the University of Leeds. Follow up online events will be planned for July this year and beyond, with an in-person summer school still in the pipeline (per original plans) during 2025.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2024
URL https://vulnerabilitypolicing.org.uk/phd-network/
 
Description K Brown - Ministry of Justice roundtable on child exploitation, Oct24 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Policymakers/politicians
Results and Impact Professor Kate Brown, Centre Deputy Director, was invited to contribute to a Ministry of Justice roundtable on child exploitation, October 2024.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2024
 
Description Kate Brown YorkTalk on vulnerability, Jan23 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Regional
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact Kate Brown gave a YorkTalk public lecture on vulnerability and the Centre's work as part of the University of York's annual series of public engagement events.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2023
URL https://vulnerabilitypolicing.org.uk/news/centre-deputy-director-delivers-yorktalk-on-vulnerability-...
 
Description Kate Brown delivered vulnerability training for WRDTP, 25Apr23 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Regional
Primary Audience Postgraduate students
Results and Impact Dr Kate Brown, Centre Deputy Director, delivered White Rose Doctoral Training Partnership training session for PhD students, titled 'Working with vulnerable participants'.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2023
URL https://wrdtp.ac.uk/events/working-with-vulnerable-participants/
 
Description Kate Brown public keynote address, UCD, May23 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Regional
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact Centre Deputy Director Dr Kate Brown delivered the public keynote address at this event hosted by the UCD Centre for Ethics in Public Life.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2023
URL https://vulnerabilitypolicing.org.uk/news/dr-kate-brown-delivers-keynote-address-on-vulnerability/
 
Description Kate Brown talk at Changing Lives' York Women's Wellness Centre event, International Women's Day, 8Mar23 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Local
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact Kate Brown gave a talk at an event hosted by the Changing Lives Women's Centre, York, for International Women's Day 2023.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2023
 
Description Kate Brown talk to Basis Yorkshire's adult sexual exploitation conference, 9Mar23 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Regional
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact Centre Deputy Director Dr Kate Brown delivered a talk about the Centre at this conference - event was organised by West Yorkshire Violence Reduction Unit.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2023
 
Description Kate Brown talk to Revolving Doors lived experience members, Jun23 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Local
Primary Audience Patients, carers and/or patient groups
Results and Impact Centre Deputy Director Kate Brown met with lived experience members of partner agency Revolving Doors. This was part of a consultation exercise to understand and include the views of people with lived experience of vulnerability and policing (e.g. through involvement with county lines and other related issues being researched by the Centre), about the Centre's research with vulnerable groups, to help develop a Lived Experience Involvement Strategy for the Centre.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2023
 
Description Kate Brown, York Festival of Ideas, County Lines, 11Jun23 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Local
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact Centre Deputy Director Dr Kate Brown delivered a talk entitled 'Policing and the most vulnerable in society' including content on the Centre's County Lines research as part of the public series of events in York Festival of Ideas 2023.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2023
URL https://www.york.ac.uk/news-and-events/events/public-lectures/summer-2023/policing-vulnerable/
 
Description Laura Bainbridge - County Lines - BBC Morning Live Jan25 
Form Of Engagement Activity A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Media (as a channel to the public)
Results and Impact Dr Laura Bainbridge, Centre Co-I, discussed County Lines, child exploitation and human trafficking on BBC Morning Live which links directly to the Centre County Lines project.

Laura is about 20 minutes into the recording link https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/m0026p2w/morning-live-series-6-06012025
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2025
URL https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/m0026p2w/morning-live-series-6-06012025
 
Description M Webber - Talk at Child of the North Symposium, Oct23 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact Martin Webber gave a talk at the Child of the North Symposium. Senior leaders from key sectors across Humber and North Yorkshire joined together to address some of the significant challenges faced by children and young people in the area. Hosted by the Humber and North Yorkshire Health Care Partnership, the symposium focused on addressing health and developmental issues prevalent in the region and across the North of England. It also explored some of the innovative solutions and capabilities within the area to tackle these issues, including the 'Child of the North' initiative. This event marked a significant milestone in the Partnership's commitment to ensuring that every child receives the best possible start in life and that the next generation is healthier than the last. It provided a platform for regional leaders to highlight strategic imperatives and foster collaboration to tackle the challenges. The symposium, the Partnership's first, drew participation from representatives of businesses, local authorities, healthcare providers, and public health - all with the common goal of driving meaningful improvements for children and young people. Speakers were from a range of organisations including the University of York, Humber Teaching NHS Foundation Trust, and Bradford Education Alliance for Health Chances.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2023
URL https://humberandnorthyorkshire.org.uk/humber-and-north-yorkshire-leaders-join-together-to-address-c...
 
Description Martin Webber, Liz Hughes - Blog: New research to explore police responses to mental health issues in routine policing - Oct23 
Form Of Engagement Activity Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact Blog written by Co-Is Prof Martin Webber and Prof Liz Hughes for Centre website about the themes addressed by the Centre's Mental Health research project
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2023
URL https://vulnerabilitypolicing.org.uk/new-research-to-explore-police-responses-to-mental-health-issue...
 
Description Multiple talks and panel discussions at Law Enforcement Public Health Conference in Umea, Sweden - May23 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Other audiences
Results and Impact Members of the Centre shared emergent findings from ongoing research projects with delegates of the Law Enforcement and Public Health (LEPH) 2023 conference in Umeå, Sweden. This individual talks from numerous researchers including; Professor Adam Crawford (Centre Co-Director) and Professor Charlie Lloyd (Centre Co-Director) speaking on Centre's mission and approach to co-production and engagement across policy, practice and public arenas; Professor Crawford and Dr Larissa Engelmann (Centre researcher) speaking on Bradford mapping research; Dr Kate Brown (Deputy Director) speaking on the Q methods study of vulnerability; Dr Chris Devany (Centre researcher) and Dr Tobias Kammersgaard (Centre researcher) speaking on County lines policing and vulnerability and; Dr Engelmann (Centre researcher) and Dr Christine Weirich (Centre researcher) speaking on co-designing community resilience to online child sexual victimisation. Additionally, all listed attendees engaged in a panel discussion exploring the connections between policing vulnerabilities and approaches to law enforcement and public health.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2023
URL https://vulnerabilitypolicing.org.uk/news/centre-staff-present-emerging-research-findings-at-leph-20...
 
Description National Engagement Group meetings 
Form Of Engagement Activity A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Policymakers/politicians
Results and Impact The National Engagement Group continues to meet 3x per year, providing a vital forum for sharing Centre research progress and emerging findings with an engaged group of policy and practice experts, and for them to provide insights that are helping to inform ongoing research.
A presentation to MOPAC on the Centre's Minimum Policing Standard work (see separate listing) was made following an invitation from Sophie Linden after hearing an update on the project at the NEG meeting.
On 23 November 2022 and 6 March 2023 we held the first two meetings with our National Engagement Group. We have used this working group to engage policy-makers and senior managers from a range of key organisations with our programme of work - including sharing initial findings. Establishing and maintaining this engagement is helping to identify opportunities for (and routes to) impact as the work progresses.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2022,2023,2024
URL https://vulnerabilitypolicing.org.uk/national-engagement-group/
 
Description Nikki Rutter (ECR grant) - Keynote - Durham County Council Feb24 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Local
Primary Audience Policymakers/politicians
Results and Impact Dr Nikki Rutter (Durham University), ECR Development Fund grant holder, spoke about her Centre-funded project in an invited keynote at Durham County Council. This led to further collaboration work (Durham County Council have signed a collaboration agreement with my institution).
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2024
 
Description OCSV team presentation at Scottish International Policing Conference - Nov23 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact Centre researchers Dr Larissa Engelmann and Dr Christine Weirich delivered a talk sharing emergent findings from the workstrand 2 Online Child Sexual Victimisation study and initial responses from community engagement event.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2023
URL https://vulnerabilitypolicing.org.uk/news/local-approaches-key-when-responding-to-online-child-sexua...
 
Description Presentation at the European Society for Social Drug Research Conference - Sept23 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact Presentation by Prof Ross Coomber (Co-Investigator) titled 'Understanding vulnerability vs criminality in drug supply' as part of a session on policing and drug markets, building on findings from the workstrand 2 County Lines project.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2023
 
Description Presentation delivered at the European Conference on Domestic Violence - Sep23 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Policymakers/politicians
Results and Impact Talk delivered by Co-Investigators Professor Sandra Walklate and Professor Nicole Westmarland discussing the development of domestic abuse perpetrator intervention standards (workstrand 2).
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2023
 
Description Presentation of OCSV quality standards to Blackpool Youth Justice Executive Board, Prof Corinne May-Chahal, Nov24 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Local
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact Professor Corinne May Chahal presented the OCSV quality standards to the Blackpool Youth Justice Executive Board. The primary audience were senior practitioners within Youth Justice who can make local decisions on frontline practice. The purpose was to share the quality standards and findings of the OCSV project and encourage implementation of this locally. This supported our wider work with the local Multi-agency Safeguarding Arrangement (MASA) who integrated our quality standards into their local Action plan. Positive audience feedback to the quality standards and willingness to integrate them into local practice.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2024
 
Description Presentation to Mayor's Office of Policing and Crime at City Hall, London - May23 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Regional
Primary Audience Policymakers/politicians
Results and Impact Professor Ben Bradford (Co-Investigator) and Dr David Rowlands (Centre researcher) were invited to present to the Deputy Mayor of London for Policing and Crime and colleagues in London, with a focus on the London groups following the completion of the second round of focus groups.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2023
 
Description Presentation to Safer Leeds executive board, Mar24 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Local
Primary Audience Policymakers/politicians
Results and Impact Centre Deputy Director Prof Dan Birks and Centre Researcher Dr Chris Devany gave a presentation to Safer Leeds executive board about the Centre's Workstrand 1 work including Connected Data, Bradford and Leeds Mapping.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2024
 
Description Presentation to multi-agency Safeguarding Central Governance Unit, West Yorkshire Police 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Regional
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact Professor Adam Crawford (Centre Co-Director) and Dr Dan Birks (Centre Deputy Director) gave a presentation to the multi-agency Safeguarding Central Governance Unit, West Yorkshire Police about the Centre's work on 1 February 2023. This served to inform and engage this key audience of practitioners and regional policy makers with the ongoing work of the Centre and its potential to inform and influence future policy and practice with regard to policing vulnerability.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2023
 
Description Public lecture by Jarrett Blaustein, Mar24 - Policing and our climate crisis 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact Jarrett Blaustein is an Associate Professor and the Director of Education in the School of Regulation and Global Governance (RegNet) at The Australian National University and Associate Editor (Australia/NZ/Asia-Pacific) for Policing & Society. The Centre hosted him as an international visiting fellow during March 2024 when he delivered this public lecture 'Policing and our climate crisis: reflections on the 2019-20 black summer bushfires in Australia' at the University of Leeds.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2024
URL https://vulnerabilitypolicing.org.uk/policing-and-our-climate-crisis-reflections-on-the-2019-20-blac...
 
Description Rebecca Shaw (ECR Grant) "Domestic Abuse Service Providers and their Stories" - British Society of Criminology Blog 
Form Of Engagement Activity Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact Blog written for BSC by Dr Rebecca Shaw (University of Leeds), VPRC ECR Development Fund grant holder, about her Centre-funded project, "Domestic Abuse Service Providers and their Stories". The blog (along with other blogs written by Rebecca) helped secure further funding through an Impact Acceleration Account Award; and also Creating Opportunities through Local Innovation Fellowship.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2024
URL https://thebscblog.wordpress.com/2024/04/10/domestic-abuse-service-providers-and-their-stories/
 
Description Rebecca Shaw (ECR Grant) "The Stories We Tell About Domestic Abuse" N8PRP blog, Feb24 
Form Of Engagement Activity Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact Dr Rebecca Shaw (University of Leeds) wrote a blog about her Centre-funded ECR Development Grant project, for the N8 PRP website.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2024
URL https://www.n8prp.org.uk/2024/02/16/the-stories-we-tell-about-domestic-abuse-with-da-service-provide...
 
Description Rebecca Shaw (ECR Grant) 'Domestic Abuse Service Providers and their Stories - an ongoing ESRC funded project' - Socio-Legal Studies Association Blog 
Form Of Engagement Activity Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact Blog written for BSC by Dr Rebecca Shaw (University of Leeds), VPRC ECR Development Fund grant holder, about her Centre-funded project, "Domestic Abuse Service Providers and their Stories". The blog (along with other blogs written by Rebecca) helped secure further funding through an Impact Acceleration Account Award; and also Creating Opportunities through Local Innovation Fellowship.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2024
URL https://slsablog.co.uk/blog/blog-posts/domestic-abuse-service-providers-and-their-stories-an-ongoing...
 
Description Roundtable - Irish Criminal Justice Open Research Dialogue (CORD) Partnership, Maynooth, May24 
Form Of Engagement Activity A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Regional
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact Centre Co-Director Adam Crawford contributed to this roundtable which brought together academics, policy makers and practitioners.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2024
 
Description Talk delivered at CHORAL launch event - Feb24 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact Centre Co-Director Adam Crawford presented as part of a panel at the Child Health Outcomes Research At Leeds launch event to approx 40 people in-person attendees, primarily from practitioner community across West Yorkshire and nationally.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2024
 
Description VPRC Annual Conference Sep24: Reshaping the relationship between vulnerability and policing, Sep24 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact The Centre held its inaugural annual conference 'Reshaping the relationship between vulnerability and policing' in Leeds on 5 September 2024. The event was fully booked to the 200 maximum capacity quickly after launching online in February 2024, and attendance was good on the day with approximately 180 people in attendance, from across practice in policing and other public and charity sector services, as well as research and policy communities. We were particularly pleased to include the voices of people with lived experience of vulnerability through issues such as county lines exploitation, in one of our sessions. The conference programme comprised 15 workshop sessions covering a wide range of issues related to the Centre's research, with speakers from across our network providing a range of different perspectives. The opening keynote was delivered by Professor Dame Sara Thornton and the closing plenary panel included Danny Shaw, Dr Rick Muir, Professor Carlene Firmin and Professor Katrin Hohl. Full details of the event programme including speakers is available online at: https://vulnerabilitypolicing.org.uk/reshaping-the-relationship-between-vulnerability-and-policing/
The whole Centre staff team of researchers, directors and PSS team were heavily involved in delivering this Centre event, with many Co-Is also contributing to or leading sessions.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2024
URL https://vulnerabilitypolicing.org.uk/news/centre-conference-explores-how-to-reshape-the-relationship...
 
Description VPRC blog: Capturing online safety risks offline: working together for a whole community approach 
Form Of Engagement Activity Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact The Centre's Online Child Sexual Victimisation project team - Corinne May Chahal, Larissa Engelmann & Christine Weirich, wrote a blog (published Feb24) for the Centre website about the work of engaging young people in Blackpool to hear from themselves about their online lives, how they keep themselves safe and what help they want and need if something goes wrong.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2024
URL https://vulnerabilitypolicing.org.uk/capturing-online-safety-risks-offline-working-together-for-a-wh...
 
Description VPRC international PhD network webinar: 'Vulnerabilities' in Research on Police-Community Dialogue: A Restorative Perspective, Nov24 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Postgraduate students
Results and Impact Webinar delivered as a Centre international PhD network event, organised by the Centre researchers, with Ian MArder and Katharina Kurz speaking. 12 PhD researchers attended.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2024
URL https://vulnerabilitypolicing.org.uk/phd-network-webinar-vulnerabilities-in-research-on-police-commu...
 
Description VPRC international PhD network webinar: Neurodiversity: Navigating the criminal justice system at the intersect of policing and health, Jan25 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Postgraduate students
Results and Impact Webinar delivered as a Centre international PhD network event, organised by the Centre researchers, with Inga Heyman, Natasha Spassiani and Natalie Kernaghan McCaughey speaking.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2025
URL https://vulnerabilitypolicing.org.uk/neurodiversity-navigating-the-criminal-justice-system-at-the-in...
 
Description VPRC international PhD network webinar: Northern Ireland: Intermediaries, Vulnerability and the Criminal Justice System, Aug24 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Postgraduate students
Results and Impact Webinar delivered as a Centre international PhD network event, organised by the Centre researchers, with Jenny Humphreys and John Taggart speaking. 20 PhD researchers attended.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2024
URL https://vulnerabilitypolicing.org.uk/northern-ireland-intermediaries-vulnerability-and-the-criminal-...
 
Description VPRC international PhD network webinar: The concept of vulnerability, May24 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Postgraduate students
Results and Impact Webinar delivered as a Centre international PhD network event, organised by the Centre researchers, with Martin Webber (CEntre Co-I) and Kate Brown (Centre Deputy Director) speaking on the concept of vulnerability.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2024
URL https://vulnerabilitypolicing.org.uk/phd-network-meeting-the-concept-of-vulnerability/
 
Description VPRC public lecture at University of Leeds, Nov24 - I Marder - Criminal Justice Research Partnerships 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Postgraduate students
Results and Impact The Centre hosted a public lecture by Dr Ian Marder, Assistant Professor in Criminology, Maynooth University School of Law and Criminology, Ireland, on 20 November 2024 at the University of Leeds and online. The talk was entitled "What makes criminal justice research partnerships 'tick'? Findings from a scoping review - and experiences from a new Irish partnership".
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2024
URL https://vulnerabilitypolicing.org.uk/public-lecture-dr-ian-marders-research-on-police-community-dial...
 
Description VPRC public lecture at University of York, Oct24 - C Heath Kelly - Vulnerability: prevention between social policy and national security 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Postgraduate students
Results and Impact The Centre hosted a public lecture by Professor Charlotte Heath Kelly, University of Warwick on 23 October 2024 at the University of York and online. The talk was entitled 'Vulnerability: prevention between social policy and national security'
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2024
URL https://vulnerabilitypolicing.org.uk/vulnerability-prevention-between-social-policy-and-national-sec...
 
Description VPRC webinar - Viewpoints on vulnerability as a focus for policing and public services (Q Methods), Nov24 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact The Centre's Q-Methods project team shared findings in this Centre webinar on 7 November 2024, chaired by International Advisory Board member Isabelle Bartkowiak-Theron.

A recording of the 1 hour webinar is publicly available via the link.

Speakers: Professor Kate Brown, Professor Adam Crawford, Dr Chris Devany, Dr Oznur Yardimici
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2024
URL https://vulnerabilitypolicing.org.uk/webinar-viewpoints-on-vulnerability-as-a-focus-for-policing-and...
 
Description VPRC webinar - What service should police provide? Towards a Minimum Policing Standard - Jun24 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact The Centre's Minimum Policing Standard project team shared findings in this Centre webinar, attended by 112 people.
'Trust and confidence' in the police is, arguably, in a moment of crisis. A significant decline in public opinion is well evidenced by a range of surveys and other research - yet rarely do these confront the basic question of what the public wants from police. What is the service people think the police should deliver, and do they think police are achieving it?
In this webinar, Centre researchers presented results from a programme of research aimed at answering these questions.
Webinar Speakers
Professor Ben Bradford (UCL, Centre Co-Investigator)
Dr David Rowlands (University of Leeds, Centre Postdoctoral Researcher)
Dr Christine A. Weirich (University of Leeds, Centre Postdoctoral Researcher)
Chair: Professor Adam Crawford (University of York and University of Leeds, Centre Co-Director)
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2024
URL https://vulnerabilitypolicing.org.uk/what-service-should-police-provide-towards-a-minimum-policing-s...
 
Description Visioning Day event in Blackpool - Nov23 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Regional
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact A full-day workshop co-ordinated by Dr Larissa Englemann (Centre researcher), Dr Christine Weirich (Centre researcher) and Professor Corinne May-Chahal (Co-Investigator) bringing together social workers, parents and young people, representatives from youth organisations, police and education in Blackpool to design a community response for tackling online child sexual victimisation. The event was supported by Dr David Rowlands (Centre researcher), Professor Adam Crawford (Co-Director) and Georgia Priestley (Centre-affiliated PhD student).
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2023
 
Description Webinar presentation to the Association of Child Protection Professionals - Nov23 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact Webinar delivered by Professor Corinne May-Chahal (Co-Investigator) as part of a 'Learning Week with Centre of Expertise on Child Sexual Abuse', presenting on ongoing research stemming from the Online Child Sexual Victimisation Project.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2023
URL https://www.childprotectionprofessionals.org.uk/events/learning-week-with-centre-of-expertise-on-chi...
 
Description York Festival of Ideas panel discussion on policing and public trust - Jun23 
Form Of Engagement Activity A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Local
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact Professor Ben Bradford (Co-Investigator) took part in a panel examining the root of public mistrust in the police and how policing contributes and responds to vulnerability, in relation to his work on the Minimum Policing Standard project (workstrand 3).
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2023
URL https://yorkfestivalofideas.com/2023/calendar/policing-and-public-trust/