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.
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
- University of York (Lead Research Organisation)
- Crisis (Collaboration, Project Partner)
- Adfam (Collaboration, Project Partner)
- Government of the UK (Collaboration)
- University of Sheffield (Collaboration)
- Stanford University (Collaboration)
- Temple University (Collaboration)
- Lancaster University (Collaboration)
- Ministry of Justice and Public Security (Collaboration)
- Mayors Office for Policing and Crime (Collaboration)
- UNIVERSITY OF OXFORD (Collaboration)
- Alan Turing Institute (Collaboration)
- Home Office (Collaboration)
- N8 Research Partnership (Collaboration, Project Partner)
- Monash University (Collaboration)
- Durham Constabulary (Collaboration, Project Partner)
- College of Policing (Collaboration, Project Partner)
- Centrepoint (Collaboration)
- Leeds City Council (Collaboration, Project Partner)
- Merseyside Police Service (Collaboration)
- Bradford Institute for Health Research (BIHR) (Collaboration)
- DURHAM UNIVERSITY (Collaboration)
- The Marie Collins Foundation (Collaboration, Project Partner)
- National Police Chiefs Council (Collaboration)
- UNIVERSITY OF LEEDS (Collaboration)
- UNIVERSITY OF LIVERPOOL (Collaboration)
- University College London (Collaboration)
- University of Manchester (Collaboration)
- Independent Anti Slavery Commissioner (Collaboration)
- Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (Collaboration)
- Bradford Metropolitan District Council (Collaboration, Project Partner)
- West Yorkshire Police (Collaboration, Project Partner)
- Edinburgh Napier University (Collaboration)
- Changing Lives (Project Partner)
- Turning Point (Project Partner)
- West Yorks. Police & Crime Commissioner (Project Partner)
- European Forum for Urban Security (Project Partner)
- Tasmanian Institute of Law Enforce Stud (Project Partner)
- Security Industry Authority (SIA) (Project Partner)
- Municipal of Lisbon Chamber (Council) (Project Partner)
- Department for Education (Project Partner)
- Ministry of Housing, Communities & L.Gov (Project Partner)
- Health Education England (Project Partner)
- Revolving Doors Agency (Project Partner)
- Mayor's Office for Policing and Crime (Project Partner)
- Association of Chief Police Officers (Project Partner)
- Ministry of Justice (Project Partner)
- Home Office (Project Partner)
- North Yorkshire Police (Project Partner)
- Hope for Justice UK (Project Partner)
- West Yorkshire and Harrogate Health Care (Project Partner)
- The Alan Turing Institute (Project Partner)
- Stanford University (Project Partner)
- Unseen UK (Project Partner)
- Centre Point (Project Partner)
- Merseyside Police (Project Partner)
- Safer Leeds (Project Partner)
- HM Inspectorate of Constabulary (HMIC) (Project Partner)
- Youth Justice Board (Project Partner)
- Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (Project Partner)
- Global Law Enforcement & Pub Health Assc (Project Partner)
- Independent Anti-Slavery Commissioner (Project Partner)
| Description | Police Scientific Advisory Council membership - A Crawford |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Policy Influence Type | Participation in a guidance/advisory committee |
| Description | University of Leeds - match funding |
| Amount | £666,171 (GBP) |
| Organisation | University of Leeds |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 05/2022 |
| End | 04/2027 |
| Description | University of York - Departmental Match Funding |
| Amount | £615,252 (GBP) |
| Organisation | University of York |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 05/2022 |
| End | 04/2027 |
| Description | University of York - Research Development Fund |
| Amount | £328,042 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | 50096735 |
| Organisation | University of York |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 05/2022 |
| End | 04/2027 |
| Description | University of York Faculty of Social Sciences Research Funding (awarded Jan23) |
| Amount | £310,000 (GBP) |
| Organisation | Research Centre for the Social Sciences, University of York |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 06/2023 |
| End | 07/2025 |
| 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 employs Centre Co-Investigator Professor Liz Hughes, who is co-leading the Workstrand 2 Mental Illness thematic research project, which commences in 2023. 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 | 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 employs 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 is also collaborating 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. |
| 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 | 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 | 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 | 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 | 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 |
| URL | https://vulnerabilitypolicing.org.uk/national-engagement-group/ |
| 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 |