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Police Research Fellowships

Possible Research Themes

A list of general themes for possible research is compiled annually by the Commission and its partners based on issues of particular relevance to UK policing at the time. It is not obligatory to choose one of the following topics.

Local policing

• What interventions have a positive impact on victim satisfaction?
• How can the police overcome the long standing negative perceptions of them held by some communities?

Crime (including serious and organised crime)

• What is the nature and extent of particular or emerging crime threats?
• What is the impact of particular tactics in tackling these threats?

Technology

• What functions do police officers undertake that could be supported by technology and in what ways?
• What evidence is there on designing and piloting new technologies to meet the needs of users (e.g. understanding how people, systems and processes interact with technology to impact on its success)
• What is the impact of technology (including ANPR, CCTV, Headcams, Forensics) on reducing police demand or improving outcomes?

Leadership

• What are the core skills required for leadership?
• How do we develop leaders for the future?

Performance management

• What are effective strategies/mechanisms for performance management in the service?
• How do performance management arrangements at all levels affect the quality of service delivered by frontline practitioners?

Diversity

• What is the impact of interventions which seek to tackle the barriers to career progression that are experienced by under represented groups?

Professionalism

• How can officers be encouraged to use the best available information and knowledge to make risk-based decisions?
• Are officers trained to understand and use intelligence appropriately?

Change management

• What are effective tactics in managing change to deliver what works (e.g. problem solving)?

Productivity

• What activities should the police carry out in each of the core policing functions during a typical shift?
• What are meaningful measures of police ‘productivity’?

Profile of the likely successful applicants

Applicants are likely to have:

• carried out substantial background work on their topic, for example a systematic or other review of the evidence;
• carefully scoped their research question in order for it to be sufficiently discrete and manageable within a 3-5 month time period;
• demonstrable experience of research or analytical skills.

Contact point

For more information on the topics of interest please contact Nerys Thomas, research programme director at the NPIA.

nerys.thomas@npia.pnn.police.uk