N8 PRP funds four new Agile Evidence Reviews
Following our recent call for applications, the N8 Policing Research Partnership (N8 PRP) has selected four projects for the latest round of Agile Evidence Reviews (AERs). Led by postgraduate and early career researchers from the N8 PRP New Researchers in Policing Network (NRiPN), the reviews will look at modern slavery, fraud victimisation, the wellbeing of officers in RASSO teams, and child sexual exploitation and abuse.
AERs are short, systematic literature reviews on topics chosen in line with priorities identified by policing and academic partners. Each one draws together academic publications and practitioner reports to summarise what is currently known, draw out the implications for policing policy and practice, and highlight where the evidence gaps lie. Each review concludes with a report and webinar where the reviewer presents the findings and discusses them with practitioners.
Agile Evidence Review Topics 2026/2027
Modern Slavery
Reviewer: Dr Shelley Cathers, Liverpool John Moores University
Police partners: West Yorkshire and Cheshire
What is the prevalence of modern slavery in England and Wales, and what evidence is there about how these crimes come to light? What police responses are currently in use, and is there evidence for what is effective?
Understanding the threat of harm to victims of fraud
Reviewer: Dr Yongyu Zeng, Lancaster University
Police partners: West Yorkshire and Cheshire
What is the impact of fraud on the victim? Does this differ for victims of online fraud? Why do victims of fraud become repeat victims?
Wellbeing in RASSO teams
Reviewers: Dr Emma Tuschick, Newcastle University, and Dr Livvi Taylor, Lancaster University
Police partner: Cheshire
How do we understand the impact on wellbeing for officers in specialist Rape and Serious Sexual Offences (RASSO) teams, and are there organisational models and approaches that can mitigate harm?
Child sexual exploitation and abuse (CSEA)
Reviewer: Dr Helen Richardson Foster, University of Lancashire
Police partners: West Yorkshire and Cheshire
What is needed for effective police investigative responses to CSEA? Is there evidence about the skills, knowledge, training and capacity required?
The four reviews will run between October 2026 and May 2027. We will share the reports and webinar details as they are completed.
To find out more, visit the Agile Evidence Reviews page.
You can also read two reports from the previous round, each with a webinar recording:
- Measuring Police Culture, by Naomi Davis-Crane (Liverpool John Moores University)
- Suicide Prevention During Sexual Offence Investigations, by Emma Tuschick (Teeside University)
