Policing Priority Grants Call 2024/25

Applications are open for research projects prompted by the N8 PRP Police Research Priorities. 

Key Dates

Call Open 4 November 2024

Deadline for Applications 20 December 2024

Funding Decision 25 January 2025

Introduction

The Policing Priority Grants are research awards providing pump-priming funds for collaborative, targeted research into high-priority areas, new challenges, and pressing concerns in policing, as identified in the N8 PRP Police Research Priorities Statement. 

Projects must be led by an academic at one of the N8 universities and must be in collaboration with an N8 PRP police partner. 

This page covers:

• 2024/25 Call Guidance – a summary of the key information for the Call
• 2024/25 N8 PRP Policing Research Priorities Statement
• Documentation – application form, letter of support template, full guidance as pdf including application form guidance.

2024/2025 Call Guidance

The following summarises key points from the Call Guidance. For more information, including the deliverables and selection criteria,  please see the Call Guidance document linked below. 

Funding Available

The total value of the fund is £100,000. It is expected this will fund 4 projects.

Funding will be awarded at 100% of eligible costs. The grant-holding institution must retain control of the budget and will be responsible for submitting a final expenditure report to N8 PRP. 

Eligible costs are:

• Academic staff costs at N8 institutions only.
• Directly Incurred costs.

Award Duration

Projects will start Feb-July 2025 for 12 months. Up to 6 months is allocated for project set up, including set up of Data Sharing Agreements.

Award Requirements

Investigators The Principal Investigator must hold an academic post at an N8 university for the duration of the project. Parties who are not part of N8 PRP can contribute as Co-Investigators or Research Partners. 

N8 PRP Police Partner Each proposal must include a minimum of one N8 PRP police partner as a research partner. To find a police partner, you can contact the N8 PRP Academic Lead at your university, one of the Police SPOCs, or the N8 PRP project manager, Helen Gordon-Smith.

N8 PRP Policing Research Priorities Applications are invited on one of the 8 priorities listed in the N8 PRP Policing Research Priorities Statement.

Applicants should discuss and develop possible research projects with N8 PRP police partners using the priorities as guidance. There is no requirement for applications to cover all the questions raised under a priority.

How to Apply

Applications should be sent to Helen Gordon-Smith by the deadline, using the form below.  Further guidance on completing the application form is included in the Call Guidance document below. 

N8 PRP Policing Research Priorities Statement

From October 2024-September 2025, N8 Policing Research Partnership (N8 PRP) activity will be informed by an annual Statement of Research Priorities for N8 PRP activity identified by the N8 PRP Policing Partners. Co-ordinated communication from police partners on their priorities for N8 PRP-supported activity will enable more effective use of existing and ongoing research, and prompt innovative, socially significant research that would not otherwise have been generated or prioritised.

Following discussion at the N8 PRP Northern Evidence Based Policing Hub in October 2024, the following priorities have been selected for the 2024/2025 Policing Priority Grants Call. The priorities (in bold) are followed by detail on the specific interests of police partners in these areas. These are included to aid the development of research questions.

Applicants should discuss and develop possible research projects with N8 PRP police partners using the priorities as guidance. There is no requirement for applications to cover all the questions raised under a priority.

To find a police partner, you can contact the N8 PRP Academic Lead at your university, one of the Police SPOCs, or the N8 PRP project manager, Helen Gordon-Smith.

2024/25 Policing Research Priorities

1. The experience of neurodivergent people in the Criminal Justice System

1. To what extent does being neurodivergent impact on someone’s risk of contact with the Criminal Justice System and what impact does the identification, treatment, and support for neurodivergent individuals have on recidivism rates?
2. What can be done to support neurodivergent detainees whilst in custody?

2. The use of social media in crime prevention

1. How are crime prevention strategies being impacted by the development of social media? Can social media become an inclusive means of reducing crime? Are campaigns on social media an effective way to build trust, raise awareness (of e.g. fraud), and deter crime?
2. What is the impact of the On-line Harms Bill regarding the obligation on social media and gaming companies to notify authorities in the event of any risk of Indecent images of children online?

3. What are the drivers for ‘missing from home’ and how can police work with partners to reduce them?

1. Children – has the ‘Children missing from care framework’ improved outcomes? Has decision making from partners and police officers improved and has training made a difference?
2. Adults – what does an ageing population mean for demand? How is this likely to affect incidences of neglect, crimes against older people, and safeguarding demand?
3. Adults – ‘Safeandfoundonline’ dementia pilot for missing people in WY: are families and carers using it, is it helping call takers at first point of contact, are we finding people more quickly?

4. What do we know about public confidence in policing, and how can we measure it?

1. What affects public confidence? E.g. policing of public protests/unrest, business-as-usual operational practices such as the use of partnership volunteers and interagency cooperation?
2. What are the best ways for police forces to measure public confidence and satisfaction? Are there alternatives to surveys? How can police forces reach ‘hard to reach groups’ to measure public confidence, satisfaction, and issues within communities?

5. Understanding and Managing Professional Conduct within Policing

1. How do Police Officers behave towards each other? How influential/effective are Standards of Professional Behaviour, Codes of Ethics, and supportive practices (e.g. Reflective Practice)? Does this vary across life and employment experience?
2. How can good professional conduct be effectively embedded when demand is likely to continue to outstrip capacity in professional standards across the current complaints and conduct landscape?

6. Workforce Planning, Staff Retention and Police Mental Health

1. What are the causes and impacts of high staff turnover?
2. How can we help our officers and staff to be well? What are the effects of exposure to repeat trauma, high pressure incidents/ demand, agile working, and shift working?

7. Developing inclusive, effective vetting that meets demand

1. How can we predict future demand for vetting?
2. What are the barriers to effective vetting?
3. Do current vetting requirements disadvantage certain social groups?

8. What are the threats and opportunities from AI?

1. What are the risks from AI opportunities to commit crime? E.g. deep fakes, V.R. offending.
2. How can police use AI to help solve crime and manage demand? E.g. facial recognition

Documentation