UPSI secures grant to advance policing research
13 January 2014
The Universities' Police Science Institute (UPSI) has been awarded £46,000 from the College of Policing to strengthen links between academics and the police.
The grant, which has been matched by Cardiff University, will help to establish the institute as a key hub in Wales for research into policing and crime.
Based at the School of Social Sciences, UPSI was established in 2007 in partnership with South Wales Police and the University of South Wales to develop the research evidence base for the art, craft and science of policing. In this time, UPSI has secured £2M in external funding and achieved international renown for its innovative work on applied policing research.
This award from the College of Policing will fund links with other Welsh universities and police forces to help build the evidence about what works in tackling crime.
The bid, supported by South Wales Police and Crime Commissioner Alun Michael and Chief Constable Peter Vaughan, was one of seven universities, two police forces and a crime prevention charity given grants totalling £496,000.
A mixture of 75 academic institutions and police forces submitted bids to the College for sums up to £50,000.
Professor Martin Innes, Director of UPSI and Deputy-Director at the Cardiff School of Social Sciences, said:
"Through the Universities' Police Science Institute partnership, Cardiff University, South Wales Police and the University of South Wales have been leading developments nationally in using research based evidence to improve the quality of policing provided to the public. With this investment from the College of Policing, we will be able to significantly accelerate and expand our development."
Police and Crime Commissioner for South Wales, Alun Michael, said:
"Developing a genuine and robust evidence-based methodology for policing and crime reduction is absolutely at the heart of our approach in South Wales. The partnership with UPSI is close and action based - applying academic independence both to police work and to our work with partners across South Wales to cut crime and the causes of crime.
"The proposal was written jointly and signed by myself and the Chief Constable as well as Professor Martin Innes on behalf of the Institute and the grant will accelerate the exciting work that we are developing together."
Chief Constable of South Wales Police, Peter Vaughan, said:
"It is of vital importance that we understand what is important to our communities and how we can help keep them be safe. In an effort to understand the key issues, we have worked in close partnership with Cardiff University for several years to develop evidence based policing approaches to tackling crime and anti-social behaviour.
"The funding offers an excellent opportunity to build on the strong working relationship we already have with Cardiff University. The academic research potential this now offers will also help us to introduce new and innovative ways of policing to meet people's needs and to continue to keep South Wales safe."
Head of research at the College of Policing, Rachel Tuffin, said:
"As the home of the What Works Centre for Crime Reduction, the College of Policing wants to build links between police and academia so the way we go about policing is as efficient and effective as possible. This funding will be a springboard for future research and learning so police officers and staff get the best evidence to help them cut crime and keep the public safe."