Second edition of Crime and Security reporting magazine published

The second edition of the Crime and Security Research Institute’s (CSRI) reporting magazine is available for free download now. In this edition you will find details of the Institute’s latest multi-disciplinary research projects, along with all our most recent news and events.

The exciting stories covered in this edition include:

Foreign State influence and interference measures following the 2017 UK terrorist attacks

A report published recently by CSRI researchers identifies the systematic use of fake social media accounts, linked to Russia, amplifying the public impacts of the four terrorist attacks that took place in the UK in 2017 – at Westminster Bridge, Manchester Arena, London Bridge and Finsbury Park.

You can read more on the research, which was funded by the Centre for Research and Evidence on Security Threats (CREST) on our workspace.

Second phase of DAIS ITA begins

The distributed Analytics and Information Science International Technology Alliance (DAIS ITA) recently began its second phase, with twelve Computer Science and Informatics postgraduate students engaged on the project at the Crime and Security Research Institute.

The goal of the $80M alliance is to perform fundamental research on how people and computing devices can work together in rapidly changing situations, such as major disasters, to make people safer.

The new PhD students will work in close collaboration with industry team members from IBM, Airbus, BAE Systems, Raytheon/BBN Technologies and government scientists at Dstl and the US Army Research Laboratory.

You can learn more about this project on our workspace.

‘The Cardiff Model’ featured in Government’s Serious Violence Strategy

The Violence Research Group’s innovative model for tackling violence, ‘The Cardiff Model’, has been adopted by the UK government in its first Serious Violence Strategy, which was announced recently. Professor Jonathan Shepherd, who pioneered the method, was invited to the unveiling of the new strategy, which aims to set out the government’s analysis of the evidence, trends and drivers of serious crime.

‘The Cardiff Model’ was conceived by Professor Shepherd when he found that police forces were unaware of most violence related incidents that resulted in emergency hospital treatment. The idea of continuous knowledge sharing between hospital emergency departments and police forces was created, resulting in a reduction of violence.

Policing Futures masterclass

The Policing Futures programme is a collaboration between the Universities Police Science Institute and South Wales Police. The 2017/18 programme has run across nine months, and involved a group of 20 officers and SWP staff of mixed rank and functionality working directly with academics at the CSRI to problem solves current challenges and problems encountered in policing. This year’s topics addressed included: the effectiveness of engagement with communities; preparing for an ageing workforce; identifying vulnerability with partners; using digital services to improve communication and assisting with crime prevention / reduction (with particular reference to the 10-24 age group); and evaluating the effectiveness of police time spent with vulnerable persons and medical emergencies in hospitals. The objective of the programme is to explore the issues in depth, and create innovative solutions to problems, creating cost of time saving implications, improving processes or creating policy change.

This year’s programme culminated in May, with the cohort of officers and staff formally presenting their findings to South Wales Police Chief Officer Group.

Participants also have the option to submit their work to the Chartered Management Institute, for a formal external accreditation.

Crime and Security Research Institute Distinguished Lecture

The inaugural Crime and Security Research Institute Distinguished Lecture will be delivered this autumn, by the newly appointed Metropolitan Police Assistant Commissioner Specialist Operations, Mr. Neil Basu.

Mr Basu represents Counter-Terror Policing in its engagement with Government on operational and policy issues associated with tackling terrorism, espionage and proliferation. This portfolio also includes responsibility for the investigation of War Crimes, Official Secrets Act offences and the protection of VIPs, Royals, Embassies and Parliament.

The lecture is invitation only, but if you would like to attend please register your interest on our workspace, and we will contact you to confirm your place.

More information on all of the above, as well as the rest of the Institute’s latest research activities, news and events can be found in our reporting magazine, which is available to download here.