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Professor Steve Tong

I was awarded a PhD from the University of Cambridge, Institute of Criminology entitled 'Training the Effective Detective'. I joined Canterbury Christ Church in 2002 and I have contributed to the development of the policing curriculum at undergraduate and postgraduate level and published on a range of policing issues. I founded the Canterbury Centre for Policing Research (CCPR) and I am currently the Director of Research & Enterprise for the School and Adjunct Associate Professor at Charles Sturt University and Visiting Fellow at Anglia Ruskin University. I contribute to teaching on undergraduate and postgraduate programmes as well as supervising student research (BSc, MA, MSc and PhD). I have been involved in research ranging from the work of detectives, trainee police officers, restorative justice in prisons, professional perspectives on the impact of Brexit on security/police cooperation and strategic police leadership across Europe. I am interested in new opportunities for research in policing and the criminal justice sector. I am an experienced PhD examiner and I would be delighted to receive requests for PhD supervision in topics related to criminal justice and policing. For supervision enquiries or research collaboration please contact me directly via email steve.tong@canterbury.ac.uk

I teach on a variety of policing subjects but have a particular interest in police reform, police education and training, police professionalization, criminal investigation and qualitative research. I am associated with the following committees/editorial boards/networks:

  • Series Editor: Policy Press Key Themes in Policing Series (with Dr Megan O'Neill and Dr Marisa Silvestri) (2014 - )
  • International Advisory Board of the Portuguese Journal of Police Sciences (2019 - )
  • Guest Editor with Prof Tracey Green Special Edition Policing: A Journal of Police and Practice (2019)
  • Editorial Advisory Board: Law, Crime, Justice & Society Journal (2014-2019)
  • Editorial Board: The Police Journal: Theory, Practice and Principles (2014 - )
  • Member of the Society of Evidence-Based Policing
  • Member of British Society Policing Network
  • Member of the HE Forum for Learning and Development in Policing
  • Fellow of the Higher Education Academy
  • Member British Society of Criminology (BSC)
  • Ongoing research: Metropolitan Police Detective Constable Pathway (DCP) Principal Investigators: Steve Tong/Martin O'Neill, with Jenny Norman/Emma Williams
  • Ongoing research: BTP Policing Pillars (with Ian Durrant)
  • Ongoing research: Professional perspectives on the impact of Brexit on security/police cooperation (with Paul Swallow)
  • Ongoing research: Counter terrorism strategies in the UK: the importance of public perception (with Katarina Mozova)
  • 2016 - 2018: Exploring the experiences and impact of police officers completing advanced detective training (with Martin O'Neill)
  • 2016 - 2017: Principal Investigator Emma Williams, Co-Investigator Steve Tong, College of Policing recognition of prior learning and experience for existing officers and staff - knowledge exchange.
  • 2012 - 2014 European Strategic Police Leaders with colleague Dr Bryn Caless.
  • 2012 - 2013 Invited as part of a CCCU team to write a paper for the Independent Commission into Policing led by Lord Stevens on training and police education.
  • 2009 Nuffield Foundation: Social Science Small Grant Award. Successful application to fund an evaluation into adult prison/victim RJ mediation.

Research Projects

  • “Embeddedness within Police Recruitment: How social networks and relationships influence the hiring of new police recruits”. Researcher(s): Dr Gareth Stubbs. Supervisor(s): Professor Steve Tong, Professor Robin Bryant, Dr Katja Hallenberg. [Postgraduate Research Project]
  • 'Section 45 of the Modern Day Slavery Act and its impact on Police Investigations'. Researcher(s): Ms DEBI LLOYD. Supervisor(s): Professor Steve Tong, Dr Dominic Wood. [Postgraduate Research Project]
  • ‘Suicide by Cop’ (SbC). Where a vulnerable person with ‘lethality of means’ initiates self-destructive violent conduct; either deliberately or with indifference to compel police to use lethal force.. Researcher(s): Mr Nick Francis. Supervisor(s): Professor Robin Bryant, Professor Steve Tong. [Postgraduate Research Project]
  • A critical analysis of perceptions of street-based sex workers, as victims of crime, by police officers and staff in a police service in the United Kingdom. Researcher(s): Miss Amy Laidler. Supervisor(s): Dr Martin O'Neill, Dr Katarina Ozcakir Mozova, Professor Steve Tong. [Postgraduate Research Project]
  • Assessing the Impact of Participatory Action Research on Police Perceptions and Engagement with Homeless People – The Homelessness Project. Researcher(s): Ms Cassandra Unger. Supervisor(s): Professor Steve Tong, Dr Jennie Bristow, Dr Sarah Lieberman. [Postgraduate Research Project]
  • Critically analysing current policies and strategies of human trafficking within the United Kingdom.. Researcher(s): Miss Emilia Clarke. Supervisor(s): Dr Katarina Ozcakir Mozova, Professor Steve Tong. [Postgraduate Research Project (past)]
  • Doctoral Research Project. Researcher(s): Mr Ross Evans. Supervisor(s): Dr Martin O'Neill, Professor Steve Tong. [Postgraduate Research Project (past)]
  • Doctoral Research Project. Researcher(s): Mr Max Murphy-Delo. Supervisor(s): Ms Kristina Massey, Professor Steve Tong. [Postgraduate Research Project (past)]
  • Doctoral Research Project. Researcher(s): Mr Bradley Barton. Supervisor(s): Dr Martin O'Neill, Professor Steve Tong. [Postgraduate Research Project (past)]
  • Doctoral Research Project. Researcher(s): Mr Joseph Simon. Supervisor(s): Professor Robin Bryant, Professor Steve Tong. [Postgraduate Research Project (past)]
  • Doctoral Research Project. Researcher(s): Mrs Elena Danila. Supervisor(s): Dr Emilia Bertolo-Pardo, Dr Laura Vera-Stimpson, Professor Steve Tong. [Postgraduate Research Project (past)]
  • Doctoral Research Project. Researcher(s): Mr Alan Thomas. Supervisor(s): Dr Paul Swallow, Professor Steve Tong. [Postgraduate Research Project (past)]
  • Doctoral Research Project. Researcher(s): Mr Kamran Yaqub. Supervisor(s): Dr Paul Swallow, Professor Steve Tong. [Postgraduate Research Project (past)]
  • How Can Community Policing be used to improve Public Perception of the Police in Current Times of Austerity?. Researcher(s): Miss CARLY MCILWAIN. Supervisor(s): Dr Martin O'Neill, Professor Steve Tong. [Postgraduate Research Project]
  • Intersectionality of performances of warrior masculinity by the Metropolitan police, societal interpretation of what ‘doing’ male gang member masculinity represents and the impact this has on deadly interactions by male gang affiliates in London.. Researcher(s): Ms Imogen Hirst. Supervisor(s): Dr Katarina Ozcakir Mozova, Professor Steve Tong, Dr Katja Hallenberg. [Postgraduate Research Project (past)]
  • Investigating homicide in a digital era. Researcher(s): Ms Tiggey May. Supervisor(s): Dr Martin O'Neill, Professor Steve Tong. [Postgraduate Research Project]
  • Murder in the Family: Representations of Gender in the Mid-Twentieth Century. Researcher(s): Miss Brooke Jones. Supervisor(s): Dr Maryse Tennant, Professor Steve Tong. [Postgraduate Research Project]
  • POLICING THE POLICE: AN ANALYSIS OF PRACTITIONER VIEWS OF THE IOPC’S LEARNING THE LESSONS BULLETINS.. Researcher(s): Mr Luke Staddon. Supervisor(s): Professor Steve Tong, Dr Martin O'Neill. [Postgraduate Research Project (past)]
  • Simply brilliant or brilliantly simple? Practitioners perspectives of the utility of the national decision model in relation to criminal investigations.. Researcher(s): Mr Joshua Edwards. Supervisor(s): Dr Martin O'Neill, Professor Steve Tong. [Postgraduate Research Project]
  • The impact of the Counter Terrorism & Security Act 2015’s ‘Prevent Duty’ on a cohort of primary and secondary schools.. Researcher(s): Mr Gary McGinn. Supervisor(s): Dr Paul Swallow, Professor Steve Tong. [Postgraduate Research Project]
  • The professional development of state and corporate criminal investigators and governance processes that oversee these arrangements. Researcher(s): Mr Damian Allain. Supervisor(s): Dr Paul Swallow, Professor Steve Tong. [Postgraduate Research Project]
  • THE UNDERSTANDING OF HOW DIFFERENT ENVIRONMENTAL BURIALS MAYE AFFECT THE DECOMPOSITION RATE OF HUMAN REMAINS.. Researcher(s): Miss HOLLY HARRISON. Supervisor(s): Dr Laura Vera-Stimpson, Dr Naomi Rintoul-Hynes, Professor Steve Tong. [Postgraduate Research Project]
  • Understanding the demand for mental health in Kent Police Force. Researcher(s): Mr Danny Holloway. Supervisor(s): Ms Kristina Massey, Professor Steve Tong. [Postgraduate Research Project (past)]
  • Violence Against Women and Girls in England and Wales: The implementation of national Domestic Abuse Policy at local level, a case study. Researcher(s): Ms Andrea Kilvington. Supervisor(s): Professor Steve Tong, Dr Dominic Wood. [Postgraduate Research Project]
  • What is the value of Covert Human Intelligence Sources to policing?. Researcher(s): Miss KRISTINA GRZIBOVSKA. Supervisor(s): Dr Martin O'Neill, Professor Steve Tong. [Postgraduate Research Project]
  • You have to keep sight of the fact that these are children’: YOT worker perceptions of responsibilisation in Youth Justice. Researcher(s): Mrs Joanne Mockeridge. Supervisor(s): Dr Dominic Wood, Professor Steve Tong. [Postgraduate Research Project]

Academic activities

  • I have served as an external panel member for validation events for undergraduate/postgraduate criminology and policing programmes for the University of Brighton, Northampton University, South Bank University, Open University Validation Service, University of Glamorgan, Middlesex University and Edinburgh Napier University.
  • External examiner roles include the University of Southampton (2019 - 2022), Edge Hill University (2017-2020), University of Kent (2015-2019), University of South Wales (2012-2017), University of Leicester (2011-2015), University of Central Lancashire (2011-2015) and Southampton Solent University (2008-2012).
  • External Examiner Professional Doctorate at the University of Portsmouth, PhD External Examiner at Durham University, University of South Wales, University of Huddersfield, University of Portsmouth, Middlesex University, University of Leeds, University College London and the University of Surrey. I also act as Internal Examiner/Chair at Canterbury Christ Church University for PhD vivas and MSc by Research and taught Masters programmes.

External activities

  • Tong. S (2019) ‘Embedding Research in Policing', invitation from the Metropolitan Police to deliver a presentation to a delegation from the Dutch Ministry of Security and Justice, 16.07.19 London. INVITED SPEAKER
  • Tong. S (2018) ‘Police Leadership in Europe’ CEPOL Joint Masters Programme, Schiphol Netherlands 12th December 2018, INVITED SPEAKER.
  • Hadfield. A & Tong. S (2018) ‘Delivering a Brexit Border: Policing, Security, Freight and Customs’, Palace of Westminster, Committee Room 6, hosted by Helen Whately, M.P. for Mid-Kent and Faversham, November 13th 2018.
  • Tong. S & O'Neill, M (2018) 'Professionalising criminal investigation: an examination of early attempts to professionalise detectives’ European Police Research Institutes Collaboration (EPiC) Annual Conference, University of Portsmouth 14-15th June 2018.
  • Tong, S (2017) ‘Police and Higher Education: prospects and challenges II workshop’, Scottish Institute for Policing Research (SIPR) Annual Conference - Policing and Professionalisation: opportunities and challenges, 14th December 2017, INVITED SPEAKER
  • Mozova. K & Tong, S (2017) Public fear of terrorism and counter-terrorism awareness, Tuesday 14th November, New Scotland Yard, London, Metropolitan Black Police Association. INVITED SPEAKER
  • Tong, S (2017) ‘Professionalising criminal investigation: an examination of early attempts to professionalise detectives in the United Kingdom’, Academy of Criminal Justice Science Conference, Kansas City, USA,
  • Tong, S (2017) ‘Conducting research into European Policing' German Police University, Munster, Germany, Thursday 9th March 2017. INVITED SPEAKER
  • Tong, S (2016) ‘Professionalising policing: seeking viable and sustainable approaches to police education’ European Police Research and Science Conference CEPOL ‘Global Trends in Law Enforcement and Training’, Budapest 5-7th October.
  • Tong, S (2016) ‘Learning from Mistakes? Policing Under Siege: An examination of high profile criticisms of policing and potential responses’. Thursday 21st July, New Scotland Yard, London, Metropolitan Black Police Association. INVITED SPEAKER
  • Tong, S (2016) ‘Professionalising policing: challenges in the role of education’, British Society of Criminology, Nottingham Conference Centre 6th-8th July.
  • Tong. S (2016) ‘The History of Criminal Investigation’, Norwegian Police University College, Oslo, January 2016, INVITED SPEAKER.
  • Silvestri, M & Tong, S (2015) ‘Women and Police Leadership: a European insight’, European Society of Criminology, 2-5th September 2015, Porto, Portugal.
  • Tong, S (2014) ‘Police education in England and Wales: a changing landscape’, Police Professionalism, Education and Learning (sponsored by the Scottish Institute for Policing Research), ProPEL Conference of Professional Practice, Education and Learning, 24-27th June, University of Stirling, INVITED SPEAKER
  • Tong, S (2013) ‘Evolving partnership and collaboration’, College of Policing conference ‘Growing Police and Academic Partnerships’, November 28th 2013, Bramshill, Hampshire. INVITED SPEAKER.
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Contact me

steve.tong@canterbury.ac.uk
01227921790