Events

On 23^rd May the Canterbury Centre for Policing Research (CCPR) in partnership with the England Centre for Practice Development (ECPD) hosted a round table event focusing on Mental Health. On the panel were Michael Brown, Mental Health Coordinator (College of Policing), Matthew Scott, Police and Crime Commissioner for Kent and Madeleine McGivern, Head of Workplace Wellbeing Programmes (Mind).  48 people attended including CCCU staff and students, members of the police and NHS staff.

Each speaker gave a 15 minute presentation and then questions were taken from the audience chaired by Carolyn Jackson, Director of the England Centre for Practice Development. 

Emma Williams, Deputy Director of the CCPR said “The mental health round table debate at CCPR in May was excellent. All the speakers spoke eloquently and passionately about their subject areas and the event struck a good balance between the impact on the police of dealing with individuals who suffer from mental ill health, the rise of stress and mental health issues amongst officers, the growing responsibility being placed on the police to deal with these issues and the Kent PCC's response outlining how these factors are being addressed locally. The audience was engaged and asked some great questions. We would have liked to have had more time for discussion. A very successful first round table debate for the centre.”

The School of Law, Criminal Justice & Computing hosted an international study week with enforcement officers from Australian, New Zealand, Netherlands and Canada. During the week students were involved in visits to police services, Parliament and the Australian High Commission. There were several lectures delivered by staff including Fahid Quarshi, Maryse Tennant, Paul Swallow, Dominic Wood, Bryn Caless, Demetris Hadjigeorgiou, Sofia Graca and Martin O’Neill. A celebratory meal was held at the Cathedral Lodge reflecting the first visit of students from Charles Sturt University and the 10 year partnership of the Police Academy of the Netherlands.

The week overlapped with the policing study weekend and allowed British Officers to network and socialise with our visitors. 90% of students rated the week either ‘excellent’ or ‘very good’, receiving very positive comments.

‘A fantastic week, thoroughly enjoyed the course and the networking opportunities. Wonderful location with friendly and knowledgeable presenters. I loved all presentations delivered and the tours offered’

‘Fantastic. Met all expectations. Very well organised. Academic staff were very welcoming and great to learn from.’

‘Great course, I found the interaction between police agencies invaluable. The lectures were thought provoking and interesting’.

‘I learnt I was able to contribute a lot about my work. It was enjoyable to have such relevant discussions with colleagues who experience similar issues. I have been able to create networks and friendships.’

This was the first International Study Week hosted by the School. Dr Steve Tong, Director of the Canterbury Centre for Policing Research, said ‘This week has been very successful. All our visitors have been so positive about their experience. It has been the first time we have attempted an international policing week and it is something we would like to repeat in future. The global reach of Policing is obvious for all to see and the more we can provide the platform for creating new networks and exchanging ideas the better policing services can address global challenges they face.’  

As part of the ‘Evidence-Based Policing: Beyond the Randomised Control Trial’ the School of Law, Criminal Justice & Computing launched the Canterbury Centre for Policing Research (CCPR). During the launch Dr Steve Tong (Director) and Emma Williams (Deputy Director) outlined the purposes of working with police officers in better understanding police practice in the context of current challenges around austerity, mental health, international policing, criminal investigation and professional development. The conference and launch was well attended with Kent Police Crime Commissioner Matthew Scott showing his support for Centre. Dr Steve Tong, Emma Williams and Matthew Scott are pictured above.

Pictured: Chief Superintendent Victor Olisa, Loy Hartwell (MetBPA), Dr Steve Tong, James Mbalira

Dr Steve Tong was invited by the Metropolitan Black Police Association (MetBPA) to speak at New Scotland Yard on Thursday 21^st July. Dr Tong’s presentation was entitled ‘Learning from Mistakes? Policing Under Siege:  An examination of high profile criticisms of policing and potential responses’. The talk generated a wide range of questions and discussion from the development of qualifications within the police, increasing internal discussion and review through to concerns about extreme right wing groups.

With Thanks sponsored by Police Mutual and supported by Police Dependants Trust and the National Police Fund. The conference was well attended with fantastic feedback from delegates. The CCPR will be holding annual conferences as part of dissemination of research and engagement with other academics and practitioners concerned with policing.

View conference agenda

Conference papers included:

'Hitting Numbers, Hitting Health: The impact of Austerity and reducing officer numbers on well-being' - Joanne Donnelly (Police Federation England and Wales)

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'The Pursuit of Absolute Certainty: EBP as Fad and Dream' Prof Maurice Punch (Visiting Professor London School of Economics)

Papers

• Evidence based policing: Beyond the RCT
• Quantity and quality in police research
• Police corruption - Devience, accountability and reform in policing
• Shoot to kill: exploring the use of firearms

'Evaluating What Works: What is Good Enough?' Professor Jennifer Brown (London School of Economics)

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'Changing Culture' Gareth Stubbs (Lancashire Constabulary)

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'A Study into Police Retention: Who Stays and Who Goes' Naomi Bennett (Kent Police)

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'The Criticality of Presenting Evidence Based Strategy for Wellbeing in Policing' Dr Ian Hesketh (Lancashire Constabulary)

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'The Challenge of Change: The Police Response' Professor Jenny Fleming (University of Southampton)

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'I am Evidence' @NathanConstable

'Police injury on duty: physical and psychological impacts' Prof Nigel Fielding and Graham Hieke (University of Surrey)

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Last month, the University’s School of Law, Criminal Justice and Computing, hosted a visit by staff and students from Bridgewater State University, Massachusetts, United States of America. The visit was the first time the universities have linked together.

The trip was led by Dr Khadija Monk and Dr Wendy Wright from Bridgewater State University and included visits to London, criminal justice services and our School of Law, Criminal Justice and Computing.

Dr Steve Tong, Director of the Canterbury Centre for Policing Research and Senior Lecturer, Dr Paul Swallow, delivered lectures on police use of intelligence, miscarriages of justice and European policing. Students from Bridgewater engaged in interesting debates about the differences and similarities between the criminal justice system in United Kingdom and the United States of America.

Police and crime commissioners were launched in the United Kingdom in 2012 with elected commissioners serving for three and a half years. The role aims to bring more accountability to policing and ensure that policing is efficient and effective, subsequently cutting crime.

This year, Kent Police and local councils are urging people to vote in the hope of increasing the election turn-out.

Academics from Policing and Criminal Justice and Politics and International Relations at Canterbury Christ Church University hosted a public event giving the community the opportunity to meet this year’s candidates. The event took place on Thursday 28 April, exactly one week before voting opened.

Dr Steve Tong, Director of Policing and Criminal Justice, said: ”It is vital that the community  have the opportunity to ask questions and hear what Police and Crime Commissioner candidates propose if they are elected.”

“We decided to host Meet the PCC Candidates to give local voters the chance to meet the people that could soon be responsible for setting police and crime plans and police accountability.”

The PCC candidates who attended the event included; Matthew Scott (Conservative), Tristan Osbourne (Labour Party), Henry Bolton (UKIP), Gurvinder Sandher (Independent) and, David Naghi (Liberal Democrat).