Policing, Communities and Organised Crime

As subject experts in many areas of policing, our research spans diverse issues linked to this vital public service. The relationship between policing and communities is complex and is a key factor in the eventual outcomes linked to both proactive and reactive operational work.

Community dynamics, relationships and tensions can also play a significant role in organised crime. Understanding this through research and analysis can have clear outcomes for policing practice.

Our work and research centres on the following themes:

• Police and community: developing co-active practices of community engagement, recognising diversities of needs and establishing new community-policing approaches.
• Police and partnership development: recognising new ways of empowerment and evidence-based, multi-agency collaboration with an emphasis on social community projects.
• The international context of policing research: exploring global and comparative approaches and further developing the role of policing in conflict societies and peacekeeping.
• European serious organised crime and anti-corruption studies: analysing risks and threats, identifying security measures to counteract serious organised crime; understanding the European dimensions and the role of the UK  in global anti-money laundering regime.