Police Research and Evidence-based Policing

Evidence-based policing is a core part of the National Policing Curriculum but policing students and new officers often feel daunted by the prospect of understanding research and how to use it to inform decision making in practice. This text helps readers develop a sound understanding of evidence-based practice in policing and contextualises the research process by explaining how it supports practice within the workplace. It clearly relates research to the investigative process, combining academic theory and operational understanding using relevant case studies and scenarios, and identifies the main approaches employed. It explores how evidence from research can be used to inform and develop critical arguments central to policing practice and signposts students to key sources of information.

The Professional Policing Curriculum in Practice is a new series of books that match the requirements of the new pre-join policing qualifications. The texts reflect modern policing, are up-to-date and relevant, and grounded in practice. They reflect the challenges faced by new students, linking theory to real-life operational practice, while addressing critical thinking and other academic skills needed for degree-level study.

Emma Spooner is a lecturer at the University of Sunderland delivering work-based learning programmes to practitioners involved in investigative practice and policing. She draws on 21 years of policing experience as a front-line practitioner working across the spectrum of volume and priority crime, serious and complex crime and major crime investigation to help to de-mystify the research process and contextualise it into daily working practices. Helping students to embrace research and understand its application to professional practice and workplace development lies at the heart of her teaching.

Craig Hughes is a lecturer in criminal investigation at the University of Derby. He specialises in teaching financial and digital intelligence and investigation, drawing on 31 years of policing experience, 23 years of which were involved with financial investigation and serious and organised crime of all types, nationally and internationally.

Phil Mike Jones is a senior lecturer in policing at the University of Derby where I specialise in teaching research and study skills. He has over a decade’s experience in research methods and have worked on research projects in the private, public, voluntary, and higher education sectors. He holds a PhD in Human Geography and a Masters in Social Research and has taught research methods, especially quantitative research methods, to undergraduates, postgraduates, academic staff, and practitioners for nearly ten years.

Tony Blockley has served within policing for over 30 years, gaining extensive knowledge and understanding of policing organisation and practice. On retirement he had attained the rank of Chief Superintendent with the position of Head of Crime, responsible for leading 500+ multi-disciplinary staff within a complex and critical department servicing public protection, major and serious crime, serious and organised crime, terrorism, financial crime, fraud and forensic services. As the lead for policing at the University of Derby he is responsible for co-ordinating policing higher education, including developing programmes and enhancing current provision in line with the Police Education Qualification Framework (PEQF) while also supporting the College of Policing in the development of programmes. He combines an extensive policing career with an understanding of the national curriculum, the requirements of the academic standards and the entry routes to policing, giving him a unique perspective and the necessary credibility to support his role as Editor of Critical Publishing's new policing series.