News & Blogs

Today we publish the preliminary findings from the NPCC E-Mobility Workshop hosted by the Centre for Policing Research and Learning (CPRL) at The Open University.

The Centre for Policing Research and Learning (CPRL) is contributing to a major national symposium on Police-led Drug Diversion (PDD) taking place at the University of Sheffield on 18 June 2026.

The recent publication of Policing the Crowd brought together more than two decades of research, theory, and operational experience examining the psychology of crowds and its implications for public order policing.

As English clubs once again enter the closing stages of all three European competitions, policing football-related disorder abroad and managing visiting Ultra groups in the UK remains a salient policing issue across the country. These fixtures take place within highly visible and politically sensitive environments where policing decisions can carry significant implications not only for public safety, but also for legitimacy, public confidence, and international relationships between clubs, supporters and police agencies.

CPRL is now moving toward a revised model of engagement designed to strengthen representation, improve operational coordination and better reflect the realities of contemporary policing collaboration.

From October 2026, our Collaborative Research Seminar series will enter a new phase as part of the ongoing development of the Centre for Policing Research and Learning (CPRL). These Collaboratives will evolve over the summer alongside a refreshed governance structure, positioning them at the heart of how the Centre connects research, practice, and national policing priorities.

The UK Government’s Crime and Policing Act received Royal Assent on 29 April 2026, marking a significant development in the legislative response to crime and public safety.

The Act introduces a range of measures aimed at tackling retail crime, shoplifting and anti-social behaviour, alongside stronger penalties for violence against women and girls. It also includes provisions to address cyber-enabled crime and knife crime.

Professor Clifford Stott (Centre for Policing Research and Learning) has published a Landmark Article in the British Journal of Social Psychology, one of the discipline’s leading international journals. The paper examines the historical relationship between social psychology, crowd theory, and the governance of public order.

Our new Professor of Policing and Research, whose role includes becoming Academic Director of our Centre for Policing Research and Learning (CPRL), is Clifford Stott MBE.

As the Centre’s lead, a significant part of his role will be working with academics across and beyond the Faculty, as well as CPRL’s police force partners, to generate research and learning relevant to theory, policy and practice.

This event provides a collaborative and welcoming environment for shared practice, reflection, and strategic direction-setting. Together, we will explore how our partnership can drive forward the next generation of research, innovation, and professional learning across UK policing.