2023 Annual Report

This annual report features a selection of the work undertaken across 2023 which we consider to be highly relevant for the current policing environment. We have developed core specialisms in areas such as police professionalism, learning and development, violence against women and girls, police wellbeing and demand management to name but a few. The work has fed into key learning material for Continuous Professional Development (CPD) events, the Police Constable Degree Apprenticeship (PCDA) curriculum and knowledge into practice events which aim to mobilise knowledge for forces to impact on operational delivery and strategy development.

A key highlight for 2023 was the CPRL Engagement Day where the members co-presented on several of these important areas including community trust and confidence, domestic abuse, knowledge into practice and virtual reality in the context of police learning. A special element of this event was acknowledging the memory and work of our previous CPRL Chair Dr Steven Chase and his contribution to the Centre from its early days.

In September 2023, CPRL became aligned with the wider Department for Policing, within the OU’s Faculty of Business and Law. This realignment is exciting and further recognises the synergies between research, learning, teaching and knowledge into practice. The focus has been and continues to be defining our strategic priorities for policing with our partners and this will form the basis of our new strategy for policing currently being developed.

We hope that you enjoy reading this year's annual report.

Annual Report 2023