A project on maternity experiences in policing receives the Steven Chase Memorial Award

The Steven Chase Memorial Award was a fitting end to the first day of the recent conference on campus in Milton Keynes.

Named in honour of Steven Chase, the Centre’s co-founder and its first Chair, this recognises the excellent work undertaken by CPRL member forces and OU academics, working together to conduct research and to put knowledge into practice. 

This year’s memorial lecture was given by Emeritus Professor of Public Leadership Jean Hartley, who co-founded the Centre. Jean said: “It was a privilege to give the Memorial Lecture and I based it on my current and earlier research about how public servants work in a political environment but must remain party-politically neutral and for the police to retain their operational independence.”

A project by Keely Duddin and Kendal Wright (pictured above), partnered by British Transport Police, won the most votes among the seven shortlisted. 

This was for ‘Are forces past their ‘due date’? The impact of mothers’ experiences during pregnancy and returning to the workplace after a period of maternity leave – changes in policy and practice’.

You can read more about this work on our members area. If you have not accessed it before please email oupc@open.ac.uk who will be able to provide you access.