The Centre is an exciting new venture co-hosted by the University of Leeds and the University of York that aims to shape the future of policing and other services for vulnerable groups.
The Centre will research how vulnerabilities – such as exploitation by county lines drug networks, online child sexual victimisation, domestic abuse, modern slavery, mental illness and homelessness – interact with, and are shaped by, policing. It will also explore how the police, public services (such as health, social care and housing) and other partner organisations can collaborate to prevent and respond to changing vulnerabilities and inequalities.
The first half of the launch event will outline the Centre’s vision and programme of research, as well as highlight opportunities for getting involved in the Centre's work. From 4pm, you will have the chance to speak to our researchers and find out more about our current projects.
Programme
Welcome and introductions – Professor Stuart Lister, Pro-Dean for Research & Innovation in the Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Leeds
Overview of the Centre – Professor Adam Crawford, Co-Director of the Vulnerability & Policing Futures Research Centre
Bradford and the potential of connected data analytics – Dr Dan Birks, Deputy Director of the Centre and Professor Mark Mon-Williams, University of Leeds
Building capacity and equality, diversity and inclusion – Dr Kate Brown, Deputy Director of the Centre
Opportunities for engagement – Dr Laura Bainbridge, Early Career Researcher lead for the Centre
National context: respondent – Zoë Billingham CBE, Chair of Norfolk & Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust and formerly Her Majesty’s Inspector for Policing and Fire Services
Local context – Detective Chief Superintendent Christopher Gibson, Head of Safeguarding Governance, West Yorkshire Police
Tea and coffee – find out more from our researchers about the projects we are currently working on:
- County lines
- Online child sexual victimisation
- Bradford mapping
- Bradford connected data analytics
- Q methods study of vulnerability
- Public engagement – minimum policing standard
Frank Dawtry Memorial Lecture
The Centre launch event will be followed by the Frank Dawtry Memorial Lecture, hosted by the Centre for Criminal Justice Studies. This year’s lecturer is Zoë Billingham, former Her Majesty’s Inspector for policing and fire services, a respected and authoritative commentator on the considerable challenges currently faced by the police.
