Vulnerability & Policing Futures Research Centre

A major research centre that aims to reshape how the police and other organisations work together to reduce harm among vulnerable people in society

 

The Vulnerability & Policing Futures Research Centre is a pioneering £10 million initiative, funded primarily by the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) from 2022 to 2027. Jointly led by the University of Leeds and the University of York, this ground-breaking centre is dedicated to researching the complex interactions between vulnerability and policing. It brings together 11 academic institutions, including seven of the N8 universities (University of Leeds, University of York, Durham University, Lancaster University, University of Liverpool, The University of Manchester and University of Sheffield) and 38 external partners to improve outcomes for vulnerable people in society.

The causes of vulnerability are intricate and wide-ranging. Public concerns about the role and legitimacy of the police, particularly in a landscape of shifting priorities and discriminatory practices, make this research particularly timely. The Centre’s research aims to tackle these challenges by exploring how police and other services can work together more effectively to reduce harm.

Research strands

The Centre’s research is divided into three complementary strands that directly address the most pressing issues in vulnerability and policing:

  • Place-based research: Exploring how multiple vulnerabilities are compounded within urban neighbourhoods by combining qualitative research with large public sector datasets. This approach provides unique insights into how different agencies interact and what changes are needed to reduce harm at a local level.
  • Problem-oriented research: This strand focuses on urgent, specific issues that pose significant challenges for policing, such as county lines drug networks, online child sexual exploitation, domestic abuse, modern slavery, and the policing of mental illness and homelessness.
  • Public and policy engagement: Investigating public understanding of policing and the issues people feel are most important. By examining the public’s appetite for change, this research helps inform public debate, policy, and practice, ensuring our work remains relevant and impactful.

A collaborative approach to impact

The Centre’s collaborative structure is a powerful model for addressing complex challenges. The team contributed to two of the Child of the North ‘A country that works for all children and young people’ reports, providing evidence-based plans for improving school attendance and addressing childhood vulnerability, crime, and justice. This work showcases how academic research can be translated into practical recommendations for policymakers and practitioners.

The Centre’s strong connection to the N8, via both the N8 Policing Research Partnership and Child of the North, provides a powerful platform for collaboration and knowledge exchange across the North of England’s vulnerability and policing researchers, practitioners and policy makers.

To learn more about the Centre’s work, please visit the website or read the latest annual report.