Four universities within the N8 Policing Research Partnership (N8 PRP) have been awarded funding by the National Police Chiefs Council (NPCC) and UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) to launch three Policing Academic Centres of Excellence (P-ACEs) in October 2025.
The objective of the P-ACEs is closely aligned to the existing aims of the N8 PRP, with the programme focusing on driving collaboration between academia and policing. The two key functions of the P-ACEs are to:
- mobilise, showcase and make accessible to policing key insights, findings and outputs from their work
- respond to the evidence needs, questions and problems raised by policing and work with policing to co-develop new research and knowledge exchange activities
The following N8 universities have been selected to be P-ACEs:
- Lancaster University – the team will comprise Professor Mark Levine, Dr David Neequaye, Dr Heather Shaw, Dr Richard Philpot, Dr Sophie Nightingale, Dr John McDaniel, Dr Lena Podoletz and Dr Camilla De Camargo.
- University of Leeds and University of York – led by Professors Dan Birks and Adam Crawford, this P-ACE will include Dr Anna Barker (Leeds), Dr Toby Davies (Leeds), Dr Nadia Jessop (York) and Dr Ali Malik (Leeds).
- University of Manchester (in partnership with Manchester Metropolitan University) – Professor Jon Bannister (MMU) will head up the team including Dr Réka Solymosi (Manchester), Dr David Buil Gil (Manchester), Dr Thiago Oliveira (Manchester), and Professor Geoff Pearson (Manchester).
The links between the new P-ACEs and the N8 Policing Research Partnership will further enable the N8 PRP to ensure that policing is shaped by the latest and best scientific expertise, and that leading researchers are able to challenge and innovate in partnership with police forces with the ultimate aim of improving public safety.
Each P-ACE will be promoted across the policing sector as an accessible source of leading academic experts aligned with Policing’s Areas of Research Interest (ARIs) and evidence needs. The P-ACEs will support policing with adopting new technologies, developing new tools and techniques and improving training and skills.
Dr Geoff Pearson, Academic Director of the N8 Policing Research Partnership, said:
“These centres of excellence will play a pivotal role in shaping evidence-based policing strategies that enhance public safety and trust. The selection of four N8 PRP universities to host the centres reflects the strength and impact of our existing collaborative, interdisciplinary research, and the concentration of policing expertise within the North of England.
“This investment by the National Police Chiefs’ Council and UKRI will enable our universities to further deploy their expertise to the benefit of policing and wider society. We look forward to the formal launch of the centres later this year.”
Professor Paul Taylor, Police Chief Scientific Adviser, said:
“Academia and policing have a long history of collaborative working on issues as diverse as forensic science, crime prevention, and analytical technologies. The P-ACEs will fortify this connection, providing a focal point for research and knowledge exchange.
“I’m particularly excited about what the P-ACEs can bring to early career scientists who are interested in tackling the complex challenge of keeping the UK public safe. The P-ACE community will, I hope, provide them more opportunities and greater support as we look to forge deep and lasting partnerships over the next decade.”
Stian Westlake, Executive Chair of the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC), said:
“The Policing Academic Centres of Excellence will forge closer relationships between police forces and researchers, providing the police with data and evidence to make the justice system work better. By bringing experts in policing practice together with social scientists and data scientists across the country, the centres will provide knowledge and insights to drive service improvement. These centres of excellence demonstrate our commitment to reducing crime and making Britain a safer place.”