Announcing the First National EBP Awards: Recognising Outstanding Contributions to Policing Through Evidence

In policing, we are often quick to move on—solving the next problem, responding to the next challenge. But in the drive for improvement, we don’t always pause to reflect on what’s working. At the Society of Evidence Based Policing (SEBP), we believe it’s time we did.   And for people involved in EBP, they often stick their neck out, ask to do things differently and have to work off their own initiative.

Celebrating success isn’t just a morale boost—it’s part of a broader strategy for change. When we acknowledge and elevate outstanding work, we don’t just say “well done”; we say “this matters.” We create role models, raise expectations, and inspire others to try new things.

That’s why I’m proud to announce the launch of the first ever National Evidence-Based Policing Awards, to be held on 10 September 2025 as part of our flagship National EBP Conference in Huddersfield.

These awards reflect the core values of SEBP: curiosity, courage, collaboration, and commitment to using the best available evidence to improve policing. Below you can find the details of 6 awards, covering a range of areas. If you know someone you think fits the bill, put a nomination in: here.

• Sherman Award for Evidence-Based Policing – Named in honour of Professor Lawrence W. Sherman, this award recognises individuals who have made transformative contributions to evidence-based policing through groundbreaking research, innovative practice, or exceptional leadership in the field.

  
  

• Research Excellence in Policing Award – Celebrating outstanding research that has directly influenced and improved policing practice, policy development, or organisational transformation.

  
  

• Police-Research Partnership Award – Recognising exemplary collaborations between police practitioners and academic researchers that have generated meaningful evidence and delivered practical improvements to policing.

  
  

• Policing Innovation Award – Honouring creative, evidence-informed initiatives that have achieved significant improvements in service delivery, community relations, operational effectiveness, or public trust.

  
  

• Emerging Talent Award – Celebrating early-career practitioners, researchers, or students who demonstrate exceptional promise and dedication to advancing the principles and practice of evidence-based policing.

• Excellence in evidence-based prevention of violence involving children - Sponsored by the Youth Endowment Fund, this award recognises the outstanding use of projects that make a difference for children and demonstrate the impact.

Nominations will be voted on by our volunteer network and final decisions made by the NEBP Awards panel that I chair. The winners will be invited to receive their awards at our celebration evening during the National Evidence-Based Policing Conference 2025 at the Cedar Court Hotel in Huddersfield.

Good luck to all who enter!