This opinion piece is one of several I have recently written with the help of generative AI, which I use to organise ideas that have been sitting in my head for too long. The thoughts are mine; the tools help me get the first draft on the page. You should try it. Policing has historically struggled to base practice on rigorous evidence. Decisions were often guided by tradition, instinct, or perceived good practice rather than by robust evaluation or empirical testing. That is changing. Across operational meetings, professional practice forums, multi-agency partnerships, and applied academic conferences, police officers increasingly describe their work as data-informed and evidence-led. There is genuine interest in understanding what works, what does not, and what may cause unintended harm. This shift reflects a maturing profession that values the opportunity to learn from high-quality research and to deploy resources in ways that maximise public safety. At the same time, policing is entering a period of rapid technological expansion. Artificial intelligence has moved from niche analytical applications to a field of general-purpose tools with potentially transformative impacts. Generative AI promises efficiencies, novel forms of insight, and new capabilities for summarising, interpreting and interacting with vast volumes of information. The pressure to adopt these tools is significant. Resources are stretched, demands are rising and diversifying, and governments are actively encouraging police and other public services to explore and harness AI. This makes it more important than ever to draw a clear distinction between being data-driven and being evidence-based. A system that uses data is not inherently grounded in evidence. Data provides a record of what was observed. Evidence tells us if something works, if it is safe, if it is fair, and if it is likely to achieve the outcomes we claim. Too often, technological tools are adopted on the assumption that because they process data, they must be objective and effective. That is a category error. Evidence is established through transparency, scrutiny, evaluation, and replication. Without this, tools that happen to use data run the risk of becoming vehicles for harm. This distinction becomes especially critical where AI is embedded in policing. I am optimistic about the potential of AI. These tools can offer real value if they are deployed within practical governance frameworks, and if their effectiveness and impacts are systematically monitored and evaluated. There are opportunities to improve decision-making, reduce administrative burdens, support investigations, and generate insights that would otherwise be inaccessible. However, without careful evaluation and meaningful oversight, we risk sleepwalking into problems that could set policing back significantly. Ineffective or harmful technologies will damage public trust. They will drain already stretched resources. They will undermine the legitimacy of evidence-based practice. This challenge is further amplified by the speed and scale at which private sector vendors are moving into this space, often marketing powerful systems to forces whose capacity to appraise, test, and monitor what is being sold to them is limited. A single high-profile failure in deploying these new, potentially transformative AI applications could poison the well, making it far harder for genuinely beneficial tools to gain acceptance in the future. The task is therefore to ensure that AI adoption aligns with the principles of evidence-based policing. That means clearly defining the problem a tool is intended to solve; planning evaluations before deployment, not after; running trials and phased testing before scaling; and scrutinising accuracy, bias, operational impacts, proportionality, and public acceptability throughout. It also means learning from other sectors that have already faced similar challenges. Crucially, it means recognising that an AI tool is not evidence-based simply because it happens to use data. AI can genuinely deliver for policing and for society if we treat its adoption as an evidence-generation challenge, not as a procurement exercise. The goal should be to build a future where technology strengthens practice because it has been scrutinised, tested, and shown to work. That is how we avoid repeating past mistakes, protect fragile public trust, and realise the positive potential of AI in the long term. Dan Birks, Professor of Computational Social Science at the University of Leeds Dan is also Deputy Director and Data Science Lead at the ESRC Vulnerability & Policing Futures Research Centre, and Co-Director of the Yorkshire Policing-Academic Centre of Excellence (TYP-ACE), jointly hosted by the Universities of Leeds and York. TYP-ACE is one of nine nationally recognised Policing-Academic Centres of Excellence established by the NPCC and UKRI.

The Society of Evidence Based Policing (SEBP) is searching for a Head of Engagement who will help us build a national movement that puts evidence at the heart of police practice. With backing from the Youth Endowment Fund, we're scaling up to connect officers, researchers, and innovators across the UK to reduce harm and improve decision-making. The opportunity This isn't just another communications role – it's a chance to shape how thousands of police officers and leaders think about and use evidence in their daily work. As our second employed staff member, you'll have a genuine hand in building an organisation from the ground up. We need someone who can be our connection-maker, storyteller, and movement-builder. You'll lead our outreach, digital communications, and membership growth, turning complex research into actionable insights that drive real change across police forces. What you'll do As Head of Engagement, you'll own the strategy and delivery of connecting the policing community with evidence that works. This means designing mentoring programmes, running engaging webinars, and working directly with forces to embed evidence-based approaches – particularly those that reduce violence involving children. You'll transform our Members' Hub into a vibrant resource, manage our digital presence across all platforms, and find creative ways to reach and inspire our growing community. It's strategic and hands-on: one day you might be crafting a social media campaign, the next you could be standing in front of senior police leaders making the case for evidence-based practice. What we're looking for Essential Exceptional communication skills – can turn complex ideas into clear, actionable messages Digital fluency across websites, social media, and online events Credibility to engage and influence policing audiences at all levels Strategic thinking with hands-on delivery Self-motivated and comfortable working remotely Track record in engagement, communications, or membership development Desirable: Experience with evidence-based policing, criminology, or applied social science Background in designing change programmes in complex organisations Understanding of policing culture and operational realities Experience with grant-making organisations The package Salary: £45,000 per annum Contract: 2-year fixed term, full-time Leave: 25 days + UK bank holidays Working: Fully remote (UK-based), flexible hours Benefits: Employer pension contribution, equipment provided Impact: Shape a growing national movement at the heart of UK policing reform Ready to apply? Send your CV and a short cover letter (max 2 pages) explaining why you're right for this role to coo@sebp.police.uk by 21st December 2025.

A recurring theme in my conversations about evidence-based policing (EBP) is how comfortably it sits within certain parts of policing — and how absent it feels in others. We’ve come to expect evaluation in fields like neighbourhood policing, domestic abuse response or stop-and-search. But what about the areas of policing that operate more quietly, behind the scenes — the ones that rarely feature in research journals or conference case-studies? Financial investigation is one of those areas. I recently travelled up to Newcastle to spend some time with financial investigators from across the North East and Yorkshire — a reminder for me that this is a highly professional, specialist branch of policing with decades of practice behind it. These are the officers who trace illicit cash-flows, map networks of shell companies, and use the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 (POCA) to take the profit out of organised crime. Organised Crime Groups (OCGs) are, at their core, motivated by money. Financial investigators give us one of the most direct routes to attack that motivation — to disincentivise participation in organised crime, not through the threat of incarceration, but by removing the reward. It’s a powerful idea. The challenge is that we don’t actually know how much difference it makes in practice. This piece is about that gap — and what we can do, realistically, to close it. It’s both a reflection and a call to action: for the Home Office, for academia, and for practitioners to collaborate in finding out what really works when we target the money, not just the people. The missing leg of the stool Evidence-based policing rests on three legs: Professional judgement, Public and political priorities, and The best available research In financial investigation, the first two are solid. Investigators are among the most analytically minded professionals in policing, and the public and political appetite to “make crime not pay” is unwavering. But the third leg — robust research — is conspicuously short. The College of Policing’s Evidence Gap Map confirms how sparse the evidence is in this field.  One of the few serious attempts to study it — the Home Office’s 2012 report, “The Contribution of Financial Investigation to Tackling Organised Crime” — found that financial investigation regularly added value: identifying assets, mapping networks, strengthening prosecutions but was  rarely used to identify organised crime in the first place . It was also silent on the effects on future offending. Over a decade on, we know the powers are being used — thousands of cash and account forfeiture orders every year, over £700 million recovered in six years . But we still can’t say, with confidence, what difference that makes. What we know (and what we don’t) UK reviews have painted a mixed picture. Confiscation orders, imposed after conviction, are the main route for taking the proceeds of crime. But as the National Audit Office noted, criminals still keep “around £99 out of every £100” they make. Enforcement has improved — especially with the creation of regional Asset Confiscation Enforcement (ACE) teams — but total recovery still represents a tiny fraction of the criminal economy. Non-conviction powers, by contrast, are fast becoming the workhorses of asset recovery. Account Freezing Orders and cash forfeitures now account for almost half of all recovered criminal assets. They are flexible, they can be used early, and they bite hardest where conviction is least likely. But again, the  impact  — on crime disruption or deterrence — remains largely unmeasured. A pragmatic path forward When I spoke with investigators in Newcastle, they described how most of their work is directed by available intelligence or by the quality of initial lines of inquiry — reactive by necessity. When I asked which made the bigger difference, a criminal conviction with a confiscation order or a non-conviction forfeiture, the room fell silent for a moment. Most instinctively said the former, but everyone agreed:  no one really knows . That’s not a failing — it’s an opportunity. We don’t need to wait for a perfect experiment to start learning. The “purist versus pragmatist” debate in evidence-based practice misses the point. Pragmatism doesn’t mean cutting corners; it means using what’s available to make knowledge cumulative rather than anecdotal. We don’t necessarily need a lot of research funding to make progress. Financial investigation produces mountains of administrative data — values, timelines, crime types, case outcomes, order enforcement rates. With thoughtful design, we can use that to start exploring what works: through before-and-after analysis, matched comparisons, or structured case audits. It’s about  feeling our way in the half-light , rather than standing still in the dark. Measuring what matters Finding good outcome measures is one of the hardest tasks in this part of policing. Convicted re-offending tells us little — the cohort is small and biased. OCG disruption panel scores give useful context, but are inherently subjective. Yet there are data points within reach: Repeat association within financial intelligence systems, The time it takes a known network to re-form after seizure, Trends in asset types or recovery values linked to OCGs, The ratio of assets seized to estimated market turnover. None of these are perfect. But they are  better than nothing  — and they’re measurable. Pragmatism in evidence-based policing means acknowledging limitation without surrendering to it. A call to action If we want to extend the reach of EBP beyond its traditional boundaries (something SEBP does), we must support specialist policing areas like financial investigation. We should start by asking a single, deceptively simple question: Does a non-conviction POCA order — cash, bank balance or crypto-forfeiture — cause more disruption (or equivalent disruption) to crime than a criminal conviction and confiscation order? That question could reshape strategy, priorities, and funding. It’s also answerable, if we’re willing to get pragmatic and collaborative — to connect researchers, analysts and practitioners, and to make better use of the data we already hold. The financial investigators I met in Newcastle instinctively know that  hitting the money hurts . The task for evidence-based policing is to help them prove it — and in doing so, to expand what “evidence-based” really means for policing as a whole.

It’s 30 years since I’ve been to Canada, and that was off the back of winning a national ‘Young Enterprise’ competition linked to my Business Studies A level….feels like a long time ago! As I board the flight from Heathrow, excited by the prospect of representing UK SEBP at the second National Canadian SEBP conference, I wonder what is in store for me. I’ve had briefings from Chief Rich Johnston (Barrie Police) around what to deliver and as I’m sat on the flight out, I mull over in my mind if my presentation will hit the mark. I never sleep when I travel, and after getting up for the 74 th time to allow the person sat next to me to move out of their seat, I flick through my notes and hope the presentation and panel appearances will be what our friends in Canada are looking for. I arrive at Toronto airport and its 27 degrees….I’m sweltering already. If anything I had been expecting snow….I somehow successfully navigate the 2 hour drive to Blue Mountain, Ontario (who knew when the traffic light is red in Canada you can still turn right if you stop first?), only annoying 3 or 4 Canadian truckers on the way with my strict adherence to the speed limits. As I arrive at Blue Mountain, I can immediately tell this is going to be a slick, well managed and beautifully presented event. Blue Mountain is a ski resort in Ontario, and as you might expect is a beautiful location. On the first morning of the conference I am greeted by Chief Rich Johnston who couldn’t be more welcoming. The first day is full of plenary’s, with different panels (understandably I’m on the international one) with much time invested with people concerned with the governance and structure of Canadian Policing. This is an intelligent move, as it is critical these key stakeholders understand, and support, everything we are collectively trying to achieve in the EBP world. Day 1 provides some great insights, with highlights including international, national and provincial perspectives on EBP through a Canadian lens; Dr Rylan Simpson talking through the mechanics of EBP; and Supt Mark Langhorn of Victoria Police in Australia working through his study on how to create a learning organisation. As Day 1 of the conference draws to a close, I’m hugely impressed by the venue, the myriad of sponsors, and the enthusiasm and integrity of everyone present that I speak to. It's clear to me that there is a lot of exciting evidence based progress being made in Canada.   Day 2 of the conference begins with a keynote presentation from Dr Tamara Herold of the University of Nevada, giving some interesting examples of things like burglary reduction and implementation science. After some insightful presentations from colleagues in the Netherlands Police lunch is presented which again is excellent – good food always makes a difference! After lunch I’m on stage again as a panel member, discussing things as diverse as the impact of politics on EBP and the latest developments across the globe in EBP. The afternoon covers a wide range of subjects – hotspots, attrition forecasting and enhancing police legitimacy to name but a few. We then have a presentation from the 30 forward movement and hear about the fantastic progress the group is making supporting women in policing in North America. We then see some emotional scenes as there is a ceremonial signing of a pledge by numerous Police Chiefs from across Canada, and lifetime achievement awards presented to 3 female Canadian Police Officers (retired). We leave the emotional hall, and the day has the real feeling of a hugely successful collaboration event. Day 3 begins with my key note speech. I cover a variety of elements in my 45 minute slot, including – the history of EBP, with a nod to the ‘Godfather’ of EBP Prof Larry Sherman; a review of some of the points Prof Sherman made in his seminal ‘Triple T’ paper in 2013; what EBP strategies might look like in a policing organisation; a quick run through of a variety of studies; and some thoughts on what the future of EBP might look like. No heckling from the audience, I even managed to get an Ashes dig into a couple of Australian colleagues (the cricket is going to be interesting this winter) – so I think it went okay! We squeezed in a meeting of the International SEBPs (UK, Canada, Australia and USA) to give some thought to a potential global conference which could be on the horizon….watch this space! Due to my flight times, I then had to leave, missing out on presentations which included the targeting of violent crime, enhancing diversity in police recruitment and Supt Dave Cowan’s keynote speech from Victoria Police, Australia. As I type this up, sat at Toronto International Airport, I am left with a hugely positive feeling regarding EBP in Canada, but also, the spirit of collaboration with SEBP’s across the globe. Canada delivered an incredible conference, with lots of sponsors, a fantastic venue and 350 attendees! I was witness to so much passion, energy and drive, I cannot help but think that Canada will drive evidence-based progress in policing for years to come. It’s also reinforced my belief that EBP is a force for good; evidence informed approaches lead to increased public confidence, enhanced police legitimacy and better public value. This leads to better service delivery for our local communities and victims of crime, which is something we are all striving to achieve. Great job Canada and thanks for inviting me!

In an era of tightening resources and negative headlines, positive stories about policing are few and far between. But at this year’s National Evidence Based Policing Conference they were there in abundance. The two-day event brought together those tackling the wicked problems facing policing – demand outstripping resources, falling victim satisfaction, the epidemic of violence against women and girls, poor police morale – and showed there are solutions if you follow the evidence. This year’s conference, presented by the Society of Evidence Based Policing (SEBP) and the Youth Endowment Fund (YEF) took place at the shiny new campus of the University of Huddersfield. Speakers showcased the best of Yorkshire talent while showing that evidence comes in all different shapes and sizes and what really matters is finding and following it. Take PC John Porter, from South Yorkshire Police, who pioneered the use of a simple GPS device to help families find loved ones with dementia who go wandering. He at first faced misunderstanding, but with the help of a human rights lawyer, managed to convince his force to give him £10,000 for a 12-month pilot. Working with Sgt Ben Hanson, he gave the GPS device to the families of 50 people who had gone missing before. The GPS tracker reduced missing episodes from 84 in the previous year to one. They then teamed up with Professor Mike Doyle of Huddersfield University to develop a further trial in which devices were given to people with dementia who were newly diagnosed. In this group no one went missing, and the force saved £300,000 from not having to mobilise to find people. Or Chief Inspector Dan Hayes who showcased West Yorkshire Police’s solution to the problem that the main screening tool used to decide which domestic abuse victims get urgent support " doesn't work".  For want of a better alternative, the domestic abuse, stalking and honour-based abuse risk checklist (DASH) is being used to predict future harm even though it is not designed for the task. CI Hayes explained how, to better safeguard victims, West Yorkshire has designed an actuarial algorithmic tool. This pulls all relevant information together to predict the likelihood of future crimes occurring as well as their potential severity. Early tests showed it outperformed Dash in predicting repeat incidents in low and high-risk domestic abuse cases. The algorithm is now being piloted in Leeds in a randomised controlled trial, and early results are promising. The conference heard about another cutting-edge tool developed in collaboration between police forces and academics. Professor Andy Newton of Nottingham Trent University and Amanda Johnson of Essex Emergency Services Collaboration shared the pioneering work of Project Minerva, a data driven solution to prevent violence against women and girls (VAWG). Their statistical mapping tool identifies high-risk public places for violence against women and girls in Essex. It then uses open-source data to show what influenced victimisation at the local level, before predicting where further incidents could occur. The tool showed an increased risk of VAWG outside colleges and secondary schools. Armed with this information, the police force could not only deploy officers in the right places at the right times, but work with schools and women and girls to develop the interventions, such as better lighting and more attractive street furniture, they said would help them feel safer. But the best evidence and most effective tools will not work if the police officers using them are struggling with health problems or poor morale. Police officers are expected to perform well under immense pressure, yet as Dr Simon Baldwin of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police told the conference, they can only do so if they have the right training. His experiment first attached sensors to officers attending incidents to measure their heart rate. He found that even before they got out of their cars officers’ heart rates were at 170 bpm (the equivalent of a fast sprint). As well as leading to increased risk of cardiovascular diseases, such high stress levels can trigger poor decision making. After conducting a live simulation (in which some officers were so panicked they “shot” a suicidal man) he found that the right training didn’t reduce officers heart rates but did enable them to better perform under intense pressure. Other research highlighted a major cause of low police officer morale, and how a lot could be achieved by issuing looser uniform trousers. In a presentation called “It’s tough to tackle crooks when your tackle’s crooked” Dr Camilla De Camargo and Dr Stephanie Wallace from Lancaster University shared the results of the National Uniform Survey. They showed that not only do most officers believe that the uniform is uncomfortable and impractical, 63 per cent of male officers and 85 percent of female feel too tight trousers and ill-designed stab vests have harmed their physical health. They argued that designing uniform that is fit for purpose could make officers more effective, could reduce poor morale and increase public trust. But as Detective Superintendent David Cowan of the Australia and New Zealand Society of Evidence Based Policing pointed out, although you may have evidence showing what needs to change, converting this evidence to policy change on the ground is hard. Giving the example of the Royal Navy who took 50 years to introduce citrus fruit on ships after James Lind discovered it prevented scurvy, he told the conference that in many cases EBP challenges status quo, which creates resistance. But with persistence and well-designed experiments, and with the right leadership, the trials and tribulations can be overcome.   As always at the end of the conference, SEBP COO Dr Matt Bland and Chair Al Murray left delegates with a challenge to digest what they’ve learned at the conference and use it. So that next year, when they return delegates can demonstrate what changes they’ve made using the best available evidence. Slide decks and videos from the conference are now available on the SEBP Members' Hub .

We launched the National Evidence-Based Policing (EBP) Awards at the recent National EBP Conference in Huddersfield to recognise the people and partnerships turning evidence into everyday practice. The awards exist for a simple purpose: to celebrate use, production and communication of the best available evidence —and to encourage a culture where testing, learning and sharing “what works” is part of how policing gets things done. Judged by panels drawn from SEBP volunteers, staff, partners and trustees, the five categories reflect the different ways evidence improves outcomes: preventing harm, partnering well, innovating responsibly, nurturing emerging talent and honouring lifetime contribution. The Lawrence W. Sherman Prize At the heart of the programme is The Lawrence W. Sherman Prize for Career Contribution to Evidence-Based Policing —named for the scholar whose work helped define EBP as a disciplined blend of professional expertise, research and local data. The prize recognises individuals who have not only generated evidence but built the platforms and communities that allow it to influence policy and practice. 2025 recipient: Rachel Tuffin OBE (College of Policing). Rachel has spent her career equipping policing to use and share evidence—supporting practitioner-researchers, strengthening police–university partnerships and helping evidence reach the front line. “I’m delighted to accept this award in recognition of the hard work of the whole team at the College and all those out there in policing who love finding out what works. I’d like to pay tribute to two colleagues we have lost this past year and sorely miss, Dr Nicky Miller and Dr Jo Wilkinson. Amongst their many contributions, I’m grateful for the time they dedicated to supporting individual police officers and staff to do their own research, and to building up partnerships between police and universities to help share what works.”— Rachel Tuffin OBE Rachel Tuffin receives the 2025 Sherman Prize from Professor Lawrence Sherman and SEBP founder Alex Murray 2025 Award Winners in Full: Excellence in Prevention of Violence Karl Secker and Sharon Ward — Cambridgeshire Constabulary Recognised for evidence-informed prevention that strengthens partnerships and targets resources where they reduce the most harm. Their approach exemplifies the prevention mindset: clear problem definition, data-led prioritisation and practical measures tracked for impact in their work on Operation Guardian. Inspector Karl Secker of Cambridgeshire receives his award for excellence in the prevention of violence Outstanding Police–Academic Partnership Professor Andrew Wootton, Professor Caroline Davey, Dr Roberta Signori — University of Salfordand Greater Manchester Police A sustained, co-produced programme translating human-centred design research into tools and practices that support communities and frontline officers (including GMP Community Connect ). “We are honoured to receive this award, which recognises the value of rigorous, evidence-based collaboration between academia and policing. GMP Community Connect demonstrates how human-centred design research can deliver practical innovations that strengthen policing and community safety.”— Professor Andrew B. Wootton, University of Salford Outstanding Innovation PC John Porter and PS Ben Hanson — South Yorkshire Police The award acknowledges not just a smart idea, but the discipline to test it, measure it and learn from the results so others can replicate success. John and Ben's work on GPS tracking for dementia-sufferers has led to a substantial reduction in harm and demand in South Yorkshire. PC John Porter and PS Ben Hanson with Alex Murray and Supt. James Sutherland Emerging Talent PC Holly Cunnington — Northamptonshire Police While a Police Constable Degree Apprentice, Holly undertook the highly graded primary study— “The Mental Health Crisis: An exploration into the current organisational culture and the support frontline police officers are receiving for their mental wellbeing” . Like all apprentices, she produced this evidence while juggling the rigours of her new job, and her work represents a small insight into the mountains of research that new recruits have generated since 2018. Holly is now working with her force’s strategic portfolio lead to translate findings into action. “I am honoured to receive this award in the first ever National Evidence-Based Policing Awards… Being an officer, I have frequently seen how mental wellbeing can be ‘the elephant in the room’. My work was driven by a need to do better for policing colleagues and for the future of policing.”— PC Holly Cunnington Why these awards matter Evidence-based policing is not a single method; it’s a professional habit : define the problem precisely, draw on the best available research to choose a plausible response, test it fairly , and share what you learn. The National EBP Awards highlight that habit across an array of roles and ranks: Prevention winners show how focusing on harm reduction pays public-safety dividends. Partnership winners prove that co-production with universities turns research into usable tools. Innovation winners demonstrate that new ideas count most when they’re evaluated. Emerging talent reminds us the future of EBP is already on the front line. And the Sherman Prize honours the people who build the scaffolding—networks, standards and culture—so evidence can travel and endure. Congratulations to all our winners! For any more information get in touch with us via info@sebp.police.uk .

A year ago, the Youth Endowment Fund (YEF) formally joined forces with the Society of Evidence Based Policing (SEBP) with one shared aim: to help policing do more of what works. Together, we set out to better understand what the evidence says about preventing violence and keeping children safe—and crucially, to support those working in policing to apply this knowledge in practice. Twelve months on, we’re proud to celebrate the impact of that partnership and look forward to more development to come. Why SEBP? With a network of thousands of police officers and staff, SEBP is a unique organisation in the policing world. It’s a charitable community built by and for policing professionals who believe that better decisions come from considering the evidence on what works and what doesn’t. That makes SEBP a natural partner for us at the Youth Endowment Fund (YEF), where we’re committed to building a better understanding of how to prevent children and young people from becoming involved in violence—and making sure that knowledge gets used. Achievements: Bringing evidence-based policing into practice Over the past year, SEBP has gone above and beyond in helping to bring evidence closer to frontline policing. Here are just a few highlights: Grown stronger as an organisation : SEBP now has its first paid Chief Operating Officer, helping professionalise and future-proof the organisation. It’s also introduced new governance and strategic planning processes that put it in a strong position to keep growing its impact. Brought evidence to the forefront of policing events : SEBP has hosted both national and international conferences, alongside three regional events and numerous showcases at other conferences. These gatherings have brought together hundreds of officers and staff to explore how evidence can inform practice across a number of sectors old and new, including serious and organised crime professionals, cyber and online specialists and analysts working in vulnerability. Feedback has been overwhelmingly positive – more than 85% of respondents indicate these events add real value to them in their jobs. Focused on implementation : It's one thing to know what the evidence says; it’s another to apply it. That’s why we’re so proud of the introduction of implementation workshops - practical, interactive sessions that help translate research into action. These workshops have highlighted evidence-based approaches found in YEF’s violence prevention toolkit like hotspots policing , focused deterrence and problem-solving policing , provided SEBPs audience with an opportunity to interact with expert practitioners, and provided valuable reference materials. Improved access to knowledge : From launching a new website to creating a new Digital Members’ Hub, SEBP is making it easier than ever for policing professionals to access tools, resources, and insights. They’re even exploring how AI can help make evidence more understandable and actionable - a move we’re excited to watch unfold. Accelerated the growth of its community : Since the launch of our partnership, SEBP membership has increased by 27%. That’s over 1,500 new members in 12 months – the single biggest year of growth so far. What’s next? The journey’s far from over. Looking ahead, through the partnership, SEBP plans to: Grow its membership even further. The sky is the limit and we’re eager to see the membership base grow even further. There’s a lot of exciting plans ahead for developing the Members’ Hub and other member resources like the newsletter to help support members to find and use evidence in their jobs. SEBP will consult with its growing member-base to refine this resource. Host the 2025 National Evidence-Based Policing Conference in Huddersfield next month. This will mark the introduction of the first national EBP awards, including one dedicated to the prevention of youth violence. There will also be more regional events, starting with Gloucestershire in November. Run more conferences, workshops and evidence-sharing sessions—with an even stronger focus on youth violence prevention. The implementation webinars will expand to other areas of the YEF toolkit, and a new series of workshops will explore individual studies like YEF’s recent ‘police in classrooms’ and give members the chance to speak directly with authors. Expand work with other partners such as the College of Policing, Police-Academic Centres of Excellence and universities to amplify good use of evidence and provide tools for officers and staff. Continue to grow as a sustainable organisation. Next year, SEBP will recruit a second member of staff who will help to expand its digital hub and its outreach work to support its regional volunteer network. Our partnership will help SEBP beyond the lifetime of our agreement and help to build a lasting legacy of using evidence in policing. Together, we’ll continue to build on this momentum. We want every police officer and staff member – no matter their role or region – to feel confident using evidence to make decisions. Because we believe that’s how we’ll keep children safe and prevent violence. Here’s to another year of collaboration and change.

The Society of Evidence Based Policing (SEBP) and Youth Endowment Fund invite you to the National Evidence-Based Policing Conference 2025 , taking place at the University of Huddersfield on 10–11 September 2025 . This year’s conference will bring together leading thinkers, frontline innovators, and policing professionals from across the UK and beyond to explore how research and evidence can transform policing practice. With plenary sessions, parallel workshops, and opportunities to network with colleagues across the sector, the programme promises both inspiration and practical takeaways. 👉 Book your place now — spaces are limited, and this is the one event you cannot afford to miss. 📅 Programme Day One — Wednesday 10th September 08:30 – 09:00 Registration, Tea and Coffee 09:00 – 09:15 Welcome and Introductions Alex Murray (SEBP & National Crime Agency) Professor Jason Roach (University of Huddersfield) 09:15 – 10:00 Plenary 1 – Where should EBP cast its light next? Professor Jason Roach (University of Huddersfield) 10:00 – 10:45 Plenary 2 – Implementing a Global Assistive Positioning System (GAPS) for people with dementia Professor Michael Doyle (University of Huddersfield/NHS) PC John Porter, Sgt Ben Hanson (South Yorkshire Police) 10:45 – 11:15 Networking, Tea and Coffee 11:15 – 12:00 Plenary 3 – A Reasonable Officer: Stress, Training, and Performance in Use of Force Dr Simon Baldwin (Royal Canadian Mounted Police) 12:00 – 12:45 Plenary 4 – The Minerva Approach: Reducing VAWG in Public Places Professor Andy Newton (Nottingham Trent University) Amanda Johnson (Essex Emergency Services Collaboration) 12:45 – 13:45 Networking Lunch 13:45 – 14:30 – Parallel Session 1 Policing Safer Streets — Kate Moreton and Victoria Barrow (College of Policing) The Policing Problem Book — David Westby and Catrin Beetham (NPCC) 14:30 – 15:15 – Parallel Session 2 The 5 T’s of EBP — David Cowan (Australia and New Zealand SEBP) Predicting Gross Misconduct — Sgt Morven Brown (Police Scotland) 15:15 – 15:40 Networking ,Tea and Coffee 15:40 – 16:20 Panel Discussion – Can Performance Management Be Evidence-Based? Dr Paul Dawson (London Mayor's Office for Police and Crime) Alex Murray (SEBP, NCA) Professor Lawrence Sherman (Benchmark Cambridge) 16:20 – 17:00 Plenary 6 – Police in Corridors and Police in Classrooms Isobel Harrop (King’s College London) Kira Ewanich (King's College London) Amy Hamlyn (Cardiff University) 17:00 Close of Day One Day Two — Thursday 11th September 09:00 – 09:15 Welcome — Detective Chief Superintendent Neil Ralph (SEBP, Avon and Somerset Police) 09:15 – 10:00 Plenary 7 – SEBP 2.0 Dr Matt Bland (SEBP) 10:00 – 10:45 – Parallel Session 3 Gamification to Improve Victim Satisfaction — Supt James Sutherland (Cambridgeshire Police) Retail Crime: A Focus on Repeats — Supt Luke Baldock (Metropolitan Police Service) 10:45 – 11:15 Networking, Tea and Coffee 11:15 – 12:00 – Parallel Session 4 An Actuarial Algorithm for High-Harm Domestic Abuse — CI Dan Hayes (West Yorkshire Police) Project Theraean: Countering Terrorism — Shannen Benton (NaCTSO) 12:00 – 12:45 – Parallel Session 5 Using Nudge Interventions to Influence Stalker Re-Offending (RCT) — DSupt Daniel Thompson (Metropolitan Police Service) Centre for Police Productivity — T/Supt Mat Burbeck (College of Policing) 12:45 – 13:45 Networking Lunch 13:45 – 14:30 Plenary 8 – Insights from the National Uniform and Equipment Survey Dr Camilla De Camargo & Dr Stephanie Wallace (Lancaster University) 14:30 – 15:15 Plenary 9 – Evidence-Based Police Wellbeing Dr Ashley Cartwright (University of Huddersfield) 15:15 – 16:00 Plenary 10 – The Blurred Policing Mission Jonathan Hinder MP 16:00 – 16:15 Closing Remarks 16:15 Conference Close Why You Should Attend This event is the centre of the evidence-based policing movement in the UK. Whether you’re a frontline officer, senior leader, researcher, policy-maker or work in an organisation that supports policing, you’ll leave with fresh insights, practical tools, and new connections. All for the bargain price of £99 for both days or £59 for one! We hope to see you there. 👉 Secure your place today: Book your ticket here

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!

The Society of Evidence Based Policing is thrilled to launch the National Evidence-Based Policing Conference 2025 (NEBP25) – our flagship event where practitioners, researchers and sector partners will come together for two days of practical learning, discussion and inspiration. 10–11 September 2025 | University of Huddersfield | Plus: National EBP Awards Dinner – 10 September at Cedar Court Hotel Register here for priority booking , or read on to find out more. Why NEBP25 matters In an era of tightening resources and increasing demands, evidence-based approaches aren't just nice to have, they're essential. NEBP25 offers an opportunity to discover proven strategies that deliver real results for the public and forces alike, connect with innovators across the sector, and contribute to raising standards nationwide. What to expect NEBP25 is built around one core aim: to give policing professionals access to ideas and insights that help improve how we serve the public. The event will cover a wide range of live issues facing policing, with practitioner voices front and centre, supported by researchers and academic partners. Sessions will include: Predicting and preventing serious misconduct Enhancing victim satisfaction through gamification Productivity and efficiency in frontline policing Counter-terrorism through multi-agency innovation Neighbourhood responses to retail crime Evidence-based approaches to leadership and strategy Applications of generative AI and data tools Lessons from national collaborations and local pilots Reflections on the future of EBP: where next and how to get there Each session is designed to bridge the gap between theory and practice, featuring frontline officers, police staff, and academics sharing the stage as equals. Launching the UK's first National EBP Awards We're proud to introduce the inaugural National Evidence-Based Policing Awards , celebrating the individuals and teams driving meaningful change through evidence-informed approaches. These prestigious awards will recognise outstanding contributions across multiple categories, from frontline innovation to leadership and research partnerships. The awards ceremony will take place on the evening of 10 September at the Cedar Court Hotel, featuring a formal dinner and networking opportunities with senior leaders from across the policing landscape. Priority booking is now open To manage anticipated demand, we're offering a priority booking period from 1–8 June . Spaces will be allocated on a first come, first served basis. Conference tickets: £99 for SEBP Members (includes all sessions, materials, refreshments and lunch both days) Awards dinner tickets: £75 for SEBP Members (includes three-course meal, welcome drink and entertainment) Conference and dinner: £165 for SEBP Members Not an SEBP Member? It's free and painless to join: www.sebp.police.uk/join Register here for priority booking So why come to NEBP25? This is more than a conference – it's a chance to reconnect with the purpose behind your work, meet others tackling the same challenges, and return to your role with new ideas, tools, and energy. If you want to see what evidence-based policing really looks like - in action, at scale, and grounded in real-life experience - NEBP25 is the place to be. We can't wait to welcome you to Huddersfield. Matt Bland, Chief Operating Officer, SEBP

Welcome to the Summer of EBP ☀️ On the understanding that summer isn't done and dusted (it is the UK after all), SEBP is launching the Summer of EBP. And you're invited. The Society of Evidence Based Policing has always been about doing what works, sharing what works, and - when needed - questioning what doesn't. For more than a decade our conferences have brought police professionals together with researchers, companies, charities and others from the public sector. This summer, we want to do much more of that. From June to September, we're delivering a national programme of online and in-person events designed to bring the evidence to life, led by practitioners, for practitioners. It's a significant moment for our movement, and we want you to be part of it. What you can book now Midlands Conference – 24 June, Leicester Cost: Free Hosted at De Montfort University, this one-day event brings together frontline professionals, researchers and leaders to dig into some of the biggest challenges facing UK policing today. You'll hear from speakers including: Paul Taylor – Chief Scientific Adviser, NPCC R. Mark Evans – Deputy Chief Executive (ret), New Zealand Police Professors Ben Bradford and Jonathan Jackson – Leading voices on trust and legitimacy Tickets are live now and going fast 👉 Get your free ticket Easier Said Than Done – Webinar Series Cost: Free Picking up where we left off in April, our Easier Said Than Done series returns with three sessions: 13 June – Hotspots: What Actually Works? 11 July – Problem Solving: From Theory to Practice 17 September – Artificial Intelligence in Policing These sessions are free, online, and packed with practical insight. Last time, we had 400+ people join live—and this time, we're expecting even more. We're partnering with the Youth Endowment Fund in June and July and the International Policing Association in September. 👉 Register for free now National Conference – 10–11 September, Huddersfield Cost: £99 for both days We'll be back at the University of Huddersfield for the 13th annual National EBP Conference—the biggest and best EBP event on the calendar, anywhere in the world. This year we'll be joined by: Dr Amanda Goodall – Expert on evidence-based leadership and decision-making Jonathan Hinder MP – Former police officer now influencing policy And the real stars: Frontline officers and staff presenting work on retail crime, missing persons, gamification, misconduct, stop and search, police productivity and more If you've been before, you know what to expect: real-world relevance, no fluff, and a genuine mix of researchers and practitioners. 👉 Register for priority booking (1-7 June) National EBP Awards – 10 September, Huddersfield Cost: £75 or £65 with conference ticket Also opening for priority booking 1–7 June, our first ever National EBP Awards Dinner takes place at the Cedar Court Hotel. It's a chance to celebrate people and projects making real impact through evidence-based practice. Keep an eye out for more details over the coming weeks, including the awards and nomination process. Global SEBP Conference – 21–22 July, Cambridge Cost: £175 for both days With a lineup that includes David Weisburd, Sir Andy Marsh, Lawrence Sherman, Lorraine Mazerolle, Iain Brennan, and Jerry Ratcliffe, this one speaks for itself. Two days of world-class insight in one of the world's most iconic university cities. 👉 Get your ticket Why this matters Pulling off a decent conference is bloody hard work (I found this out the hard way last year), but SEBP has had it nailed for a long time. Last year's national conference was described as "world class" by more than one person – high praise indeed. This summer, we're building on that foundation: bigger reach, better access, and more ways to learn, connect, and share what works. We know budgets are tight and opportunities for continuous professional development are ever under attack, so we're making these events as accessible as we can. We hope you'll make the most of it – especially if it's raining. What excuse have you got? Just remember to keep an eye on our LinkedIn and check the SEBP Blog for updates. Matt Bland, Chief Operating Officer, SEBP

The task of maintaining public safety has always been complex, today police leaders face a collection of challenges: a continually evolving threat picture, constrained finances, recruitment and retention pressure, an ageing digital infrastructure and a need to improve public trust and confidence. These challenges are compounded by the fact that vast amounts of data, of various types, is now an omnipresent feature of policing and society more broadly. Whether it’s evidence collection, bodycam footage, or the digital exhaust our devices create in our daily lives. Now more than ever technological innovation, and particularly technologies such as AI, present a significant opportunity to help police leaders address these challenges in ways that would have been unimaginable just a few years ago. While the trade-off between innovation and maintaining current service provision may be challenging, embracing new technology is often one of the quickest ways to unlocking savings and efficiencies in resource-constrained times. Of course – doing so in a way that has robust responsible and ethical guardrails in place is critical to maintaining and building public trust and confidence. Evidence base policing approaches also have a critical role to play as well in understand, evaluating and promoting what is proven to work. Police forces are already experimenting with innovative technology including AI, showcasing this in action. For instance, forces are trialling and testing new tools on the frontline, including: chatbots to manage non-emergency requests, automated translation, the analysis of crime hotspots and the use of facial recognition. There are a growing number of future applications for AI, especially to help speed up investigations – for example supporting officers in performing procedural activities, as well as rapid analysis of digital evidence. The use of automated transcription and summarisation, support for statement taking, evidence collection, crime report/form completion, and recommendations for next best action could completely transform how investigations are undertaken today. The ability to transform victim support – for example, AI could provide victims with personalised referrals to victim support services based on their needs and location, guide victims through crime reporting processes and automate case management updates and connect them to support services. By offering a more personal, simple and faster experience, victims are far more likely to stay engaged until justice is done. These examples of technical innovation and the use of AI can significantly reduce cognitive burden, put critical information in the hands of frontline officers to support data-driven decision making, and enable a greater focus on the public than administration. By adopting these advancements, policing can truly transform how it works, with an emphasis on bringing officers closer the communities and public that they serve.  How frontline policing harness the power of AI? AI in policing invites both excitement and fear, with the technology’s potential to entrench potential biases, create a dependence on technology, erode critical thinking and create a more remote tech-automated response. But Policing is not alone in taking a cautious approach to the adoption of AI, however that pace of adoption is growing rapidly. Accenture’s research shows that globally, only 2% of organisations have operationalised responsible AI practices, but with a further 31% planning to do so by the end of 2024. Based on over 700 global AI client engagements and our own research, we have identified 5 key imperatives that organisations must address to prepare for AI. Here is what these imperatives mean for policing and public safety agencies: 1. Responsible AI. AI use in policing raises ethical concerns, particularly around privacy, surveillance, and discrimination. Forces must take a human-centred approach and lean on diverse, multi-disciplinary teams to design, deploy, evaluate, and continuously improve solutions to minimise and expose bias. Rigorous guidelines such as the NPCC Covenant for Using Artificial Intelligence in Policing should be continuously adapted to keep up with technological change to inform every stage of AI development, from data collection to deployment.   2. Lead with Public Value. To maximise the benefit of AI, organisations must shift the focus from near-term focus on use cases to prioritising key strategic capabilities across the entire end-to-end service model, using public value, risk, transparency, and trust as the guiding principles to determine what solutions to leverage and invest in. This requires police forces to engage with communities early and often, ensuring AI initiatives align with public needs and expectations – including through active involvement of community representatives, industry, and third sector partners in the design and development of AI tools.  Here to there is a critical role for Evidence Based Policing practices to really learn what works and build that into future deployments. 3.     Establish a secure digital core. For UK policing, widespread challenges related to data quality, legacy systems, and data siloes represent major barriers to AI adoption and scaling. At a national level, forces should collaborate to develop a comprehensive strategy to consolidate and standardise data from diverse sources – incorporating a common set of data standards, access protocols and security markings – to foster seamless interoperability across forces to drive cost savings. Extended across the criminal justice system, such shared standards can enable more effective data sharing to paint a picture of end-to-end system performance and drive enhanced decision-making.   4. Reinvent talent. Our global research shows that despite 96% of workers saying they are ready to learn new skills to work with AI, only 5% of public and private sector organisations are actively reskilling their workforce at scale. Deepening understanding of AI across policing can not only help build trust and unlock innovation, but more broadly, supports the mission to build more digital and data-empowered police forces of the future. To prepare for an AI-enabled future, leaders and policymakers must plan to equip officers and staff with future-proof skills, ranging from prompt engineering and data analysis as well as the ability to work in and increasingly creative and hybrid manner with technology. 5. Drive continuous reinvention. Prioritising ideas and swiftly putting them into action -including through small-scale proof of concepts - is vital for forces to keep up with an ever-evolving technological landscape. These should only focus on safe low-risk use cases, and ultimately, AI should never totally replace human involvement due to the potential risks of using it within a public safety setting. Such experiments can demonstrate the value of AI to officers and staff with clear messaging from police leaders that using it will make their job easier and free them up to focus on citizen facing tasks in their communities. With the public, communicating transparently regarding the AI’s purpose and how the algorithm works (i.e. that it is not in a black box), and explaining the responsible AI safeguards that are in place will be vital to bringing the public with us.  It is also important that these pilot when proven successful, can also be successfully scaled with greater benefits to all.   The role of evidence-based policing in helping to assess the value of innovative technology, the use of AI and fundamentally what works is critical. It is great to see this as a theme at the Society for Evidence Based Policing 2024 Conference in Cambridge where Accenture is excited to be participating. Crucially, such cross-sectoral forums present vital opportunities for diverse exchange and debate on the state of AI and technology innovation across UK policing – and how collectively, we might chart a clear path through the disruption to promote what works and deliver greater benefit to the communities and public that policing serves.   James Slessor, Managing Director UK and Global Public Safety Practice, Accenture