A NEW PhD research partnership at the University of Ulster will explore why some communities lack confidence in the police and how the authorities can address this.
The partnership, between the PSNI and the University of Ulster’s School of Criminology, Politics and Social Policy, will look at the ‘knowledge gap’ in issues affecting trust, according to research supervisor Dr John Topping.
He said: “This new PhD project — funded by the Department for Employment and Learning — will aim to explore the dynamics of confidence and trust in the police in Northern Ireland, and examine factors which influence attitudes to police and policing and how those attitudes change over time in communities across Northern Ireland. In addition, the research also feeds into the broader picture of enhancing and improving our understanding of confidence and trust in policing in the context of a transitional society.
Chief Superintendent Chris Noble, the PSNI operational lead for the project, said: “The PSNI see this as an opportunity to develop the local evidence base for our Policing with the Community 2020 Strategy.
“This strategy is constantly taking account of community and partner needs and perspectives, but it is also important that we work with academic partners to assess what works, and how we can improve our service to the public.
“At the centre of this unique collaboration is the opportunity to work with School of Criminology, Politics and Social Policy in assisting the PSNI in our core ambition to improve community confidence in policing.
“This initiative will assist the Service Improvement Department of the PSNI as they seek to develop the PWC Strategy and it builds on existing work with undergraduate-level students who are working with ‘H’ District officers in exploring the drivers of confidence in an operational environment.”
The closing date for applications for this PhD scholarship is March 8, 2013. More information about the project and the application process can be found at www.socsci.ulster.ac.uk/gradschool/policy_projects.html.