Police innovation project for West Yorkshire

Funding of £125,000 from the Economic and Social Research Council will help create opportunities for research, information sharing and skills training, developing a platform for knowledge exchange between West Yorkshire Police, the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner and the University of Leeds.

It will focus on four key themes: Partnerships and Culture Change, Understanding Acquisitive Crime such as burglary and shoplifting, Community Engagement and also Public Order.

Mark Burns-Williamson, Police and Crime Commissioner for West Yorkshire said:”This new research progresses the 3i strategy I launched earlier this year which seeks to develop innovation, income and investment in policing. The findings from this research will add great value to the way in which we keep our communities safe and feeling safe.”

The police aspect of the project is being led by ‘West Yorkshire for Innovation’ (WyFi), a ground-breaking research and development team of the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner for West Yorkshire.

Head of WyFi Detective Inspector Andrew Staniforth, said: “This unique project brings academic researchers and police practitioners together to share their expertise. This collaborative approach ensures that rigorous research shall be grounded in the operational reality of policing.”

Temporary Chief Constable of West Yorkshire Police, Dee Collins said: “This exciting project will foster greater collaboration between police and academia, enabling greater translation of research into evidence-based practice to develop the service we deliver to the public.”