Joint DRNS/ SIPR event:

Approaches to the Policing of Drugs

Thursday 16th January - Edinburgh Napier University, Merchiston Campus

https://drns.ac.uk/

@DRNScot

@TheSIPR

This event sought to facilitate the sharing of research, wider knowledge and views regarding the policing of drugs in order to best help support the police approach in Scotland going forward. The event examined the intersection of policing and public health/harm reduction and what that may mean for Scotland; in this respect speakers sought to share and discuss existing knowledge from various jurisdictions, including the UK.

Presentations included:

       1. What is the role of policing in public health approaches to the drug problem: international evidence

Dr Liz Aston, Edinburgh Napier University and Dr Maria Fotopoulou, University of Stirling - SLIDES AVAILABLE HERE

2. Police Scotland: plans and approach to the drug problem

ACC Gary Ritchie, Police Scotland - SLIDES AVAILABLE HERE

3. Public health approach to policing of drugs and models in England

Dr Matthew Bacon, University of Sheffield - SLIDES AVAILABLE HERE

4. Public health policing on the ground

DCI Jason Kew, Thames Valley Police - SLIDES AVAILABLE HERE

‘Cross-disciplinary evidence interpretation: Breaking down the barriers’

Monday 13th January - Edinburgh Napier University, Sighthill Campus

This session aimed to bring together different professional groups and disciplines to explore the understanding of and interpretation of evidence generated and used across the criminal justice system. This event included four excellent speakers who discussed their work, including topics around the use of and interpretation of evidence within the criminal justice system.

The organisers promoted discussion on interpretations of different types of evidence across professions and how this may promote bias (or reduce it, possibly?) within the criminal justice system, and then to discuss effective ways of working together to break down potential barriers to effective cross-disciplinary working in this area. They also sought to identify barriers to cross-disciplinary working in the area and potential strategies to break these down.

Speakers included:

Keynote Speaker Dr Karen Richmond, European Graduate School, Talk: “Under construction: The Interpretation and Evaluation of Scientific Evidence.”

Dr Claire Coleman, Police Scotland - Education Lead "Contact Assessment Model"

Dr Penny Haddrill, University of Strathclyde, 20 minute talk (Title TBC) and 10 minute discussion

Invited Speaker Dr James Munro, Edinburgh Napier University “Assessing cognitive bias in forensic decisions: A review and outlook”.