This event provides an opportunity for research teams to present and discuss their work with a public audience and allow the general public.

Police Scotland, the Scottish Institute for Policing Research (SIPR) and the Scottish Police Authority (SPA) have joined together to provide significant funding for projects and activities which will meet genuine evidence gaps and support Police Scotland to further contact and engagement with all elements of our communities in Scotland, but particularly those groups which are seldom heard.

The term ‘seldom-heard groups’ refers to under-represented people who may be less likely to engage with Police for a variety reasons (such as race, religion, sexuality, disability, age and communities isolated through geography or deprivation). A focus on understanding seldom heard groups will place more emphasis on Police Scotland and our collaborators to connect with these communities ensuring their voices are heard; their needs are met; and their perspectives are understood

This event provides an opportunity for research teams to present and discuss their work with a public audience and allow the general public to gain a greater insight into seldom heard communities.

The projects are as follows:

Dr Jonathan Mendel (University of Dundee) who led the project “Inquiring together: Collaborative Research with BAME communities and serving officers”

Dr Andrew Williams (St Andrew’s University) as Principal Investigator for the research project “To be seen and heard: developing photovoice as a method for the police to engage with young people in underserved communities”

Dr Julie Berg (University of Glasgow) who led the project “Accounting for Complexities: an Intersectional Approach to Enhancing Police Practitioner Accountability, Legitimacy & Sustainable Reform”

Professor Jim Moir (Abertay University) who led the project “Hearing seldom heard groups: Policing with empathy in conversation with LGBT and young people from disadvantaged backgrounds”

Dr Nicole Vidal (Queen Margaret University) as Principal Investigator for “Refugee and asylum-seeker experiences, trust and confidence with Police Scotland”