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Dr John Mendel (University of Dundee) who will lead 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 will head up the project “Accounting for Complexities: an Intersectional Approach to Enhancing Police Practitioner Accountability, Legitimacy & Sustainable Reform”
Professor Jim Moir (Abertay University) who will lead 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”
This funding is linked to the Seldom Heard Communities event held on Wednesday 19th May 2021 (full information available below).
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.
Police Scotland is keen to explore areas for further research that would help meet genuine evidence gaps, towards enabling policing to further enhance its support to ‘seldom heard’ communities and as such, we invite all interested parties (academics, researchers, practitioners, service users, third sector and support workers) to explore public confidence in Police Scotland for these communities.
If you would like to discuss the suitability of your project idea to ensure it would be appropriate for the remit of the seldom heard communities call, please contact either Monica Boyle (SPR Knowledge Exchange and Business Manager – m.boyle@napier.ac.uk) OR Dr Megan O’Neill (SIPR Associate Director and leader of the Police Community Relations network – m.oneill@dundee.ac.uk).
Eligibility
Applications are welcomed from all academics, researchers, and practitioners with expertise in ‘Seldom Heard’ communities. Although primarily we are seeking to fund small research projects, we are also keen to explore other activities which may address knowledge gaps in this area. This may include literature reviews, evidence-based training, and knowledge exchange activities etc.
Value
A total of £50,000 will be available, however, the maximum value contribution per application will be limited to £20,000. We welcome proposals which include co-funding from other sources (which may bring the total project value above £20,000).
In line with SIPR funding requirements, at least £20,000 of funding for successful grants must be led by HEI’s within the SIPR consortium. Although the SIPR HEI must be the administering organisation, we strongly encourage applications which partner with non-SIPR HEIs and organisations.
Assessment Process
To ensure that all funded projects are of high quality, all applications will be subject to a robust assessment process in two stages. The review stage will include assessment by an independent panel comprising of senior academics, representatives from the third sector, as well as policing personnel. Reviewers will be asked to score against predefined criteria including:
• The extent to which the proposed project meets knowledge gaps within police engagement with seldom heard communities;
• Suitability of proposed team (i.e., Project Lead/ Principal Investigator and Co-Investigator’s experience and expertise in the field of study)
• Feasibility (i.e., a project’s ambition and ability to deliver outcomes to budget and within timescales);
• Innovation; (i.e., demand driven and/or meeting a gap in knowledge, demonstrating value for money, as well as credible work plan); and
• Potential benefits/impact (i.e., project legacy and potential to influence police and practice); and
• We particularly welcome applications that form the first/early stage of longer-term work that articulate an intention or potential to build Research and Knowledge Exchange capacity and generate new income.
Applicants are required to complete the relevant application form including the following information:
• Description of team – one paragraph per named investigator which details experience and expertise in the proposed topic including per named investigator);
• Details of the project including background, aims, objectives, partners/ collaborators, methodology, and timeline;
• Proposed budget including a brief justification of resources required; and
• Clear indication of the expected outputs and impact of the project, detailing the potential contribution of the project to the development of the seldom heard communities’ evidence-base, or of policy or practice related to the themes, and how you propose to capture and measure the impact of the project.
A letter of support from Police Scotland (or the relevant external body) should be sought where the project will require access to personnel or data. Please ensure you contact Police Scotland’s Research and Strategy Team (AcademicResearch@scotland.pnn.police.uk) as soon as possible to ensure the project’s feasibility. Please be advised, Police Scotland will require at least two weeks’ notice for all requests.
Please submit your completed application to Monica Boyle (m.boyle@napier.ac.uk)
Only one application is permitted from the same applicant for this call. The PI can be included as a Co-investigator in one further application as long as the two applications are not linked.
Projects should be no longer than 12 months in duration, commencing no later than 30th September 2021 and completed no later than (i.e., acceptance of final research report) by 30th September 2022.
Successful applicants will be required to enter into a funding agreement with SIPR on behalf of the three parties (Police Scotland, SIPR, and the Scottish Police Authority). 50% funding will be provided on commencement of the project with the remaining 50% provided on delivery of the final report. The final research report will be published by SIPR and all three parties (Police Scotland, SIPR and the Scottish Police Authority) will be acknowledged in all media and publications resulting from the project.
Applicants will also be required to report where this funding has enabled the generation of external income as well as where this project has been included as an impact case study.
Below is an indicative timetable for key dates in the application, award and deliverable process. Please note these dates may be subject to change.
Task | Date |
---|---|
Call launched | Friday 14th May 2021 |
Event | Wednesday 19th May 2021 |
Recording of event made available | Thursday 20th May 2021 |
Deadline to submit applications | Thursday 1st July 2021 |
Applications sent to reviewers | Monday 5th July 2021 |
Reviewers return coments | Monday 26th July 2021 |
Applications and reviewer comments sent to award panel | Week beginning 2nd August 2021 |
Award panel meet | Mid August 2021 |
Decisions announced | Week beginning 2nd September 2021 |
Latest start date for successful projects | 30th September 2021 |
Latest completion date for successful projects | 30th September 2022 |
Ineligible costs
These grants will not cover the following costs:
For more information please contact Monica Boyle – Knowledge Exchange and Business Manager m.boyle@napier.ac.uk
Police Scotland, the Scottish Police Authority (SPA), and the Scottish Institute for Policing Research (SIPR) invited academics, researchers, and practitioners with an interest in ‘Seldom Heard’ groups to an information sharing event on Wednesday 19th May 2021.
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.
Police Scotland is keen to explore areas for further research that would help meet genuine evidence gaps, towards enabling policing to further enhance its support to ‘seldom heard’ communities and as such, we invite all interested parties (academics, researchers, practitioners, service users, third sector and support workers) to explore public confidence in Police Scotland for these communities.
The aim of the event was to stimulate diverse thinking, ideas and opportunities for research and innovation into how Police Scotland can serve communities in the most appropriate and supportive ways. Police Scotland, the SPA, and SIPR have committed to co-creating a grant (DETAILS ABOVE) which will fund activities seeking to address key issues identified throughout this session.
The event was be chaired by Assistant Chief Constable John Hawkins and co-hosted by Dr Megan O’Neill (SIPR Associate Director and Lead for Police-Community Relations Network). Police Scotland presented its strategic direction, existing research evidence, identified research gaps and commitments to understand and enhance public confidence from seldom heard groups in Scottish policing.
A full recording of the event is available below:
ACC John Hawkins, Police Scotland
Assistant Chief Constable John Hawkins is the executive lead for Local Policing North and Contact, Command and Control (C3) Division.
ACC Hawkins’ portfolio consists of the following business areas:
• North East (A), Tayside (D) and Highlands and Islands (N) divisions
• C3
• Volunteers, including PSYV
• Special Constables
• Armed Forces Reservists
• Public Confidence
He is also the Senior Responsible Officer for the Local Policing Programme, including the Contact Assessment Model and the Contact Strategy. ACC Hawkins, who joined Lothian and Borders Police in 1992, was a Chief Superintendent working as Head of Organisational Development at the start of Police Scotland. He went on to serve as Divisional Commander for Forth Valley before being promoted to ACC in 2016. Initially, he held the portfolio for Service and Protection before he was appointed ACC for Local Policing North in 2017.
Dr Megan O’Neill – SIPR Associate Director and Network Lead for Police-Community Relations
Dr Megan O’Neill was appointed as the SIPR Associate Director for the Police-Community Relations Network in August 2018. Megan is a Reader at the University of Dundee and has an extensive background of policing research with a focus on issues of social interaction in policing, both within the organisation and with the public and partners. Her work has included studies of football policing, Black Police Associations, community policing, partnership working and Police Community Support Officers.
Kirsty-Louise Campbell
Police Scotland
Kirsty-Louise Campbell, Head of Strategy and Innovation at Police Scotland, is an experienced leader, developing successful strategy, insight, innovation and transformation across a number of sectors. Experience includes leading the successful re-design and transformation of a major public sector body and leading award winning strategy and insight services. In Police Scotland, Kirsty-Louise has developed the overarching strategic outcomes for policing along with new strategies for public contact and engagement and cyber along with building capability and capacity in policing for public engagement, insight and innovation.
Davina Fereday
Police Scotland
Experienced Research Manager with over 20 years experience of working in consultancy and government. Skilled in leading qualitative and quantitative research and evaluation at a European, UK and city level. Recently appointed by Police Scotland to lead research and public engagement at the national and divisional level, supporting implementation of the long term police strategy and innovation.This has included extensive research into public experience of contacting the police and approaches to develop this, alongside measuring public confidence and engaging operational officers and staff.
Amanda Coulthard
Scottish Police Authority
Amanda leads the Strategy and Performance function and reports into the Deputy Chief Executive (Strategy & Performance). Amanda joined the Authority in February 2021 from a role in West Dunbartonshire Council as the performance advisor to the Chief Executive and Elected Members, leading a team responsible for: Strategic Planning & Performance; Data Analysis; Policy; Consultation & Engagement; Equalities; Community Planning; Partnerships and Local Scrutiny. As the Head of Strategy & Performance for the SPA Amanda leads the Authority’s approach to developing and reviewing the national policing strategy, maintaining a system of performance assurance and reporting to support best value and maintaining public confidence in policing.
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