Responsive Research Fund

Policing and Visibility

Background

The Police Scotland 2030 vision for policing identifies that “visibility and connection to local priorities should remain central to policing” however, further evidence is required to identify what this means in practice. There can be a variety of ways in which police can be ‘visible’, but it is unclear which is best suited to achieving ‘visibility’ and in which contexts. Similarly, connecting to communities is not necessarily the same as being visible. More information is needed ascertain how ‘connection’ can be best achieved and the extent to which visibility is needed for this.

As part of our Responsive Research Fund, SIPR will provide research grant funding to undertake a small empirical project which may explore some of the questions below. It would be best if the project could address both questions. However, if that is not possible within the resources available, then a consideration of one is also permissible.

1. What does ‘visibility’ look like: the ‘how’

• What do we mean by ‘visibility’ (where are the police to be visible and why)?

• What kind of visibility ‘counts’, in what context, and in terms of which purpose?

• How might visibility based on policing hot spots or symbolically important locations, proactively vary from policing ‘post-incident’?

• What do officers do when they are being visible, and does the quality of what officers do make a difference to the effects of visibility?

2. What is achieved by visibility: the ‘what’

• Aside from what visibility is intended to achieve, what does it actually achieve?

• Conversely, what are the impacts from low levels of police visibility?

• How can we align what the police and public want visibility to achieve and the best way to actually achieve this?

• Connecting to communities isn’t the same as being highly visible. What are the overlaps and what are the gaps?

Information for Applicants

3. Eligibility

Applications are welcome from any researchers (who do not need to be based in Scotland or at a university). However, priority will be given to bids involving staff based at a SIPR member university.

We encourage interdisciplinary partnerships and proposals can be submitted by a single institution or across organisations (and can include national and international academic and non-academic partners).

4. Anticipated timescale(s) for completion

Start date before 1 August 2025, with a completion date of no later than 30 January 2026

5. Value

A total of £20,000 will be available to one successful team. Proposals which include co-funding from other sources are welcome.

Information for Applicants

6. Application

A short application form is available to download here.

Applicants are required to complete the relevant application form (download from above link) including the following information:

· Description of team – one paragraph per named investigator which details experience and expertise in the proposed topic including one for each named investigator);

· Details of the project including background, aims and objectives, methodology, and timeline;

· Proposed budget including a brief justification of resources required; and

· Clear indication of the expected outputs and impact of the project.

· A letter of support from Police Scotland (or the relevant external body) should be sought if the project will require access to personnel or data. If so, please contact Police Scotland’s Research and Strategy Team (AcademicResearch@scotland.pnn.police.uk)

7. Assesment

Applications will be subject to a review stage which will include assessment by an independent panel comprising of senior academics and members of the SIPR Executive Committee, including policing partners. Reviewers will be asked to score against four key criteria:

· Suitability and expertise of investigative team (i.e., Principal Investigator and Co-Investigator’s experience and expertise in the field of study);

· Suitability and quality of the planned methodological approach;

· Feasibility (i.e., a project’s ambition and ability to deliver outcomes to budget and within timescales); and

· Potential benefits/impact (i.e., project legacy and potential to influence policy and practice).

8. Criteria

Applications are welcome from researchers with priority given to staff based at a SIPR member university.

Projects must be in place to commence the review no later 1 August 2025. 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.

9. Indicative Timeline

Timeline/ milestones	Date
Call Open	20 June 2025
Deadline for Notifications of Intent to apply	4 July 202
Closing date for applications	23 July 2025
Grant awarded	29 July 2025
Latest start date	01 August 2025
Project and stakeholders initiation meeting	Mid-August 2025
Mid-grant update due	14 November 2025
Final draft of report and briefing paper submitted for review	30 January 202
Completion date – final report accepted and published	28 February 2026

This call was developed by SIPR Associate Director for the Police Community Relations Brokering Team. This call has been approved for funding through the SIPR Executive Committee.

Scottish Institute for Policing Research