The Universities' Police Science Institute (UPSI) was established in 2007 in partnership with South Wales Police to develop the research evidence base for the art, craft and science of policing. Since its inception it has secured £2million external funding from various policing and governmental agencies. Combining academic rigour with a strong focus upon policy and practice, it has achieved international renown for its innovations in designing, developing and assessing new solutions to policing problems. The Institute's work ranges from 'problem-finding' to 'problem-solving' across the full spectrum of policing.
The UPSI team has particular expertise and achieved impact in the following areas:
- Reassurance and Neighbourhood Policing
- Prevent and Counter-Terrorism
- Democratic policing
In addition to these areas of expertise, UPSI have been responsible for conducting ground-breaking research in areas such as: homicide and major crime investigation; policing gun crime; and new developments in crime analysis. Barbara Wilding, former Chief Constable of South Wales Police has stated "The UPSI is identifying interventions that are evidence based and can be objectively assessed, free from political fad and fashion. It is pushing the boundaries".
In addition to these areas, we also have particular expertise in the following areas, where ongoing studies are being conducted:
- Police homicide investigations, cold case reviews and the impacts upon communities of major crime events such as murders;
- The police role in counter-terrorism;
- Policing domestic violence and child protection;
- Gun crime in the United Kingdom and elsewhere;
- Violent youth gangs and crime in inner-city areas;
- Spatial analysis of crime data;
- Witness Identification
IMPACT
Our work has been instrumental in providing an evidence base to inform policy, including:
- PREVENT Strategy
- Home Office Policy on Anti-Social Behaviour
- Community Intelligence Methodology adopted by both the london Borough of Sutton and South Wales Police Forces
"As part of our vision “To be the best at understanding and responding to our communities’ needs”, South Wales Police has worked in close partnership with UPSI for the last four years to develop evidence based policing approaches to tackling crime and anti-social behaviour. Through engaging with our communities in new and innovative ways about the issues which matter to them most, we have been able to deliver a service which meets people’s needs. We have achieved important results which include the effective use of intelligence to disrupt localised drug dealing activity. The introduction of other groundbreaking initiatives such as Master classes have helped us to harness our respective operational and academic expertise in order to develop the knowledge and skills of our staff and spread good practice initiatives across the force area."
Peter Vaughan, Chief Contsable, South Wales Police
"UPSI's have been one of our foremost partners in advising on an evidence based approach to major challenges in policing. It has demonstrated flexibility and an imaginative drive to understand, explain in accessible terms. Most of all it has sought to demonstrate how findings can be applied in the real world. This is clearly evident in our report 'Stop the Rot' published in October 2010."
Sir Denis O'Connor, HMIC
"The UPSI at Cardiff University...has...an international reputation for its innovative and ground breaking work."
Tom Brake, MP, Liberal Democrat Paper on Police Reform
“The UPSI is identifying interventions that are evidence based and can be objectively assessed, free from political fad and fashion. It is pushing the boundaries.”
Barbara Wilding, Former Chief Constable South Wales Police