Nationally recognised
Enhancing academic-policing partnerships through evidence, engagement and educational enrichment
The University of Portsmouth’s Policing Academic Centre of Excellence (UoP P-ACE) provides a central gateway between policing and academia to co-produce the knowledge which shapes policing practice. In keeping with the University’s long history of working with police forces, the Centre has a clear focus on building the necessary future skills for both police practitioners and researchers.
The UoP P-ACE has three strategic aims:
- To co-create knowledge to address the strategic needs of policing, bringing together UoP academic experts from diverse fields with police practitioners.
- To cultivate a community of practitioners, academics and other stakeholders actively engaged in problem solving and ensuring future readiness.
- To create and nurture a generation of police practitioners and academics equipped to drive evidence-informed practice.
Areas of Research Interest covered
The Centre’s activity will be focused on six areas of research interest: crime prevention, analytics, building and maintaining public trust, personal safety, surveillance and sensing, and identification and tracking.
Policing Areas of Research Interest
List of specialisms
Diversity and representation; Trust, rapport and confidence; Cybercrime; Cybersecurity; Social engineering (e.g. phishing); Internet of Things crime prevention; Economic crime (including fraud, corruption, money laundering, intellectual property crime and economic espionage); Missing persons; Extremism and radicalisation; Crime prevention; Vulnerabilities, safeguarding and victim support/rights; Violence against women and girls and online gender-based violence; Wildlife crime; Policing cultures; Police workforce; Biometrics; Facial recognition and eyewitness identification; Forensic accounting; Forensic science (including digital, archaeological, anthropological, entomological); Crime scene investigations; Human/system interactions; Forensic and Investigative interviewing; Intelligence gathering; Information elicitation; 3D imaging; Remote sensing; Artificial Intelligence (AI); Machine learning (ML); Ethics in AI/ML; Crime prediction tools.
Governance
The UoP P-ACE is governed by two Directors and a Centre Manager who will provide the intellectual leadership, strategic direction and financial oversight of the UoP P-ACE. Together with our project partners, we will monitor the impact, value and effectiveness of the workstreams (see below) overseen by an appointed Steering Group of academic experts and policing representatives.
Our members
Professor Sarah Charman
Professor Paul Smith
Dr Helen Earwaker
Ms Soraya Harding
Dr Jemma Tyson
Dr Aram Ghaemmaghami
Dr Amy Meenaghan
Media ready expert
Professor Mark Button
Dr Alejandra De La Fuente
Professor Becky Milne
Media ready expert
Dr Branislav Hock
Media ready expert
Dr Vasileios Karagiannopoulos
Media ready expert
Professor Lisa Sugiura
Mr Geoff Newiss
Updates
PACE Autumn Development Events
Join us for these free, half-day in-person courses designed to equip police practitioners and academics with the skills to drive evidence-informed practice.
Course: Designing Ethical Research in Policing
14th October 12.30-17.00
Designing Ethical Research in Policing provides a comprehensive, practical approach to identifying ethical issues in policing research, and to putting in place appropriate safeguards. The course is designed for police practitioners (officers and staff) who are embarking on research projects who want guidance and practical advice. The course is also open to Early Career Researchers in academia. Further information and booking (limited places only).
Course: Doing Research in Policing
15th October 9.00-14.00
Doing Research in Policing provides a comprehensive, practical approach to getting started with designing and undertaking your policing-related research project. The course is designed for police practitioners (officers and staff) who are embarking on research projects who want guidance and practical advice. You’ll hear directly from both academics and from police practitioners themselves, learning from real-world examples of getting research off the ground. The course is also open to Early Career Researchers in academia. Further information and booking (limited spaces only).
Evidence to Practice in Policing: Missing Persons Showcase
21st October
Save the date, details to follow.
New Voices in Policing Research: Early Career Researchers Showcase
16th December
Save the date, details to follow.
Police Foundation Research Impact/Policy Courses
Details and registration link to follow.
New Policing Futures projects announced
Our annual Policing Futures Fund aims to kick-start police-academic collaborative projects. The theme for this year’s fund (2026-2027) is Policing Vulnerability and Harm in the Digital Age.
We have selected five projects, each running for one year from June 2026, on the basis of their close collaboration between police and academia and their potential to drive practical change to policing.
A review of police workloads through a socio-technical approach
Professor Paul Smith and Dr Helen Earwaker
In partnership with the Police Federation and the Metropolitan Police Service this project will undertake a system-level review of the workloads, workflows and culture in a Public Protection Unit. The project aims to identify how burnout can be alleviated and systems optimised to enhance police wellbeing and to ensure an effective response to victims.
Policing Technology facilitated VAWG: Improving Detection, Evidence and Response
Dr Gizem Guney, Professor Lisa Sugiura, Dr Dina Santos, Dr Busra Nisa Sarac and Dr Jacki Tapley
In collaboration with Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary this project will examine how technology-facilitated Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) is reported, investigated and prosecuted. The project aims to strengthen the operational police response to digital harms and to identify policy changes required to tackle harm and protect victims.
Next Generation Digital Forensics: Scaling Impact of Research Collaboration and Student Mentorship
Dr Helen Earwaker, Professor Paul Smith and Dr Alejandra De La Fuente Vilar
This project will develop the Research Mentorship Programme, part of the Forensic Innovation Centre, a partnership between Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary and the University of Portsmouth. A new cohort of MSc students will be recruited to undertake a range of projects on digital forensics, each developed in close collaboration with, and tailored to the need of, our police partners.
Project Vanguard: Vulnerability & AI: Navigating Gaps, Understanding Awareness and Responding to Digital Harm
Dr Vasileios Karagiannopoulos and Dr Alejandra De La Fuente Vilar
In partnership with Thames Valley Police and Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary, this project will examine how artificial intelligence (AI) is changing crime, harm and vulnerability and how well-prepared police forces are to respond to the challenges. The project aims to provide policy and practice recommendations to support AI-preparedness and a training framework to ensure police tackle these crimes and support victims effectively.
Victims’ perspectives on the criminal justice response to sexual exposure
Jennifer Grant
In collaboration with Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary this project will examine victim-survivors’ perspectives on justice after experiencing sexual exposure both online and offline. The project aims to improve the police and criminal justice agencies response to incidents, to ensure improved reporting, response and support for victims.
Research Support Service
We offer bespoke research support for police officers and staff.
Whether you are exploring an idea, developing an evaluation, or strengthening an existing project, our UoP P-ACE Research Support Service can provide expert advice. Our aim is to help police partners to develop robust, ethical and impactful research that meets today’s policing operational challenges and strategic needs, strengthens evidence-based policing, and supports innovation.
Submit a Research Enquiry support form here.
Related research groups
The latest news from our centre
Policing Research Group
We're working in collaboration with local, national and international police organisations to research the social, economic and political context in which policing operates.
Portsmouth announced as one of nine Policing Academic Centres of Excellence (P-ACEs)
The University of Portsmouth to become one of only nine centres of excellence for policing in the UK, following £4.5 million in funding from UKRI and the NPCC.
Related courses
Professional Policing BSc (Hons)
Qualify as a police officer on this degree. Take advantage of our close ties to local constabularies and graduate ready to apply for work in the police service.
Foundation year option available
Start date: September 2026 September 2027
Policing and Investigation (Distance Learning) BSc (Hons)
Start or level up your career on this Policing and Investigation degree course. Study part-time around other commitments, anywhere that suits you.
Start date: September 2026 September 2027
Contact us
For more information about work of the UoP P-ACE, please contact us at:
