Police and university figureheads have agreed on a pact of co-operation to help improve communities in County Durham.
Durham Constabulary, the Durham Police and Crime Commissioner and Durham University have pledged to work together for the benefit of the local populace.
Leaders from the three organisations came together to agree on a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU).
Chief Constable Rachel Bacon, Police and Crime Commissioner Joy Allen and Professor Karen O’Brien, the university's Vice-Chancellor, signed the agreement at the Calman Learning Centre, in Durham, on Wednesday (July 24).
The institutions are already working together to promote safety and the economic development of the area.
University research is informing policy, and the three bodies combine their expertise on training and professional development.
The MoU further formalises the relationship with the hope of improving collaboration, including work on joint projects, the introduction of new technologies, and more areas of university research.
Chief Constable Bacon said: “Durham Constabulary is keen to strengthen its work with Durham University to build on the trust and confidence in our communities.
“We are relentlessly pursuing criminals and preventing crime and anti-social behaviour.
“My team of dedicated officers and staff are working together to deliver for the people of County Durham and Darlington.
“Partners like Durham University can only enhance this work and help not only with crime prevention and problem-solving but provide vital support and welfare to our teams.
“The Memorandum of Understanding will provide greater opportunities between our organisations to take further steps forward.”
PCC Allen said: “Durham University’s work has already enhanced our understanding and approach to many areas of crime and policing, both locally and nationally, including gender-based violence and staff wellbeing.
“We are fortunate to have built strong and fruitful relationships with the institution and are utilising the ground-breaking research undertaken to improve safety for those who live and work in County Durham and Darlington and beyond.
“This MoU outlines our commitment to continuing the good work and identifying further areas of study to improve safety for our communities and the effectiveness of crime investigation while embracing all the advances modern technology has to offer policing.”
Prof O’Brien said: “Placing our existing strong relationships with Durham Constabulary and the office of the Durham Police and Crime Commissioner on this more formal footing means we can do more together to benefit our communities and neighbourhoods.
“We are already working well together for the safety and economic development of our area, informed by our research in areas including domestic abuse, violence and online harm, and in training and development.
“This Memorandum of Understanding will spur us to go even further, including in computer science, data management, and exploring the potential of AI, for the benefit of the people of our city, county and region.”
Examples of university research informing police policy include a study into forensic marking devices and their potential uses in reducing domestic abuse.
Professor Nicole Westmarland, from the Department of Sociology and Director of the Durham Centre for Research into Violence and Abuse (CRiVA), is working with Durham Constabulary and the College of Policing to investigate whether the use of such devices can make domestic abuse victims feel safer and have more freedom, increase trust and confidence in policing, and bring more perpetrators to justice.
Professor Les Graham, from Durham University Business School, undertook research exploring policing staff wellbeing involving all 43 police forces in England and Wales, which has informed working practices, procedures and policies.
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Meanwhile, Professor Stacey Pope, from the Department of Sport and Exercise Sciences, is an expert on the experience and safety of women at football matches.
She is co-designing a project between Durham University and police forces that will bring together academic research on women fans with expertise in match day policing.
It is hoped it will help develop evidence-based solutions to tackle gendered violence and abuse in men’s football to create safe, welcoming and inclusive spaces for women fans.
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