Become an EMPAC Fellow

PLEASE NOTE THAT THE DEADLINE FOR APPLYING FOR AN EMPAC FELLOWSHIP HAS NOW PASSED.

 

There has been much excited interest in Fellowships and we are pleased to announce that EMPAC has opened its Fellowship programme and applicants are now invited to apply. Fellowships open up an extra opportunity for anyone involved in policing in the East Midlands to contribute and make a difference. No specific research background is required as we want to encourage anyone interested to get involved.

EMPAC aims to combine the best academic expertise and an evidenced based “what works” evidence base to create a dynamic and exciting multilateral partnership that has tangible impact on policing in the East Midlands and beyond.

One way this will be achieved, is by co-producing relevant and timely robust research into real-world policing issues by developing a Fellowship programme. We are now recruiting twenty Research Fellows, primarily to up-skill selected police officers and staff in research and evaluations as part of their core role, to encourage an evidenced based policing culture.

The Fellowships presents a great opportunity for police personnel to get involved in the research process, working with a local university, on a topic that will make a real difference to policing. All grades and ranks are encouraged to apply.

The first thing is to apply!

You do not have to have a formal qualification already but you will need to submit an application, explaining a little about yourself and what it is you would like to do. There will be a selection process as we anticipate that demand will be too great to accept everyone in one cohort. But we do intend to offer more Fellowships in the future so even if you are not successful this time there will be more opportunities!

There is so much to research you may wonder how to prioritise and focus. You will no doubt know your own professional area very well, so you will probably have a topic area already in mind, but consider also the key aims of the Police Knowledge Fund that supports EMPAC’s Fellowships, to:

  • embed or accelerate understanding of crime and policing issues, and evidence-based problem-solving approaches;
  • demonstrate innovation in building the research evidence base and applying it through knowledge exchange and translation across all levels of policing;
  • inform changes in professional policing policy and practice through the creation and application of a research-driven evidence base.

We are hoping to recruit Fellows who can contribute to the above aims.

In addition, your research should fit within one of more of our identified professional priorities for EMPAC:

  • Operational Policing
  • Organisational Transformation
  • Victims, Witness and Public Protection
  • Serious and Organised Crime
  • Local Policing

We aim to be flexible and accessible, so you may submit your application by email, but we suggest the basic format of:-

1. Your background (in brief your professional roles; any previous research experience)

2. What you would like to research (describe the issue / aspect / challenge / problem etc)

3. Why you would like to research this aspect (explain your interest to us; your motivation)

4. What difference do you think this research could make (outline how the research could make an impact to policing practice in the East Midlands; explain how you might be able to help promote that change)

To apply you should seek the support of your supervisor / manager and then submit your application to john.coxhead@empac.org.uk ready for the selection process to begin week commencing 17th October 2016.

What next?

Our first 20 Fellows selected will work through a process that will include:

* Introduction to research methods

* Writing a research proposal

* Submitting an ethics application

* Paired with an academic mentor to assist in supervising the research

* Conducting their research

* Writing up of research (5000 to 7000 word paper)

At the conclusion of the Fellowship, it is hoped that Fellows will promote their research to their colleagues across the region and also help encourage and support others in the future, to embed a culture of innovation and research. Accreditation may be available for suitable candidates and research project plans.

EMPAC Fellows will make a difference: having a tangible impact on policing in the East Midlands –  so we would encourage you to apply right away and help lead that change!

Amy’s experience as a Fellow

Amy Rutland of Leicestershire Police was EMPAC’s first pioneering Fellow and this is her story so far!

“I started with Leicestershire Police in 2011 as a special constable whilst at university studying for a BA in Archaeology. Upon finishing university I became a call-taker and then started as a police officer in 2013. The training included a foundation degree in Policing, which I had initially hoped to turn into a full BA degree in order to conduct research into modern slavery and human trafficking. This is an interest I have developed since writing my undergraduate dissertation on the slave trade. Unfortunately, there wasn’t enough interest to run this programme so I approached the academic lecturers who advised me to write a business case for conducting the research. This has then opportunely coincided with the development of the fellowship programme.

The research idea has developed through voluntary work with the Refugee Services of the Red Cross, and attending an East Midlands anti-trafficking partnership meeting. It seems that charities will come across potential victims of human trafficking, but feel there can be barriers in speaking to the police if there isn’t any immediate risk to the individual. For example, there are concerns about passing information without the individual’s consent, and also confusion over what constitutes trafficking and where to seek advice from.  This is particularly problematic due to the often limited opportunities for victim disclosure, with victims often marginalised and vulnerable.

I’ve conducted semi-structured interviews with 23 organisations, mainly charities, in Leicester. I have transcribed the interviews and am currently using content analysis to establish themes in the data. The report will include a literature review and recommendations, and should be completed towards the end of November.

I hope the research will contribute towards the evidence base for modern slavery, which is often described as a hidden crime, but more generally, will increase understanding of the barriers charities face when sharing information with the police.”

 

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