Statement of Purpose. The purpose of the Centre for Applied Criminal Justice and Policing Research is to undertake high-quality, inter- and multi-disciplinary research that is policy-relevant and practice-focused and has an impact across criminal justice, policing and associated systems, facilitating knowledge exchange.   

Mission Statement. To undertake high-quality, inter- and multi-disciplinary research that is policy-relevant, practice-focused, and has an impact across criminal justice, policing and associated systems, such as health and education, including through knowledge exchange activities, research-led and evidence-informed learning, training, and teaching, and through research development and mentoring of early career researchers, postgraduate researchers, and practitioners moving into academic research. In doing so, the Centre for Applied Criminal Justice and Policing Research brings together researchers, practitioners and policy makers, and those with lived / living experience of criminal justice to better understand how to develop and support systems that deliver fair, effective, and accountable criminal justice for all, particularly offenders, victims and communities.  

The Centre has three key areas of focus:   

1. Research (strand lead Co-Director Dr Rebecca Phythian): The inter- and multi-disciplinary nature of the Centre will enable and support the development of collaborations and partnerships that cross disciplinary boundaries thus expanding the reach and influence of research outputs. The interdisciplinary nature of the Centre will also support the development of new methodological approaches that capture best practice across different disciplines and the development of holistic and coherent concepts and measures that cross traditional academic discipline boundaries and public service institutions.  

1. Knowledge Exchange (strand lead Director Dr Jude Towers): The nature of the Centre for Applied Criminal Justice and Policing Research, along with its external professional practice members and criminal justice experienced advisors will provide a myriad of knowledge exchange opportunities, including ensuring the Centre’s research agenda is policy and practice relevant, as well as in the development and implementation of knowledge exchange activity, including CPD, contract research, submissions and responses to calls for contributions to policy debates, and potential Knowledge Transfer Partnerships (KTPs).  

1. Research Development and Mentoring of ECRs, PGRs, and Practitioners Moving into Academia (strand lead Co-Director Dr Anna Bussu): The Centre for Applied Criminal Justice and Policing Research membership includes ECRs, PGRs and practitioners moving into academia. 

Centre for Applied Criminal Justice and Policing Research Themes: The Centre will evolve its themes collaboratively and in coproduction with its members across academic disciplines, policy and practice, and through those with lived/living experience of the CJS. A key aim is to develop a meaningful taxonomy that engages researchers, practitioners, government and official bodies at the intersections of social institutions along the criminal justice pipeline.  

Aims  

The aims of the Centre for Applied Criminal Justice and Policing Research are to:  

1. Become the leading centre for interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary research in applied criminal justice and policing in the UK in the next five year.  

1. Produce high-quality, interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary research, which is policy relevant, and practice focused, and has an impact across criminal justice, policing and associated systems, including multi-agency and collocation contexts.    

1. Produce high quality evidence and engage in activity that supports knowledge exchange across criminal justice, policing and associated systems and institutions at strategic and operational levels.  

1. Act as a national hub for the co-production, implementation, and dissemination of research and knowledge exchange in criminal justice and policing.  

1. Further enhance Edge Hill University’s local, regional and national reputation for research in criminal justice and for applied research with impact.  

1. Bring together researchers, policy makers and practitioners, and those with lived / living experience of criminal justice to better understand how to develop and support systems and institutions that deliver fair, effective, and accountable criminal justice for all.