PhD Research

A PhD (proffering the title 'Doctor of Philosophy') is the highest degree that a student can achieve, and is highly advantageous to a policing career. The Centre for Policing Research and Learning operates a 50% funded part-time PhD studentship programme for employees of our policing partners. This programme supports academically rigorous and timely doctoral research of relevance to policing. We also support affiliated PhD students conducting policing research across The Open University.

Part-time PhDs take between 3 and 8 years, and result in a thesis typically between 80,000 to 100,000 words in length. Students are supported by a specialist supervisory team, and learn techniques which enable a significant contribution to knowledge within their selected subject.

PhDs can be taken in any of the Centre's themed research areas, and opportunities are notified via Centre correspondence. A full list of PhD projects is below.  

We have opportunities for part funded MPhil research.  For more information look here.

CPRL studentship PhDs in progress

Developing and evaluating a training and competency framework for forensic facial identification

Super-recognisers

The effect of using an interpreter on the accuracy of witness accounts gathered from police interviews

The predictive potential of police operating models: How complex systems theory can support a data-driven simulation of police policy to improve efficiency

Ethics in policing

What works to increase female representation within specialist tactical roles

Tackling serious and organised crime: processes, challenges and consequences of prioritisation

Online dating initiated sexual offending

Indecent Images of children in the UK: Has the current threat gone beyond policing’s capability to respond to it

CPRL affiliated PhD research

UK police use of social media

History of police archiving practices

Serial stalking interventions

Information systems and bias within police forces