Description
I was seconded to the national policing Vulnerability Knowledge and Practice programme between 2018 to 2025. I took on the role of Head of Research and Review of the VKPP in 2022 until 2025. My role involved oversight of the research strategy and activity of the national policing programme, which involved a range of research activity across voice of the victim, information sharing, sex work, meta-analysis of statutory safeguarding reviews and also oversight of the VKPP's commissioned role with the Child Safeguarding Practice Review Panel. For this role, I had oversight of the teams data extraction and analysis of rapid reviews, dataset management and production of the Panel's annual reviews and thematic reports.Please tell us why you participated in this external engagement, detailing the problem you solved (HEBCI)
I participated in this external engagement as part of a national effort to strengthen policing’s response to vulnerability and improve safeguarding practice across England and Wales. Through my secondment to the Vulnerability Knowledge and Practice Programme (VKPP) from 2018–2025—and my role as Head of Research and Review from 2022—I provided strategic oversight of a wide portfolio of research that addressed longstanding gaps in how police understand and respond to victims of abuse and exploitation. The programme faced the challenge of highly variable evidence use across forces, limited synthesis of national learning, and the need for improved analytical capability in areas such as voice of the victim, information sharing, sex work, and statutory reviews. My role directly addressed these problems by leading the development and governance of the VKPP research strategy, overseeing high‑quality evidence generation, and ensuring findings were translated into national policing practice. I also had responsibility for the VKPP’s commissioned work with the Child Safeguarding Practice Review Panel, including oversight of rapid review analysis, dataset management, and production of annual and thematic national reports. This work improved the consistency, robustness, and practical utility of safeguarding evidence available to policing and national partners, ultimately enhancing the system’s ability to identify, respond to, and prevent harm to children and vulnerable adults.| Period | 1 Sept 2018 → 11 Aug 2025 |
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| Held at | The Vulnerability Knowledge and Practice Programme, United Kingdom |
| Degree of Recognition | National |