Glasgow Caledonian to help deliver new Policing Academic Centre of Excellence

Glasgow Caledonian University will partner with three institutions to deliver a new Scottish Policing Academic Centre of Excellence.

The National Police Chiefs' Council announced today that nine new academic centres will launch across the UK in October 2025, funded by UK Research and Innovation (UKRI).

Edinburgh Napier will lead the Scottish centre, in partnership with Glasgow Caledonian, the University of Edinburgh and the University of St Andrews.

Backed by £4.5 million in funding and working with police services across the UK, the Centres of Excellence will ensure that policing policy is shaped by the latest and best scientific expertise.

Professor Lesley McMillan, director of the Scottish Cold Case Unit at Glasgow Caledonian, will lead the prevention theme, in collaboration with Sarah Marsden of the University of St Andrews.

Today’s announcement will result in £300,000 being distributed to support new research and knowledge exchange activity in Scotland over the next three years.

The new centre will be led by Professor Liz Aston of Edinburgh Napier and will focus on three main themes - safety, prevention and analytics.

Professor Paul Taylor, Police Chief Scientific Adviser, said: “Academia and policing have a long history of collaborative working on issues as diverse as forensic science, crime prevention, and analytical technologies.

“I’m particularly excited about what the centres can bring to early career scientists who are interested in tackling the complex challenge of keeping the UK public safe.

"It will provide them more opportunities and greater support as we look to forge deep and lasting partnerships over the next decade.”