Updates from the Office of the Police Chief Scientific Adviser (OPCSA)
The NPCC, including the OPCSA, in partnership with UK Research and Innovation (UKRI), has launched nine Policing Academic Centres of Excellence (P-ACEs) to put cutting-edge research at the heart of policing.
November’s launch at the University of Birmingham brought together all nine centres, each aligned to Policing’s Areas of Research Interest (ARIs). P-ACEs have two core aims:
Collaborating with forces – co-developing research and knowledge exchange to address operational challenges.
P-ACEs will strengthen links between policing and academia, making it easier for forces to access the best evidence, science, and technology the UK has to offer.
Explore each centre at science.police.uk for updates, events, and collaboration opportunities. Forces keen to engage should contact their Research and Innovation Lead (RIL) or Regional Science and Innovation Manager (RSIM), and access the P-ACE Knowledge Hub.
The Police STAR Fund continues to champion science and technology solutions that deliver real benefits to policing and the public. The fund supports locally driven innovation and fosters collaboration to tackle operational challenges.
Building on the success of previous rounds, with ~100 projects funded since 2021/22 and over £13m invested, the latest Expression of Interest (EOI) process for 2025/26 has now closed, attracting 149 submissions. This strong response from forces and partners highlights the growing appetite for practical, evidence-based solutions. Shortlisted EOIs are now moving through assessment, with final project selections to be announced soon. These projects will join a growing portfolio of initiatives that have achieved national recognition and secured additional funding for scale-up.
For more details on the Police STAR Fund and previous projects, visit science.police.uk.
The Office of the Police Chief Scientific Adviser (OPCSA) is driving forward plans to establish a dedicated science and technology profession within policing. This initiative will strengthen the scientific community’s role in modern policing, creating a hub for career development, skills growth, and attracting top talent to the sector.
Alongside this, OPCSA is shaping the blueprint for a Science and Technology Academy - a cornerstone for future-proofing policing capabilities. Through workshops and stakeholder engagement, the Academy is focused on overcoming barriers, defining success, and fostering innovation.
Next steps include refining deliverables and launching a co-creation consultation with forces, academia, and international experts.
Further details and opportunities to contribute will be shared via science.police.uk.
Through extensive consultation across policing, and a review of our identified challenges, the NPCC and OPCSA have identified and have made publicly available 13 underlying problems which drive structural inefficiencies and pressures for policing. This clarification of our near term and long-term challenges will hopefully stimulate co-investment with government and industry partners.
The Test and Learn Fund give forces the freedom to experiment with smaller, agile funding pots, helping policing test, adapt, fail, and learn quickly before committing to large-scale investment. Since its launch, the first two rounds have supported projects such as AI procedural support for frontline officers, cutting response times from 20 minutes to under 30 seconds; remote monitoring for crisis negotiation using body-worn video; crime scene guarding technology to free up officer time and immersive VR training for domestic abuse response. These trials demonstrate the value of rapid innovation, delivering insights, highlighting challenges, and shaping future deployments.
