“Practical Research and Research Practice – Police Science into a New Decade” was the title of the CEPOL Police Research and Science Conference 2010, organised by the Norwegian Police University College and the CEPOL Secretariat in Oslo, Norway on 26-28 October 2010.
Fifty-four participants and 14 experts from 24 different countries, Europol and Interpol took part in the conference. The participants were offered lectures from specialised researchers and could actively take part in discussions and working groups.
Several topics which cross the borders of police research, were presented during the conference:
- Professor Wouter Stol’s research on operational police work in Europe – Policing the Streets of Europe
- Professor Tore Bjørgo and Dr. SIlje Fekjær’s research on Police students– who are they?
- Gavin Oxburgh and DSC Trond Myklebust – Investigative Interviewing of Victims and Suspects
- Dr. Tim Grant – Developing Investigative Linguistics as a Forensic Science
- Dr. Karl Ask - Criminal investigation: Motivation, Emotion and Cognition in the Processing of Evidence
The conference’s other topics also made important contributions to the development of a European Platform in police research. A constant “European Dimension” could be felt during the conference which was underlined by great discussions and insightful participants. Important new considerations were reached during discussions regarding successful and legal investigative methods. Precious new ideas were also shared in the fields of illegal immigration and use of firearms within police forces. These ideas and considerations, seen in the context of European police culture, are fundamental for the future of police related research in Europe.
During the conference CEPOL discovered a potential new partner for specific courses and/or support to research projects. The International Investigative Interviewing Research Group (iIIRG) was formed in 2007 and is a worldwide network of professionals, with collaborative interests, working with international bodies committed to improving investigative interviewing and ensuring all improvements are underpinned by a robust evidence base.
The Bologna process focuses on the necessity of mobility as a means to understanding different cultures, necessary to increase the quality of education and research. The European Union is striving to create a single ‘European Research Area’ that encourages knowledge transfer through networks of world-class European researchers. This conference was a large step towards that goal.
Further information about the Police Research and Science Conference 2010 can be found by registered users in the LMS section of CEPOL’s e-Net.
