Manchester has been officially recognised as one of the UK's new Policing Academic Centres of Excellence (PACE) as part of a national initiative to embed world-class research into frontline policing and community safety.
The M-PACE centre will be led jointly by experts from The University of Manchester and Manchester Metropolitan University, in partnership with local police, community groups and industry. It is one of nine PACE hubs launched across the UK by the National Police Chiefs' Council (NPCC) and UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) in a bid to transform how policing tackles today's complex challenges.
Backed by funding from the NPCC and UKRI, the centres will become long-term drivers of innovation - giving police forces across the UK access to cutting-edge research and practical expertise in everything from crime prevention and digital policing to ethics and public trust.
Unlike traditional academic centres, PACE hubs are designed to work hand-in-hand with police services to co-develop research that responds to real-world problems - from improving how crimes are investigated, to tackling violence, supporting victims, and rebuilding public confidence in law enforcement.
M-PACE will help the police to understand and use existing research by working together to share their knowledge, as well as creating new research in partnership with the police, and helping to train the next generation of policing researchers and professionals. The programme draws on a team with a strong track record in evidence-based policing to meet the ongoing research and innovation needs of UK policing.
As part of the wider PACE network, it will also help establish national best practices, support training and skills development in policing, and ensure new technologies and methods are evaluated using robust evidence.
"M-PACE is an exciting collaboration between Manchester Metropolitan University and The University of Manchester which will engage colleagues from multiple faculties and disciplines in a common project," said project co-lead Professor Jon Bannister of Manchester Metropolitan University. "Building on our rich and varied expertise, M-PACE will strive to meet the evidence needs of police forces. We will develop new research and knowledge exchange activities with the ambitions of helping improve public safety and improving the legitimacy of policing within communities."
The PACE programme marks a major shift in how UK policing engages with science and evidence. The initiative will create a collaborative, nationwide research infrastructure that reflects policing's Areas of Research Interest (ARIs) - from public protection to digital transformation. Each centre will act as a gateway to independent academic advice, helping forces to navigate complex issues and adopt effective, ethical strategies that serve diverse communities.
As the UK faces fast-changing demands on its police services, the launch of the PACE network signals a long-term commitment to smarter, safer, and more responsive policing - backed by the best that British academia has to offer.
"This is about making sure policing decisions are grounded in the best available knowledge," said Chief Constable Gavin Stephens, NPCC Chair. "It strengthens our commitment to evidence-based practice and shows our determination to be more transparent, accountable and effective."
Stian Westlake, Executive Chair of the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC), said: "The Policing Academic Centres of Excellence will forge closer relationships between police forces and researchers, providing the police with data and evidence to make the justice system work better.
"By bringing experts in policing practice together with social scientists and data scientists across the country, the centres will provide knowledge and insights to drive service improvement. These centres of excellence demonstrate our commitment to reducing crime and making Britain a safer place."
