Project Minerva is a collaborative research initiative which has developed a statistical mapping tool to identify high-risk public place areas for violence against women and girls (VAWG) in Essex, known as ‘Minerva Zones’.

Call volumes to the police are increasing in volume and complexity - presenting a challenge for forces struggling to keep up with the demand, respond to calls, and investigate crimes effectively.  Non-urgent domestic abuse calls were an area of particular concern. We spoke to Stacey Rothwell about how she leveraged a new approach, through science and technology, to tackle the issue.

Partnerships between police and academic institutions have been crucial in advancing the field of forensic imaging. With the rapid pace of technological advancements, it is important for police forces to keep up with the latest developments to effectively serve the public. One such collaboration, in the field of forensic imaging, has allowed for the development of cutting-edge tools and techniques to aid in criminal investigations.

In the world of policing, science and technology play a vital role in ensuring we stay a step ahead on tackling and preventing crime to better protect the public, deliver justice, and support police on the frontline. Professor Michelle McManus, a specialist in safeguarding and violence prevention, has been working on a project called Yardbird, a beneficiary of Police Science, Technology, Analysis and Research (STAR) Funding.

TOEX, the specialised programme led by Kate Thacker, takes a proactive and intelligence-led approach to policing, offering resources and expertise to help agencies tackle complex cases involving organised exploitation.