The Office of the Police Chief Scientific Adviser (OPCSA) is pleased to share the recognition of Professor Paul Taylor, Chief Scientific Adviser, in the King’s Birthday Honours, where he has been made Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) for services to science and technology in policing.

Professor Taylor has served as Chief Scientific Adviser since the role was first established. During this time, he has worked with colleagues across government, policing, academia and industry to establish policing’s national science and technology strategy and build a system that grows new ideas into national solutions.

The OPCSA team has been strategically involved in initiatives including Operation Soteria, AI assistant call handling, Live Facial Recognition, Operation Minerva, Operation Vigilant, Rapid Video Response, Auto Redaction and Robotic Process Automation. Professor Taylor has led key initiatives to cohere the police science system, including the Police Problem Book, the Policing Academic Centres of Excellence, and two critical enablers of innovation for policing: the Police STAR fund and Test and Learn Fund.

In his characteristically modest way, Paul said:

“I’m delighted to receive this recognition. I’ve had the privilege of working with many talented people over my career and see this honour as a reflection of the important work we’ve done together.

Science sits at the heart of how we will improve policing in the years to come. While serving as CSA, I have had a front row view of these contributions. They are made without fanfare yet have profoundly improved public safety. I am pleased that the value of science and innovation is being recognised in this way.

Five years ago, much of our innovation landscape was nascent. Today it is far busier, which reflects how far we have come, with more people, disciplines and ideas contributing to the mission. The sector has truly embraced our vision of being the most science-led service in the world, and those efforts are translating into far better public safety and victim care.”

Professor Taylor became the first Police Chief Scientific Adviser in 2021. Internationally recognised for his contribution to behavioural science in policing and national security, his work has informed approaches to conflict that are now used by police forces worldwide. He is Professor of Psychology at Lancaster University and has established leading research initiatives, including Security Lancaster and the UK Centre for Research and Evidence on Security Threats, bringing together academic expertise to inform policy and practice.