About the research
The Trauma Resilience in UK Policing project explores how to better support the brain's ability to process trauma exposure and maintain resilience in contemporary operational policing and how this transfers across to other Emergency Response work, such as the RNLI. The project is sponsored by The Wates Family Enterprise Trust in 2024-2025 and works in collaboration with the Department of Sociology. Together, we provide practical techniques, training material and evidence-based insight to bring real effective change to trauma management for Emergency Responders and their families. The project also feeds into the work of The Royal Foundation of the Prince and Princess of Wales through their Senior Leaders Board and to the National Police Chief's Council regarding policing culture.
The project has been reported on by BBC News, BBC Inside out, Channel 4 Dispatches and The One Show as well as having featured in the national press, including newspapers, digital coverage and radio throughout 2019. The study was also selected for the Cambridge Research Evaluation Framework (REF) 2021 and nominated for the Vice Chancellor’s Research Impact and Engagement Awards 2019. We also represented the work at the May 2024 Westminster Select Committee for Policing. Here is a testimonial to some of the work from AC Neil Basu QPM former National Lead for Counter Terrorism Policing:
“Counter Terrorism Policing is full of officers and staff who do not need to be motivated to stop terrorists. They get up every day to put themselves psychologically and physically in harm’s way on behalf of the public they are sworn to protect. But, behind the badge they are human beings who experience the most terrible things and it has a profound impact that needs training care and support - precisely the kind of training, care and support you provide. I am more grateful for your help than I can possibly express in this short statement but simply I say - thank you.”
