Policing Justice and Society Seminar Series - Associate Prof. Sarah Soppitt, Northumbria University

Start date and time

Monday 2 December 2019

Location

Edinburgh Napier University, Sighthill Campus

Join us for a joint Edinburgh Napier University/ Scottish Institute of Policing Research end of year celebration with Associate Professor Sarah Soppitt.

Sarah will be discussing the College of Policing’s introduction of the new Police Education Qualifications Framework and accompanying entry routes into policing, which has led to much debate nationally as to whether Police Officers need a degree, but less as to what Police Officers should know and why. Over the last thirty years there has been much public policy debate on the desirability and necessity of higher education qualifications for Police Officers in England and Wales. Comparisons have been made with other sectors such as health in which robust strategic partnerships with HEIs are commonplace, whereas historically police programmes have consistently stalled when faced with this challenge. This session will review the new entry routes into Policing, the complex and changing nature of Policing and police work, and how this is reflected in ongoing discussion around contemporary police training and education programmes, arguing that it should be what we are delivering, rather than the award it attracts that needs further debate.

Sarah has worked in higher education for over 25 years, during which time she has undertaken a number of roles including Head of Department for Social Sciences, Associate Pro Vice Chancellor for Teaching and Learning, and more latterly the strategic lead for Policing. She has developed a number of key partnerships with the Police, Probation and Youth Justice, and third sector organisations which support broader teaching, learning and research agendas. She currently leads a multi-disciplinary team of academics with an interest in Policing, and manages the Northumbria Police & Durham Constabulary partnership. Her current research is largely around the work of social enterprise and cooperatives, and their role in developing employment opportunities for those with offending histories, and promoting desistance.

Research Areas

People

Schools