UK Research & Innovation (UKRI) has pre-announced a funding opportunity, part of the Safer Streets Research and Development Missions Accelerator Programme, to establish one Research & Innovation Consortium focused on trust and confidence in policing in the UK. The consortium will develop novel, engaging and dynamic methods that give police and their partners real-time feedback on trust and confidence, addressing gaps in existing tools such as the Crime Survey for England and Wales, the Public Perceptions Tracker and local crime surveys, and will test new ways of improving trust through pilots in at least four areas. It must prioritise understanding and capturing the experiences and perceptions of children under 18 and of victims of violence against women and girls, and should include other underrepresented groups prioritised with local forces while still giving a comprehensive indication of trust across the British public. Workstreams cover an initial scoping phase, tool development, trial and testing against real-world policing interventions, refinement, and contribution to a Public Confidence in Policing Playbook, supported by a ring-fenced devolved funding pot for small-scale pilot projects. The core team should combine social science leadership with thematic and place-based expertise from beyond the social sciences and beyond academia, alongside police, community safety and justice leads, policymakers, third sector organisations, community groups and industry partners. The project lead must be based at a UK research organisation eligible for UKRI funding; individuals from UK business, third sector or government bodies can be included as project co-leads, and international researchers can apply as project co-lead (international). The full economic cost of a project can be up to GBP 2 million, of which UKRI will fund 80%. The consortium must start by 1 February 2027 for a duration of 36 months, with scoping complete by July 2027, tools available for piloting by December 2027, trial testing and refinement by March 2029 and project completion by March 2030. This is a pre-announcement, the information may change, and the funding opportunity was due to open on 1 September 2026.
- Affiliation requirementProject leads must be based at a UK research organisation eligible for UKRI funding.
- StatusOpen
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