New Zealand: Police and University of Waikato join forces on crime research

University of Waikato has partnered with the New Zealand police to form a Centre for Evidence Based Policing, the first ever in the island nation, reported Stuff.

Initial works will start in the next six months and will be for six years. The agreement between the parties will be for six years. Key focus areas will include victims and road policing.

Staff from the police force and university will collaborate with their strategic partners on research projects at the centre in the country’s capital. The centre will be joined by another research hub at the Royal New Zealand Police College.

“Being able to work alongside academia will enable us to not only improve our research capability, but also influence future policing decisions using evidence and insights gained from research,” said New Zealand police deputy chief executive for strategy Mark Evans.

Police and University of Waikato form research partnership to tackle crime https://t.co/v5QBTTTNXj pic.twitter.com/HUBQ1A6zY7

— Stuff (@NZStuff) January 11, 2017

Evidence-based policing is an approach to policy and decision-making for law enforcement agencies, emphasising on statistical analysis and empirical research, instead of traditional methods of policing.

Commissioner of New Zealand Police Mike Bush said the centre and the work it produces will be a valuable resource and will help police improve public trust and confidence.

According to Waikato Vice Chancellor Professor Neil Quigley, the centre is to complement the work already done by the university’s Institute of Crime Science.

“It is the first initiative in what I hope will be a long and productive relationship between the University of Waikato and New Zealand police,” he said.

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