Scottish Institute for Policing Research

What Scottish Institute for Policing Research does

The Scottish Institute for Policing Research (SIPR) is a strategic multi-institutional research collaboration founded in 2007 and hosted by Edinburgh Napier University in Edinburgh, United Kingdom. It operates as a partnership between 14+ Scottish universities, Police Scotland (the national police service), and the Scottish Police Authority (the governance oversight body). SIPR's core function is to commission, fund, and disseminate multi-disciplinary policing research that informs evidence-based policy and operational practice across Scotland. Its product portfolio comprises grant schemes (ECR grants up to £3,000, responsive research funds, knowledge exchange and dissemination funds of £5,000, targeted research calls, studentships, and leverage funds), four thematic research networks (Organisational Development, Police Community, Evidence Investigation & Forensic Practice, Digital Policing and Technological Harms), a practitioner fellowship scheme, annual impact awards, and the annual Scottish International Policing Conference.

In May 2025, SIPR's model was formally extended through the launch of SPACE (Scottish Policing Academic Centre of Excellence), one of only nine UKRI-backed Policing Academic Centres of Excellence (P-ACE) in the UK and the sole P-ACE covering Scotland. SPACE operates under a Safety, Prevention, Analytics, Confidence and Ethics framework and is backed by £4.5M of UKRI funding distributed over three years, enabling £300k of annual research commissioning. SPACE allocated £125,421 across seven projects in 2025/26 covering violence against older women, counter-terrorism, AI-enabled offending, road safety, policing data communication, and data literacy.

SIPR is not a commercial entity and does not sell products or services. Its operating revenue is derived from UKRI grant funding (via the P-ACE award to Edinburgh Napier University), collaborative contributions from member universities, and partnership funding from Police Scotland and the Scottish Police Authority. The institute had approximately 12 employees as of the data period. Leadership transitioned in August 2025 from Professor Liz Aston (Director 2018–2025) to Dr Andrew Wooff. Geographic focus is Scotland-centric, with selected international academic partnerships (George Mason University, Linnaeus University, Global Law Enforcement and Public Health Association) extending its evidence-based policing research network globally.

Name

Scottish Institute for Policing Research

Legal name

Scottish Institute for Policing Research

Website

https://sipr.ac.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

2007

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Scottish Institute for Policing Research (SIPR) is a multi-institutional research collaboration hosted by Edinburgh Napier University, partnering 14+ Scottish universities with Police Scotland and the Scottish Police Authority to commission and disseminate evidence-based policing research across Scotland.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Policing Research Services

NAICS

Grantmaking and Giving Services (81321)

SIC

Services-Management Consulting Services (8742)

akta.pro primary industry

Research & Science Grantmaking Foundations (BPAGAKAI)

akta.pro secondary industries

Public Charities & Grantmaking Intermediaries (BPAGAKAE), Public-Private Partnerships (PPP) in Education (EDADALAD)

Keywords

• Policing research
• Evidence-based policing
• Knowledge exchange
• Criminal justice research
• Academic research collaboration

Headquarters

HQ city

Edinburgh

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. UKRI Funding: Primary funding from UK Research and Innovation through the Policing Academic Centre of Excellence (P-ACE) award, which distributes £300k annually to support new research and knowledge exchange activity in Scotland
2. Member University Contributions: Collaborative funding from consortium of Scottish universities including Edinburgh Napier University, University of Edinburgh, University of St Andrews, Glasgow Caledonian University, and other member institutions
3. Police Scotland Partnership Funding: Strategic collaboration funding from Police Scotland as primary policing partner
4. Scottish Police Authority Funding: Governance and strategic partnership funding from the Scottish Police Authority

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

SIPR is a strategic research collaboration that distributes funding through competitive grants (ECR grants up to £3,000, Responsive Research Funds, Knowledge Exchange funds, Studentships), operates thematic research networks, runs a Practitioner Fellowship Scheme, hosts the annual Scottish International Policing Conference, and publishes policing research outputs for academic and policing audiences. Its core service is the brokerage and production of evidence-based policing research for Scotland's policing partners and member universities.

Product overview

The Scottish Institute for Policing Research (SIPR) is a strategic collaboration between Scotland's universities, Police Scotland, and the Scottish Police Authority. Rather than a commercial software product, SIPR offers a portfolio of research support services including: SPACE (UKRI-funded Centre of Excellence focused on Safety, Prevention, Analytics, Confidence and Ethics), comprehensive grants programmes (ECR grants up to £3,000, Knowledge Exchange funds, Studentships), thematic research networks, Practitioner Fellowship Scheme, Impact Awards, and an annual international conference. The portfolio supports internationally excellent, multi-disciplinary policing research to enable evidence-informed policy and practice across Scotland.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• SPACE (Scottish Policing Academic Centre of Excellence): UKRI funded Centre of Excellence building on the SIPR model, led by Edinburgh Napier University, University of St Andrews, Glasgow Caledonian University, and University of Edinburgh. Research themes: Safety, Prevention, Analytics, Confidence and Ethics.

Products and services

• SPACE - Scottish Policing Academic Centre of Excellence UKRI-funded Centre of Excellence led by Edinburgh Napier University with the University of St Andrews, Glasgow Caledonian University, and the University of Edinburgh. Research is organised around five themes: Safety, Prevention, Analytics, Confidence and Ethics, with £4.5 million of UKRI backing.
• SIPR Grants Programme Portfolio of research funding schemes for member-university researchers and police practitioners, including ECR Grant Scheme (up to £3,000), Responsive Research Fund, Studentships, Targeted Research Calls, Think Big Leverage Fund, Knowledge Exchange & Dissemination Fund (£5,000), and Scottish Justice Fellows.
• Thematic Research Networks Four standing research networks — Organisational Development, Police Community, Evidence Investigation & Forensic Practice, and Digital Policing and Technological Harms — plus a Postgraduate & Early Career Researchers network, coordinating community building and collaborative research across member universities.
• Practitioner Fellowship Scheme Scheme enabling serving police practitioners to be seconded into collaborative research projects with academics, supporting evidence-informed policing practice and translation of research into operational contexts.
• Scottish International Policing Conference (SIPC) Annual international conference bringing together policing professionals, researchers, policymakers and partners; the 13th edition takes place 26 June 2026 at the University of Stirling, including the 54th James Smart Memorial Lecture and 4th Nick Fyfe Lecture.
• SIPR Impact Awards Annual £500-prize awards recognising individuals or teams whose research has made significant contributions to policing, policy and practice, with two categories: SIPR Impact Award and SIPR Early Career Researcher Impact Award.
• SIPR Research Publications Research outputs library including Annual Reports, Briefing Papers, Research Reports, Webinars, Podcasts, and Practitioner Fellowship Reports covering policing research in Scotland.

Quantifiable outcome

• SPACE invested £125,421 across 7 research and knowledge exchange projects in 2025/26
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

20 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Edinburgh Napier UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHost institution for SIPR and lead for SPACE (Scottish Policing Academic Centre of Excellence). Professor Liz Aston serves as Director of SIPR and SPACE Lead. Edinburgh Napier hosts the majority of SIPR's core operations and staff.
• Police ScotlandcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPrimary policing partner in the strategic collaboration. SIPR supports evidence-informed policing through research funding, practitioner fellowships, and knowledge exchange. Police Scotland provides access to operational contexts for research.
• Scottish Police AuthoritycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGovernance partner providing oversight of Police Scotland. Partnership enables research on governance, performance measurement, and forensic services. SPA Head of Strategy and Performance participates in SIPR activities.
• University of EdinburghcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSPACE Analytics theme co-lead under Professor Susan McVie. Contributes expertise in quantitative criminology and works with Police Scotland and Scottish Prevention Hub on data-driven innovation.
• University of St AndrewscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSPACE Prevention theme co-lead under Dr Sarah Marsden (Handa Centre for the Study of Terrorism and Political Violence). Contributes expertise in counter-terrorism and prevention research.
• Glasgow Caledonian UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSPACE Prevention theme co-lead under Professor Lesley McMillan (director of Scottish Cold Case Unit). Contributes expertise in gender-based violence research.
• National Police Chiefs' Council (NPCC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUK policing leadership body that announced the nine P-ACE centres across the UK in partnership with UKRI. NPCC collaboration ensures SPACE research addresses national policing priorities.
• Scottish Centre for Crime and Justice Research (SCCJR)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint residential writing retreats organized with SCCJR for doctoral and early career researchers from partner universities. Collaboration strengthens research capacity across Scottish criminology.
• Queen Margaret UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerVenue for SIPR and SCCJR joint residential writing retreat (August 2025). Part of the broader university network supporting policing research collaboration.
• Abertay UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-funded PhD studentship on deepfake identification for policing (£20,780 annual stipend). Partnership includes cyberQuarter involvement and Police Scotland collaboration.
• University of DundeeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSIPR member university contributing to policing research. Researchers including Dr Matt Richardson conduct studies on policing practice affecting Gypsy, Roma, and Traveller groups.
• University of StirlingminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHost venue for the 13th Scottish International Policing Conference (June 2026). SIPR member university supporting research activities.
• University of the West of ScotlandminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSIPR engagement event hosted by UWS Crime, Justice and Security Research Group. Collaboration discussion on funding opportunities, networks, and future areas for research.
• Senior LivesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThird sector partner in SPACE research on Older Women and Sexual Violence (£23,877 award). Collaboration with Glasgow Caledonian University and Police Scotland.
• Rape Crisis ScotlandminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThird sector partner in Older Women and Sexual Violence research project. Collaboration to ensure research informs policy and practice in violence prevention.
• Fair Justice System for Scotland (FJSS)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborating organization in SPACE research on Enhancing Confidence in Policing Data (£23,722.24). Researcher Silence Chihuri serves as collaborative investigator.
• George Mason University (Center for Evidence-Based Crime Policy)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational partner featuring Professor Cynthia Lum at the Scottish International Policing Conference 2026. Represents global evidence-based policing collaboration.
• Society of Evidence-Based PolicingminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUK organization represented at SIPC 2026 conference. Dr Matt Bland serves as Chief Operating Officer and contributes to global evidence-based policing movement.
• Linnaeus University (Sweden)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational research partner exploring police academic partnerships. Dr Magnus Persson and Dr Cecilia Jonsson participate in comparative police education research and RECPOL project.
• Global Law Enforcement and Public Health AssociationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational organization with neurodiversity special interest group. SIPR collaborates on neurodiversity and policing conferences with GLEPHA involvement.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Scottish Centre for Crime and Justice Research (SCCJR): Scotland-based criminology research collaboration that co-organises writing retreats with SIPR; overlaps in geography, member universities and subject matter.
• Cambridge Centre for Evidence-Based Policing: One of the other nine UK P-ACE centres, focused on evidence-based policing — directly comparable as a UK policing-academic partnership with similar mission and funding profile.
• George Mason University Center for Evidence-Based Crime Policy: US-based evidence-based policing research centre that featured at SIPR's 2026 conference — a leading international peer in the same evidence-based policing movement.
• UCL Jill Dando Institute of Security and Crime Science: UCL's dedicated security and crime science research institute, one of the nine UK P-ACE centres and the closest direct comparator to SIPR in academic-policing research infrastructure.

Broad incumbents

• National Institute of Justice: US federal research and development agency for criminal justice; analogous to UKRI's role in funding policing research, with similar grantmaking and dissemination functions.
• RAND Corporation: Long-established policy research organisation with substantial public-safety and policing research practice; comparable as a multi-disciplinary research intermediary working with government.

Others

• Global Law Enforcement and Public Health Association (GLEPHA): International organisation that collaborates with SIPR on neurodiversity and policing conferences; comparable as an adjacent, thematically related research and convening body.

Emerging players

• Police Executive Research Forum (PERF): US-based policing research and policy organisation producing applied research for law-enforcement leaders; comparable as a practitioner-oriented research intermediary rather than a pure academic centre.
• Society of Evidence-Based Policing: UK organisation promoting evidence-based policing practice and represented at SIPR's 2026 conference; comparable in mission but more practitioner-led than SIPR's academic model.

Regional players

• Linnaeus University Centre for Police Research: Swedish university research partner involved in comparative police-education research with SIPR; comparable as a regional academic policing research centre with cross-border collaboration interest.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/thesipr
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCLgh1qZLeKMZprWJj_zF27Q
• Facebookfacebook.com/TheSIPR
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/thesipr
• Instagraminstagram.com/sipr_scotland

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Scottish Institute for Policing Research