Evidence-Based Policing (EBP) is growing globally, ensuring that policing strategy, operations and tactics are based on what works, according to evidence and research. Rather than being guided by assumptions, tradition, convention, or subjective impressions, EBP combines the existing skills, knowledge and experience of police with research, crime science, problem-solving and testing. In October 2022 the Global Collaboration of Evidence Based Policing broadcast a fully live studio-quality 24- hour continuous conference out of two hubs – Christchurch, New Zealand and London, United Kingdom. The Global Collaboration of Evidence Based Policing has now teamed-up with Policing TV to bring the best of the conference material to a wider audience.

This second video in the series focuses on: Challenging Traditional Thinking – EBP in Policing

Chair

Stef Bradley (KPMG Australia)

Panellists

Stuart Bartels (Australian Institute of Police Management)

Dr Robyn Mildon (Centre for Evidence and Implementation, Australia)

Dave Cowan (Victoria Police, Australia)

Mike Newman (Queensland Police, Australia)

Rachel Tuffin OBE (College of Policing, UK)

Session sponsored by: Accenture and AWS

Introduced by Stef Bradley as a ‘somewhat controversial discussion’, the panel focus is on challenging traditional ways of policing to really embed the practice of Evidence Based Policing. Panel members share their insights – with a highly practical flavour. Mike Newman stresses the need for an evidence based culture, Dave Cowan talks about ‘the game of survival in dealing with the complexity of policing’ while Stu Bartels responds to a question about what gets in the way of evidence based practice by referencing geo-political issues, public expectations and the challenges faced by police leaders in dealing with the volume of day-to-day issues.

In identifying ways to drive greater uptake of evidence based practice, Rachel Tuffin highlights the opportunities presented by the inherent curiosity and entrepreneurial nature of police staff as an opportunity to take a systems based approach to evidence based practice. Combining innovators with the critical need to ensure it is seen as a credible and serious contribution to operational work. Robyn Mildon talks about implementation issues, with a strong focus on the context, and the fact that evidence is often not transferable, without some additional work to apply it to the local environment. In short, finding the right fit, and knowing that complexity is a killer in terms of implementation.

In responding to the challenges, the panellists provide insights and detail on a range of positive examples that have collectively contributed to better operational policing outcomes by taking an evidence based approach.