Experts gather at Cardiff’s inaugural security, crime, and intelligence conference

Cardiff University’s Security, Crime, and Intelligence Innovation Institute drew together respected experts in the fields of policing, public safety, and security to share research and develop innovative solutions to the problems of crime, global security, and social control.

The conference, which took place on Thursday 7 December at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff, delved into issues related to public order, policing visions, modern slavery, domestic violence, and the interplay between social media misinformation and incivility. Additionally, cutting-edge research on detecting anti-vaccine content on X/Twitter and analysing conspiracy theory and fake news spreaders in social media networks was presented. The conference served as a platform for interdisciplinary discussions, fostering collaboration between academia, law enforcement, and the media.

A highlight of the conference was a keynote address delivered by Paul Chichester MBE, the Director of Operations at the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC). Mr. Chichester provided valuable insights into the evolving landscape of cybersecurity and discussed the importance of a multi-disciplinary approach to national security.

He said “The NCSC was founded with a mission to make the UK the safest place to live and work online, and seven years later, despite an ever-changing threat landscape, that remains the case."

The conference welcomed more than 80 attendees, including researchers from Cardiff University, and representatives from Welsh Government, Cardiff Council, and the South Wales Police and Crime Commissioner’s Office. It concluded with an expert panel session which included Superintendent Esyr Jones (South Wales Police), Gemma Dunstan (Senior Journalist Reporter at BBC Wales), and Dave Braines (Chief Technology Officer for Emerging Technology at IBM Research UK), where attendees had the opportunity to ask the panel about the most pressing challenges facing their sector.

Professor Martin Innes, Lead Co-Director of the Institute, said: "In a world that feels increasingly unstable and uncertain, it is important that high quality research is directed to where it is most needed and can have the greatest impact. This is the agenda for the Cardiff Security, Crime and Intelligence Conference."

The Security, Crime, and Intelligence Innovation Institute is part of a £5.4 million investment from Cardiff University in five innovation and research institutes to tackle the biggest issues facing society, the economy, and the environment.