Annual conference explores latest developments in policing and violence against women and girls

The event, attended by nearly 100 delegates from across the UK, focused on major challenges facing policing and communities in 2025.

Prof. Martin Innes, Lead Co-Director at the Institute, delivered the opening remarks and outlined some of the major societal and technological changes impacting the Institute’s work.

Special guest, Matt Jukes, Head of Counter Terrorism Policing, outlined the work of his team and the changing landscape of UK National Security.

The keynote address was given by Prof. Katrin Hohl OBE. She reflected on her part in Operation Soteria Bluestone, which aimed to support the move away from traditional policing methods around rape and sexual assault to better support survivors and increase rape charge rates.

Throughout the day, a series of papers from SCIII’s network, including those in receipt of seedcorn funding distributed by the Institute were presented, covering topics including far-right insurrections, bruise imaging across different skin tones and the use of Large Language Models (LLMs) to aid policymaking.

A panel of public and third sector experts including Prof. Hohl, Sara Kirkpatrick, CEO of Welsh Women’s Aid and Ian Roberts, Chief Superintendent, Policing in Wales, answered questions from delegates and discussed the challenges in effectively tackling violence against women and girls.

About SCIII

The Security, Crime and Intelligence Innovation Institute was established in 2015 (previously recognised as the Crime and Security Research Institute).

Their expertise spans criminology, computer science, strategic communications and behavioural science, with a particular interest in enabling collaboration across academic disciplines and thought communities. A lot of their work is challenge-led – designing and delivering scientific innovations by engaging with real-world problems.