The University of Portsmouth’s Institute of Criminal Justice Studies has won an award for its work with Hampshire Police. The ICJS won the 2015 Times Higher Education Award for Outstanding Employer Engagement Initiative.
The prize was awarded for the university’s Forensic Innovation Centre’s work with the police to create the first operational police forensic facility in the country to be based on a university campus. The centre combines forensic science and digital investigators with a learning facility for researchers, students and serving police staff to work side by side to solve crimes, giving students in particular a strong boost in learning and their future careers. The judges said they were impressed by an initiative with such clear benefits for both parties.
Vice-chancellor of the University, Professor Graham Galbraith said: “I am absolutely delighted we have won this award which is an endorsement of our strong partnership with the Hampshire constabulary. We are proud to be pioneering a partnership which delivers measurable benefits to our students, our researchers and to the police.”
Detective Superintendent Phil McTavish, from Hampshire Constabulary, said: “We have over the last year forged a highly innovative and productive partnership in forensic science with the University of Portsmouth and with our very close working partners at the Institute of Criminal Justice Studies particularly. This award is fantastic news and provides strong affirmation from the THE panel of the significant benefits our partnership delivers for students, staff and policing operations.
“We look forward to building upon this very welcome success with our University of Portsmouth partners in developing and delivering further innovative and beneficial opportunities for our students, staff and of course for the public in the future.”
Police staff can support students through honorary lectureship positions and police-student mentoring, and students are provided with opportunities for internships or year-long sandwich courses. They gain experience of working on forensics while police staff gain access to teaching support and university resources, which can contribute to their professional development. The centre also gives Hampshire Police instant access to a pool of fully vetted and trained potential employees.
In their comments, the judges said: “This is identifiably a new initiative which delivers clear benefits to both sides. The way the police are embedded in the course delivery and the way students gain highly relevant practical experience, seem to be the right kind of employer engagement.”
ICJS’s victory was witnessed by more than 1100 people at the awards, hosted by comedian Rory Bremner. Visit www.the-awards.co.uk.
