Trust and confidence in policing: R&I Consortium
Trust and confidence in policing: R&I Consortium supports researchers, police and community partners to develop real-time trust measures and test interventions to improve public confidence in UK policing.
Funder: UK Research and Innovation
Due Dates: October 27, 2026, 4:00pm UK time (Application) | February 1, 2027 (Latest project start)
Funding Amounts: Up to £2 million full economic cost; UKRI funds 80% FEC; 36 months
Summary: Supports one consortium to develop real-time measures of public trust in UK policing and test interventions that improve it.
Key Information: Project leads must be based at a UK research organisation eligible for UKRI funding, and at least 40% of FEC must support a ring-fenced flexible fund.
Description
UK Research and Innovation will establish one Research and Innovation Consortium through the Safer Streets Research and Development Missions Accelerator Programme. It will bring together academics, police, community safety and justice leads, policymakers, third sector organisations, community groups and industry partners to co-produce practical, inclusive measures of trust and confidence in UK policing.
The consortium will develop affordable, accessible, scalable tools that capture real-time feedback and address gaps in conventional surveys. It must prioritise children under 18 and victims and survivors of violence against women and girls, while including other underrepresented communities. Tools will be tested and refined through policing interventions in at least four areas. A devolved flexible fund will support small-scale pilots and novel, high-risk innovations involving communities. Findings will contribute to a Public Confidence in Policing Playbook.
