Pre-announcement: Trust and confidence in policing: R&I Consortium
UKRI's Trust and confidence in policing: R&I Consortium grant funds research to develop innovative, inclusive tools for measuring and improving public trust in UK policing, focusing on diverse and underrepresented communities.
Funder: UK Research and Innovation
Due Dates: October 27, 2026 (Full application closing date)
Funding Amounts: Up to £2,000,000 total (80% FEC funded by UKRI); project duration 36 months
Summary: Major consortium grant to develop and test innovative, real-time tools for measuring and improving public trust and confidence in UK policing, especially for underrepresented groups.
Key Information: Project must start by February 1, 2027; pre-announcement—details may change.
Description
This funding opportunity supports the creation of a large, multidisciplinary Research & Innovation Consortium to develop, pilot, and refine dynamic, scalable, and inclusive tools for measuring public trust and confidence in UK policing. The initiative seeks to address significant gaps in current methodologies by focusing on real-time, affordable, and user-friendly measures that capture the perspectives of diverse communities—especially those traditionally underrepresented, such as children under 18 and victims of violence against women and girls. The consortium will bring together academic researchers, police, policymakers, third sector organisations, community groups, and industry partners to co-create solutions, run pilots, and ultimately contribute to a national Public Confidence in Policing Playbook. Genuine community co-design, robust stakeholder engagement, and adherence to ethical and trusted research principles are central to the project.
