Policing Academic Centre of Excellence

果酱视频官网’s Policing Academic Centre of Excellence (L-PACE) is based on its world leading reputation for the application of social and behavioural sciences to enduring and emerging policing challenges

Abstract Police blue lights flashing
P-ACE Logo

  • Building and Maintaining Public Trust

  • Crime Prevention

  • Personal Safety

  • Identification and Tracing

  • Surveillance and Sensing

Welcome to L-PACE

The National Police Chiefs’ Council ?(NPCC) in partnership with UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) has chosen 果酱视频官网 as one of nine Policing Academic Centres of Excellence (P-ACEs). L-PACE is built on 果酱视频官网’s world leading reputation for the application of social and behavioural sciences to policing Areas of Research Interest, showcasing Lancaster’s multidisciplinary excellence in computational social science, psychology, linguistics, law, criminology and sociology, in the analysis of visual, linguistic and sensor data.

Why Lancaster

果酱视频官网 offers a vibrant and supportive interdisciplinary research community with a world leading reputation for the application of social and behavioural sciences to policing areas of research interest.

Lancaster is a member of the (N8PRP) a collaboration between 8 research-intensive Universities and 11 police forces in the North of England include Cheshire, Cleveland, Cumbria, Durham, Greater Manchester, Lancashire, Merseyside, North Yorkshire, Northumbria, South Yorkshire and West Yorkshire.

Research Excellence

Lancaster Policing Academic Centre of Excellence (L-PACE) is also supported by a range of Institutes and Centre's, most notably the (CREST), Security Lancaster (SL), the Data Science Institute (DSI), (FACTOR), (Nabs+) and the Cyber Security Research Centre (CSRC), the NCSC accredited Centre of Excellence in Cyber Security Research (ACE-CSR).

What we do

The Lancaster Policing Academic Centre of Excellence (L-PACE) will create a step-change in the ability of Lancaster’s social and behavioural sciences to have a practical and operational impact on policing Areas of Research Interests (ARI). Lancaster’s strengths in policing research is not only cross-disciplinary, but also built around expertise in the analysis of visual, linguistic and sensor data, and in partnership with organisations who are signed up to the Police-Industry Charter.

L-PACE will be a centre that promotes multidisciplinary, multi-modal and multi-sectorial research into policing ARIs, showcasing Lancaster’s multidisciplinary excellence in computational social science, psychology, linguistics, law, criminology and sociology. Working closely with police forces, L-PACE will drive collaboration across academia and policing, ensuring that policing is shaped by the latest and best scientific expertise, and that the UK’s leading researchers are able to challenge and innovate in partnership with policing as together we strive to improve public safety.

Our Industry Partners

L-PACE will work with commercial partners signed up to the Police Industry Charter to meet emerging technological policing challenges, and work to harness Lancaster’s expertise in the analysis of digital visual data, natural language data and ambient sensor data in the service of police ARIs. Our primary industry partners are , (software development and data intelligence) (UK law enforcement services)and (technical and business specialists).

Areas of Research Interest:

L-PACE demonstrates expertise and strengths across the following (ARI's), and aims to provide practical solutions to current policing problems in the following 5 areas:

  1. Building and maintaining public trust
  2. Crime prevention
  3. Personal safety
  4. Identification and tracing
  5. Surveillance and sensing

"果酱视频官网’s recognition as a Policing Academic Centre of Excellence (L-PACE) is based on its world leading reputation for the application of social and behavioural sciences to enduring and emerging policing challenges"

Professor Mark Levine, Centre Director

Events

On
Now

Language, Speech, and AI: An Online Forensics Summer School (2026)

Thursday 11 June 2026, 9:30am to Friday 12 June 2026, 2:45pm

More Events

News

people talking with coffee

DSAIL: Data Dialogues talks in June - Wednesdays in Sky Lounge at 12 o'clock

29 May 2026

Data Dialogues is an informal, discussion-driven event where members of the DSAIL and the broader university community share insights into their work, spark interdisciplinary conversations and explore potential collaborations. The focus is on interactive engagement rather than formal presentations—so no slides (or just a few, if needed)! Instead, the idea is to introduce your work in an accessible way, followed by an open discussion and Q&A with attendees.
Picture of Dr Lorraine Underwood successfully unlocking Fort Vox

Fort Vox: the little “voice box” with a big message

6 February 2026

Fort Vox is a playful, hands-on project that lets children explore voice biometrics, AI, security and privacy by hacking into a locked box using only their voice. Developed by Dr Lorraine Underwood and element14 with FACTOR's Professor Claire Hardaker and Dr George Brown, it makes invisible technologies tangible, sparks curiosity about cyber security, and helps build the next generation of digital and security talent in the North West.

AISoc in Sky Lounge

AISoc - First Meeting held in Sky Lounge

4 November 2025

The first meeting of a new society took place in Infolab last week. About 40 attended the AISoc meeting and plans have been made for future meet ups. There has been great interest in the society ensuring this group will have an active presence on campus.
Data Science Prizes

Data Science Institute Prizes 2025 — Call for Nominations

4 November 2025

The Data Science Institute (DSI) invites nominations for three prizes celebrating research excellence and inclusive impact across data science and AI. We particularly welcome applications from individuals from historically underrepresented and underserved backgrounds, and we will make adjustments for career breaks.
Image of Dr Camilla De Camargo at the Houses of Parliament

Dr Camilla De Camargo presents "Supporting Women in Uniform" findings at Parliament

3 November 2025

Groundbreaking research "Supporting Women in Uniform: Research Calls for Change in Police Equipment Policy" by Dr Camilla De Camargo, Co-i at 果酱视频官网 Policing Academic Centre of Excellence (L-PACE), has revealed that police uniforms and protective equipment are causing physical harm to women officers.

Working closely with police forces, the P-ACEs will drive collaboration among academia and policing

Lancaster to become Policing Academic Centre of Excellence

19 October 2025

The National Police Chiefs’ Council ?(NPCC) in partnership with UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) has chosen 果酱视频官网 as one of nine Policing Academic Centres of Excellence (P-ACEs) sharing a total of ?4.5 million. 

More News