Bath Policing Academic Centre of Excellence
We are one of nine Policing Academic Centres of Excellence (P-ACE), aiming to improve connections between academia and policing.
Our responsibilities include:
- improving connections between academia and policing
- translating research at Bath into operational tools and training
- establishing an expert network
- generating further placement and educational opportunities between Bath and the police
Co-Directors
Dr Katie Maras, Reader in the Department of Psychology
Katie is an expert on the intersection between vulnerability and policing. Her research funded by the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) has been vital in demonstrating how the Criminal Justice System needs to work better for vulnerable populations, with a particular focus on neurodiversity. A second strand of Katie’s work focuses on cyber crime.
Dr Olivia Brown, Senior Lecturer in the School of Management
Olivia’s expertise is in understanding how behaviour online connects to behaviour offline, with a particular focus on extremism and terrorism. Olivia has led projects funded by the UK Government, Home Office and Metropolitan Police, centred on using digital data to understand and predict extremist violence.
Leadership
Dr Rachel Arnold, Reader in the Department of Health
Rachel’s expertise lies in stress, performance, and well-being and is a member of the National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC) Wellbeing of Investigators Group. She recently completed a multi-force stress and thriving audit with Devon and Cornwall, Avon and Somerset, and Dorset police forces.
Professor Catherine Hamilton-Giachritsis, Professor in the Department of Psychology
Catherine is a leading expert on technology-assisted child sexual abuse (TA-CSA). Her work covers both offender and victim-survivor perspectives.
Dr Christina Demski, Reader in the Department of Psychology
Christina is the Deputy Director of the ESRC-funded Centre for Climate Change and Social Transformations (CAST). Her research interests include examining (risk) perception, communication, and public engagement with emerging and complex socio-technical issues.