A brave police force deserves courageous academics

Abstract

Science and policing used to be far apart: policing was primarily about crime fighting and safer neighbourhoods, while academic research is about theoretically explaining things. Police science has developed into a mature field with a growing number of students and valuable publications. This article explains how police science was organized in the Amsterdam-Amstelland police force by participating in different “Chairs” held in different universities, with the full collaboration of Police Academy of The Netherlands and twelve young and bright academics. The Amsterdam-Amstelland police force have come to the conclusion that it is important to focus on future-orientated police themes and to bring in new diverse perspectives. Science is of crucial importance for current and future policing and senior and chief police officers are advised to facilitate strengthening the relationship with science in every way they can.