1 September 2008

Conference explores Scottish policing in European context

Scotland in the European dimension of policing will be the focus of a conference tomorrow featuring a number of high ranking police officers and academics from Scotland, England, Germany and The Netherlands.

The second annual research conference by the Scottish Institute for Policing Research (SIPR) will explore policing Scotland in the European context, according to Director Nicholas Fyfe, Professor of Geography at the University of Dundee.

'We have seen the growing importance that Scotland places on engagement with European nations,' he explained.

'There is a long history of close co-operation between Scotland and European states on policing matters, particularly in relation to international criminal investigations and police training programmes.'

While policing in Scotland and other parts of the UK have often looked across the Atlantic for new ideas and thinking, contributors to the plenary session of the conference will show from a number of different viewpoints how important it is to understand the significance of Europe for contemporary policing.

The morning's session will feature presentations by the Minister for Community Safety, senior police officers and academics, all exploring how developments in Europe create opportunities and challenges for law enforcement.

The afternoon will be devoted to three parallel sessions on police-community relations, evidence and investigation and police organisation.

The keynote address for the one-day conference will be delivered by Jurgen Storbeck, the Director General of Homeland Security in the Ministry of the Interior from the German state of Brandenburg, on changing challenges for homeland security in Germany and Europe.

Established in 2006 and supported by investment from the Scottish Funding Council and the Association of Chief Police Officers in Scotland, SIPR is a collaboration between 12 Scottish universities established to carry out high quality, independent research and to make evidence-based contributions to policing policy and practice.

For further information, please contact:
Dr. Nicholas Fyfe, Director, SIPR, University of Dundee at: 01382 384425
Or Graham MacDonell, Communications Officer, ACPOS at: 0141 435 1241

Notes to Editors:
Among the speakers from Scotland at the morning session will be:

• Fergus Ewing MSP, Minister for Community Safety;
• Paddy Tomkins, HM Chief Inspector of Constabulary for Scotland;
• Ian Latimer, Chief Constable, Northern Constabulary on 'Scottish policing and Europe - A Developing Relationship'.

For additional information about speakers in the parallel sessions, go to: http://www.sipr.ac.uk.

For media enquiries contact:
Roddy Isles
Head, Press Office
University of Dundee
Nethergate Dundee, DD1 4HN
TEL: 01382 384910
E-MAIL: r.isles@dundee.ac.uk