Press release for Radicalisation Project Graduation – 16 December 2011
Police Officers from the Metropolitan Police Service’s (MPS) Specialist Operations have
successfully completed a Masters level course at King’s. Designed, delivered and
accredited by King’s College London, the course was created by the Centre for Defence
Studies, Department of War Studies, and was focused on issues around the concept of
radicalisation. The officers were presented with their certificates by Professor Denise
Lievesley, head of the School of Social Science and Public Policy on the 16th December
2011 at a ceremony held at King’s College’s Strand Campus.
The Centre for Defence Studies at King’s College has a long-established history of working
on security, intelligence, and counter-terrorism matters. Following consultations with the
MPS, Dr John Gearson, Director of the Centre for Defence Studies adapted elements of
the current “Issues in Countering Terrorism” Masters level course to business requirement
of Specialist Operations’ team and created a new bespoke course: ‘The Issue of
“Radicalisation” in Countering Terrorism’.
Superintendent Mark Goldby - “I would like to extend my congratulations to my
colleagues, who have successfully completed this Masters level module. They undertook
the course with enthusiasm, alongside daily duties and have demonstrated achievement
at a high level. The successful completion of this course has given them a unique
combination of practical counter-terrorism experience, together with an academic insight
into the research and theory around the psychological aspects of radicalisation. It has also
enabled on-going dialogue between officers and academics within the wider field of
radicalisation and counter-terrorism.“
Dr Gearson said: “The Centre for Defence Studies has been pleased to extend it’s work in
security and terrorism research and teaching to meet the specific requirements of the
Metropolitan Police Service. The officers who undertook the course did so with good
humour and adapted to the requirements of academic work admirably, while working fulltime. The team of academic staff and practitioners who delivered the course were
constantly impressed with the knowledge and insight that the officers brought to the
discussions of this important and demanding topic. The course truly represented an
exchange of insights as much as the imparting of knowledge by one side and this was the
basis for its success. The Centre for Defence Studies looks forward to extending its support
to the training and education needs of the Metropolitan Police Service in the future.”