WEST MIDLANDS POLICE RESEARCH
APPLICATION
OFFICE USE ONLY:
Reference
Decision & Date
The Academic Research Team is responsible for monitoring all research
undertaken within the force using force data, facilities, resources or staff and
officer duty time.
This is to ensure force data is used according to our statutory obligations under
Data Protection and to co-ordinate research activities, avoiding duplication and
maximising the benefits to the organisation and the communities we serve.
This application form must be completed by any individual seeking to carry out
a research project using Force data, systems or consulting with staff or officers.
Applications are evaluated using several criteria including:
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Legal frameworks (Data Protection)
Security of Information
Value of the research
Availability of data/information
Ease of data abstraction/abstraction of resource from core duties
Reputation and expertise of the researcher/research institution
If you experience any difficulties in completing this form please contact a
member of the Research Team using email address:
academic_research@west-midlands.pnn.police.uk
RESEARCH CANNOT BE COMMENCED UNTIL APPROVED BY WMP
Section 1 – Your Details
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Your Details: (All Non WMP Employee Applicants To Complete)
Name:
Home Address:
Landline Number:
Mobile Number:
Email Address:
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Contact Details for WMP to use if different from above:
Contact Address:
Landline Number:
Mobile Number:
Email Address:
Will the research form part of your:
(please delete one)
School or College Studies
Undergraduate Studies
Post Graduate Studies
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If this research will not form part of an educational qualification, please state
your reasons for undertaking the research:
Please state the subject you are studying and qualification you are undertaking (e.g.
Criminology PhD):
Subject:
Qualification:
Final Qualification Date:
Please give a) The name of your tutor b) The educational facility where you are
studying c) The city/town location of the educational facility:
Tutor’s Name:
Educational Facility:
City/Town of Education Facility:
Section 1 – Your Details
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Your Details (For WMP Employees to complete only)
This section is for members of West Midlands Police (officers and staff).
If you are external to the organisation, please skip this section and continue your
application in section 2.
Name:
Title/Rank:
LPU or Dept:
Internal Ext. Number:
Is the research required for or part of an academic qualification? (Please delete one)
Yes
No
If ‘Yes’ what is the qualification?
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Are WMP supporting/funding this qualification? (Financial/Study Leave)?
(Please delete one)
Yes
No
If ‘Yes’ what is the nature of the support you are receiving?
To progress your application to conduct research in West Midlands Police we require an endorsement from a
member of your LPU/Department command team. This must be a senior member of staff of Superintending
rank (or police staff equivalent). There is a section in the ‘Your Research’ part of the application for them to
comment on the research you are proposing and it’s value. If your application to conduct research is
approved they may be asked to act as a sponsor and provide oversight on the appropriate use of force data,
systems and resources used in the course of conducting this research.
Section 2 – About Your Research
What is the title of your proposed research project?
Please summarise the purpose or aims of your research
(Context for research including identification of key gaps, research question/s, aims
and objectives, expected contribution to knowledge)
What are the envisaged benefits to WMP as an organisation or to policing?
When do you need to start and complete your research?
(if appropriate, attach a Gantt Chart or similar outlining key stages)
Start Date:
Completion Date:
What methodology will be used to complete the research?
(Please delete as appropriate)
Analysis of force documents/policy
Analysis of Force Data
Surveys/Questionnaires/Interviews/Focus Groups with officers and/or staff
Pilot Studies
Other (please specify) :
How will the data be analysed?
(Theoretical/critical framework, statistical techniques and/or analytical tools (e.g. content
analysis))
Please give details of the support from or access you require to West Midlands
Police - including data, facilities, systems or resources (including staff and officers
to complete questionnaires, interviews etc). If you require force data, please be
specific as you can about the exact nature of the data and append a separate sheet
if necessary.
Please select one or more of the appropriate notified purposes below that state
under which circumstances force data can be used:
(Please delete as appropriate)
The prevention and detection or crime
Apprehension and prosecution of offenders
Protection of life and property
Maintenance of law and order
Vetting and licensing
Public safety
Rendering assistance to members of the public in line with force policy
Are you seeking access to data where individuals are identified (personal data)
(Please delete one)
Yes
No
Who will be funding the research?
Please give details of any experience you have in researching this area and your
expertise. If you have authored published papers, please note them below or attach
a publication list.
Please use the space below to add any other comments in support of your
application or reference any other supporting documents you are submitting (e.g. –
research brief, publication list)
FOR COMPLETION BY APPLICANT’S WMP LPU OR DEPARTMENT
MANAGERS ONLY
This must be a senior member of staff of Superintending rank (or police staff
equivalent).
Please comment on the value of this research proposal
Managers Name
Rank/Role
Signature
Date
Section 3 – How We Use Your Research
By working in association with West Midlands Police, West Midlands Police will
have an interest in the outcome of the research as well as the finished product.
Upon completion of your research, a copy of your finalised research paper must be
sent to the Academic Research Team (academic_research@westmidlands.pnn.police.uk). This will be kept on record with the force, published onto
our force internal intranet research page and potentially referenced to or utilised in
the future.
You may also be asked to present your findings or recommendations from your
paper to the West Midlands Police Command Team or at a force meeting or event.
By signing the below section you are confirming that you have read, understood
and agree with the above requests:
Signed:
Print Name:
Date:
Section 4 – Code of Ethics
If your application for research is successful, you will be considered as working in
partnership with West Midlands Police, therefore, we will expect you to adhere to
our Code of Ethics for the duration of your work with us.
The College of Policing developed the Code of Ethics on behalf of every member of
the policing profession of England and Wales.
The main components of the Code are sets of principles and standards of professional
behaviour.
The 9 policing principles are:
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Accountability
You are answerable for your decisions, actions and omissions
Fairness
You treat people fairly
Honesty
You are truthful and trustworthy
Integrity
You always do the right thing
Leadership
You lead by good example
Objectivity
You make choices on evidence and your best professional judgement
Openness
You are open and transparent in your actions and decisions
Respect
You treat everyone with respect
Selflessness
You act in the public interest
Should your conduct whilst working in conjunction with West Midlands Police be
deemed as contravening our Code of Ethics, we shall review the complaint and take
the necessary action. This may include revoking your vetting status and terminating
the research project with you.
If you would like further information on our Code of Ethics, please do not hesitate to
contact us.
Please sign the below box to indicate that you have read and understood the above
and that you agree for the duration of your academic research project with West
Midlands Police you shall adhere to the Code of Ethics.
Signed:
Print Name:
Date:
Section 5 – What Happens Next?
Thank you for completing the research application form. Your application will be
considered by a Commissioning Board which will deliberate the value, impact and
data security issues arising from your request. The board meets monthly so it
could be up to four weeks before your application is considered.
If you wish to check on the progress of your application, please contact the
Research team using academic_research@west-midlands.pnn.police.uk or calling
101 and asking for Inspector Richard Harris.
The Board often need to re-contact applicants to clarify aspects of the proposed
research, and this can add further delay, so please make sure:
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You have described accurately the potential benefits of the research
You have described the type of support or access you require
That your contact details and contact numbers are correct.
Successful applicants will be required to enter into further processes and complete
additional documentation. These are likely to include vetting and a criminal records
background check, a baseline security questionnaire and a data processing
agreement. These processes and documentations may take a further four weeks to
complete. In most circumstances they are required of the force and can not be
circumvented. If the time scales for your research are particularly short you should
consider alternative sources of information.