University hosts major Serious and Organised Crime conference
The University of Huddersfield hosted the 2nd Annual NPCC Serious and Organised Crime (SOC) Local Conference on April 30 in collaboration with the National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC) and the Home Office.
Now in its second year, the conference has rapidly become one of the largest national events focused on tackling Serious and Organised Crime, with participation from over 90 organisations.
This year’s event brought together 30 police forces, eight of the nine Regional Organised Crime Units (ROCUs), local and combined authorities, and government departments. The event was also attended by John Robins QPM, the Chief Constable of West Yorkshire Police and the Deputy Mayor of West Yorkshire, Alison Lowe OBE.
The event, which was opened by the Vice-Chancellor of the University Professor Bob Cryan CBE, centred on implementing the Clear, Hold, Build strategy and championing cross-sector collaboration. Attendees engaged in shared learning around serious and organised crime disruption, vulnerability, and prevention strategies—underscoring the critical importance of coordinated responses between policing, public services, and communities.
John Bragaglia, NPCC SOC Portfolio Director, praised the event, saying: “Tackling Serious and Organised Crime remains an important priority for policing. It was fantastic to hear about the vital work policing teams and partners are doing across the country to protect communities and pursue criminals.
“It was also a great opportunity to pause, celebrate and formally recognise those teams who have worked so hard to effect positive change for the people they serve.
Thank you to the University of Huddersfield for hosting us for the day, facilitating a great atmosphere and space for us all to learn and gain insight. The day was invaluable in reminding everyone in attendance that, by working together across organisations, forces and communities, we can work effectively to tackle this crime and change people’s lives for the better.
On the value of partnership, Detective Superintendent Andy Farrell, SOC Local Programme Lead – NPCC SOC Portfolio Office, said: “It’s been a privilege to work alongside so many committed professionals in tackling Serious and Organised Crime at a local level. This event served as a crucial platform for collaboration, learning, and exchanging insights. The day reinforced how essential partnerships across agencies, forces, and communities are in creating meaningful change.”
The University’s Professional Doctoral Academy (PDA) played a central role in bringing the event to West Yorkshire and in facilitating global engagement through its extensive international partnership network. This global presence included key partners from An Garda Síochána in Ireland, the Ministry of the Interior in Spain, the Netherlands, and Police Attachés from the UAE and Kuwaiti embassies in London.
The PDA is a national home for ‘pracademic’ researchers—those working at the intersection of frontline operational practice and academic research. Led by Professor John Synnott, the Academy currently supports over 20 PhD candidates drawn from UK and international police forces. Their work focuses on real-time operational challenges, including county lines, criminal governance structures, and community safeguarding, with the aim of directly informing policy and enhancing practice.
Professor Synnott, Director of the Professional Doctoral Academy, commented: “Bringing a national event of this scale to campus reflects the growing influence the Doctoral Academy is having in shaping policing strategy and practice. What’s particularly encouraging is the clear appetite among senior operational leaders for research-driven insights.
“There’s a genuine commitment to integrating practitioner-led academic research into strategic and operational decision-making — and that’s exactly what the Academy is designed to support through its work with Chief Officers across our partner forces.”
As the challenges posed by serious and organised crime evolve, the University of Huddersfield remains committed to supporting innovation and evidence-based practice through initiatives like the Professional Doctoral Academy. For more information about the Professional Doctoral Academy and the University’s work in criminal justice and policing, please visit the University of Huddersfield’s Professional Doctoral Academy.