University’s Police Doctoral Academy attend World Police Summit
The University of Huddersfield’s Professional Doctoral Academy, led by Professor John Synnott, made a powerful impression at the 2025 World Police Summit in Dubai, showcasing the global impact of its practice-based PhD research on contemporary policing challenges.
Senior police leaders and doctoral candidates delivered keynote speeches, led discussions and hosted a symposium featuring cutting-edge research from both UK and international law enforcement partners at the three-day event. Their contributions reinforced the Academy’s mission to bridge academic excellence with operational relevance.
During the summit, Professor Synnott met with Edward Hobart CMG, British Ambassador to the UAE, and embassy officials to introduce the Academy’s work and highlight its new partnership with Abu Dhabi Police, alongside his plans for expanding the Academy’s reach across the GCC region.
On the final day, Professor Synnott and Dr. Dara Mojtahedi, Associate Director of the Academy, hosted the Academy’s official symposium. Dr. Mojtahedi introduced the Academy’s innovative doctoral model, which prioritises research rooted in the realities of frontline policing.
Six doctoral researchers presented their work: Claire Doyle expanded on her keynote on women in serious organised crime; Danny Inglis spoke about leadership pathways in policing; Louise Kane explored her research on modern slavery; Lt. Col. Nutthika Keeratithammakrit of the Royal Thai Police shared findings on sexual offending in Thailand; and Oliver Collins and James Carrick from the Greater Manchester Combined Authority discussed strategies for tackling anti-social behaviour and integrating AI across UK policing.
The session highlighted the Academy’s growing influence in shaping policy and practice across multiple jurisdictions. Professor Synnott commented:
“The World Police Summit is a fantastic event that brings together law enforcement agencies from across the globe. Dubai Police and the event organisers have developed this into one of the most significant police and security events in the world. This summit has shown how our candidates are not only conducting world-class research but actively shaping the future of policing. We’re proud to lead a model that blends rigorous scholarship with practical, frontline relevance. We are already looking forward to next year’s event, where we hope to secure an even larger presence.”
Chief Superintendent Daniel Inglis of Greater Manchester Police opened the Academy’s participation at the summit by chairing a fireside chat with Rani Hong, UN Special Advisor on Human Trafficking and a survivor of human trafficking. Drawing on his own experience establishing one of the UK’s first human trafficking task forces, he explored the ongoing challenges and emerging solutions in tackling this complex crime.
Chief Superintendent Claire Doyle, Head of Criminal Justice at Merseyside Police, delivered a well-received keynote on the active role of women in serious organised crime, based on her PhD research within Merseyside Police.
Meanwhile, Louise Kane — Director at Cumbria Police and the National Police Chiefs' Council Portfolio Lead for Performance Management — presented on how embedding strategic performance frameworks can significantly enhance police effectiveness, using Cumbria Police’s recent success in national inspections as a case study.
The University of Huddersfield’s Professional Doctoral Academy remains committed to building international collaborations that deliver real-world solutions to policing and criminal justice challenges.