Huddersfield key partner at serious and organised crime in prisons conference
The University of Huddersfield has coordinated the first international conference to address the growth of organised crime in prisons.
Senior law enforcement and criminal justice leaders from across the UK and Europe came together in Liverpool last week for a landmark conferenceto focused on tackling serious and organised crime within the prison system.
Professor John Synnott, from the University’s Professional Doctoral Academy (Policing) organised the conference in partnership with Assistant Chief Constable Rowan Moore and Detective Superintendent Claire McGuire from the North West Regional Organised Crime Unit (NWROCU).
Opening the event at Merseyside Police Headquarters, Chief Constable Rob Carden described the conference as “a powerful demonstration of collective commitment to tackling serious and organised crime wherever it exists including within our prisons..”. He emphasised that the threat required “partnership, innovation, and relentless collaboration” across borders, agencies, and disciplines to protect communities and the integrity of the criminal justice system.
A select group of around 65 senior executives attended, representing UK policing, HMPPS, the Home Office, the NCA, the ROCU network and international agencies including An Garda Síochána, the Irish and Northern Ireland Prison Services, the Netherlands Police, the Dutch Custodial Institutions Agency, and the Spanish Ministry of Interior.
Partnership through collaboration
The conference was developed in partnership with the Professional Doctoral Academy (PDA) at the University of Huddersfield, which supported coordination and facilitated international participation.
The PDA has pioneered the embedded researcher model within operational policing and is now exploring how this approach can be expanded within the prison service. The model has proven to be an effective way of navigating the complex challenges of conducting SOC-related research within secure settings.
Professor John Synnott said, “This collaboration shows what can be achieved when policing and academia work together. The Professional Doctoral Academy is proud to connect international partners and provide a platform for innovation, knowledge exchange, and shared progress.
"I’m excited to develop more bespoke and targeted applied research within the prison setting research that delivers practical insights and supports the ongoing fight against serious and organised crime.”
A shared mission
Assistant Chief Constable Rowan Moore, Head of the NWROCU, said the day was about “turning shared understanding into shared action”, adding:
“Bringing together colleagues from across policing, prisons, probation, and our international partners shows the strength of our network. This event is about ensuring that those who direct criminality from within prison walls face a coordinated and intelligent response.”
The day’s agenda was structured around three core themes, Technology and Innovation, People and Vulnerability, and Offender Management, reflecting the operational and strategic priorities in tackling organised crime across the custodial landscape.
Speakers from across the UK and Europe explored how advances in technology, including drone countermeasures and digital intelligence, are transforming the detection and disruption of criminal activity; how organised networks exploit systems and vulnerabilities; and how agencies can better manage high-risk offenders who continue to influence criminal enterprises from within custody.