N8 PRP Policing Innovation Forum : Policing, People and Health

The 2026 N8 PRP Policing Innovation Forum will be a day of knowledge exchange and innovation. With a keynote from Gary Ritchie, researchers, police, and other stakeholders will engage with the latest research and practice-led projects, to find new approaches, new research questions, and new partners for collaboration to improve how we navigate policing, people and health.

This year, N8 PRP will be joined by the Scottish Institute for Policing Research (SiPR) to examine the points at which policing and health professionals interact in the criminal justice system, and what this means for the people they are responding to.

Further information on the speakers and programme to follow.

There will be an ECR/PGR Poster Exhibition at the Forum; if you would like to submit a poster, please see the call below.

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SPEAKERS

Gary Ritchie is a senior public safety leader with over 30 years of policing experience, known for his strategic command, public‑health‑led approaches, and leadership in national resilience planning. Gary joined Strathclyde Police in 1991, where he held roles including Chief Inspector Area Commander and Superintendent, helping shape divisional structures and community policing models during the creation of Police Scotland.

He later served in major command roles in Edinburgh and Dumfries and Galloway and became Assistant Chief Constable in 2019. As director of Partnerships, Prevention and Community Wellbeing, he advanced public‑health approaches to reduce harm and support vulnerable communities.

As head of Drug Strategy, he authored Police Scotland’s first dedicated drug strategy and led Scotland to become the world’s first nation to equip all frontline officers with Naloxone, contributing to hundreds of life‑saving overdose interventions. He subsequently headed the Operational Support directorate and chaired the Scottish Resilience Partnership, advising the First Minister on emergency preparedness.

Ritchie is currently a Visiting Professor at Napier University and sits on the boards of Cranstoun and the Cross‑Sector Security Communications charity.

Further speakers to be announced

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CALL FOR POSTERS

NRiPN Poster Exhibition

Deadline: 4pm, Tuesday 4 June.

N8 PRP's New Researchers in Policing Network (NRiPN) is calling for posters presenting recent and ongoing research on policing by postgraduate and Early Career Researchers relevant to the theme of Policing, People and Health. Researchers will be able to discuss their work with policy makers, practitioners, and senior researchers, finding new opportunities of for collaboration and impact.

Posters are welcome from non-members, but if you are interested in taking advantage of the network please visit the NRiPN page on our website.

Submission

Send an email with your name, affiliated organisation, and a brief overview of your poster to Ellen Reeves ([email protected]).

Deadline: 4pm, Tuesday 4 June.

Criteria

• Present ongoing or recently completed work relevant to the theme of ‘neurodiversity in the criminal justice system';

• Size A0 (1189mm x 841mm).

• Presented by postgraduate or Early Career Researchers (AHRC definition).

N.b. there is no restriction on university affiliation for this event.

Expenses

Exhibitors can request assistance with transport and printing costs. This is reserved for exhibitors who do not otherwise have access to institutional or project funds.

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