October 31, 2022
Fair policing research team expanded
The head of a study into systemic police bias says Police cooperation means the study has the potential to be world-leading.
Ta Kim Workman says his independent panel has appointed two research teams for the next phase of the Understanding Policing Delivery Research Programme – Ihi Research of Christchurch, led by Dr Catherine Savage and Dr Anne Hynds; and Mana Pounamu Consulting, led by Dr Pounamu Jade Aikman.
University of Waikato research fellow Dr Paul Brown, who has been working with Police on a range of projects, including statistical modelling of crime and crime patterns in Kirikiriroa, has been taken on as programme statistician.
Ta Kim says getting Police to relinquish control of the research and work in a collaborative way was critical.
“Our goal is to pursue and promote fair and equitable policing and that is why the police staff have really brought into that. They want fair and equitable policing as well. We’re travelling on the same waka really,” he says.
Ta Kim says similar projects overseas had failed because the researchers did not establish a positive relationship with frontline Police, and his panel is also working with the research teams to hear from Māori, Pasifika, and marginalised communities.