Merseyside Police and Dutch team join Huddersfield event on complex crime investigations

The University of Huddersfield's Professional Doctoral Academy recently held a major international policing conference at Huddersfield in collaboration with Merseyside Police and the Dutch Police Investigative Psychology Team. The Dutch team is recognised to be the world's largest embedded group of investigative psychologists, with over 60 specialists.

Cross-Border Collaboration

At Merseyside Police Headquarters, UK, and Dutch experts came together to discuss the best ways of applying investigative psychology in policing and serious organised crime collaboration, major crime investigation, intelligence development, and evidence-based investigative training. The organisers pointed out that this was part of an expanding program of cross-border police knowledge exchange between the Netherlands and the UK and is building on the PDA's recent visit to the VU University Amsterdam and the Dutch Prison Service's participation in the SOC in Prisons Conference.

Leadership and Representation

Professor Maria Ioannou was representing the Huddersfield Professional Doctoral Academy policing conference as Deputy Director of the PDA and Professor of Investigative Psychology. Chief Superintendent Claire Doyle of Merseyside Police, who happens to be a PDA PhD candidate, spearheaded operational leadership with support from Detective Superintendent Marie Bulmer of West Yorkshire Police, newly enrolled in the PDA's PhD program.

Speakers noted that the day strengthened the UK-Netherlands policing partnership in Huddersfield and showed how behavioural science in law enforcement could enhance investigative practice. They noted that the event was part of the PDA's wider commitment to broadening participation in applied research and encouraging colleagues from different jurisdictions to share learning.

Conference Agenda

The agenda of the conference included sessions covering a variety of topics. From in-depth sessions discussing complicated sexual abuse investigatory matters to how investigative psychology is practised with the Dutch police, participants looked at evidence-based policing in both Merseyside and the Netherlands.

In addition to these, the agenda included sessions on serious organised crime (SOC) intelligence in addition to major crime investigations. There was also emphasis on County Lines disruption with Operation Medusa among the focuses. Finally, the program addressed women offenders in serious crime, along with sessions at the Huddersfield policing knowledge exchange conference that highlighted the role of women working within SOC investigation teams.

International Perspectives and Shared Learning in Investigative Psychology

Assistant Chief Constable Andy Ryan of Merseyside Police explained that partnerships like this allowed practice to be examined through international perspectives. He added that bringing together investigators, behavioural scientists and analysts strengthened the ability to solve complex cases, and he highlighted Merseyside Police's leadership in evidence-based policing in both countries.

Maria Ioannou, a Professor, expressed that research in investigative psychology between the UK and the Netherlands had always advanced through collaboration between practitioners and academics. She said this event continued that tradition, deepening understanding of offender behaviour and supporting better outcomes for victims.

Superintendent Mirjam Hupperetz of the Dutch Police Investigative Psychology Team commented that the conference had offered new perspectives on complex investigations and the protection of vulnerable people. She added that the collaboration strengthened science-informed practice in both countries, giving valuable insight into the role of women in serious and organised crime.

Impact of UK and Netherlands Collaboration in Policing and Research Innovation:

This was the Huddersfield setting international policing event between Merseyside Police and Dutch investigators, which attested to multidisciplinary psychological profiles. Added to that, it turned public access into a big aspect of investigative psychology's role in major crime at the UK-Netherlands policing event. Finally, the conference illustrated how shared intelligence and behavioural science approaches discussed at the Merseyside-Netherlands conference could improve policing outcomes.

The impact of the UK-Dutch policing partnership was evident in respect of both intelligence development and complex crime investigations since both agreed that the collaboration benefits victims, investigators, and communities as a whole. It also had unique opportunities for researchers and practitioners to partner with the Huddersfield Professional Doctoral Academy for policing research, involve Huddersfield's policing PhD program in cross-border crime, and apply for collaborative policing research funding UK Netherlands.

For sponsors and investors, the conference has opened an avenue for investing in behavioural science training for police through the Huddersfield conference and sponsorship in the Huddersfield-led international policing conference, thereby ensuring that the UK is still at the forefront of cross-jurisdiction crime innovation and international knowledge exchange in law enforcement.

Editor’s Note:

Huddersfield's contemporary international policing conference, held at the Professional Doctoral Academy of the University of Huddersfield, highlighted the increasing importance of cross-border collaboration in the fight against multilevel crime. Bringing together Merseyside Police and the Dutch Police Investigative Psychology Team, among others, this event demonstrated how shared learning in investigative psychology in policing can bolster responses to serious and organised crime. This conference touches the new wave of police practice that heavily depends on behavioural science within law enforcement and evidence-based practice. Sessions on sexual abuse investigations, County Lines disruption, and the role of women in serious crime lay bare how knowledge exchange can improve decision-making within investigations and bolster the chances for victims. Cross-jurisdictional crime innovation was another value added by UK and Dutch partnerships. With this came opportunities for researchers to get engaged with PhDs run at Huddersfield, collaborative funding applications, and translating psychological science into operational impact. For sponsors and investors, it was a clear flag to develop support for behavioural science training for police and further bolster the UK's international knowledge exchange.

Skoobuzz underlines that this conference underscored Huddersfield's position as a hub for investigative psychology research UK Netherlands and illustrated the advantages of cross-border collaboration with respect to intelligence development, more efficient investigations into complex crimes, and ensuring science-informed policing.

FAQs

1. Why is the University of Huddersfield bringing together Merseyside and Dutch police?

The University of Huddersfield organised the event to strengthen international collaboration in investigative psychology and policing. By bringing Merseyside Police and the Dutch Police Investigative Psychology Team together, the aim was to share best practice, improve responses to complex crime and build long‑term research partnerships.

2. What policing challenges were addressed at the Merseyside‑Netherlands conference?

The conference focused on serious and organised crime, major crime investigations, intelligence development and evidence‑based policing. It also examined County Lines disruption, complex sexual abuse investigations and the role of women offenders and investigators in serious crime.

3. How does investigative psychology support complex crime investigations?

Investigative psychology helps police understand offender behaviour, improve profiling and strengthen decision-making in major crime cases. By applying behavioural science, investigators can develop evidence‑based strategies that lead to better outcomes for victims and more effective disruption of organised crime.

4. Which organisations participated in Huddersfield’s policing knowledge‑exchange event?

The event was hosted by the University of Huddersfield’s Professional Doctoral Academy in partnership with Merseyside Police and the Dutch Police Investigative Psychology Team. It also involved contributions from West Yorkshire Police, the Dutch Prison Service and academic researchers specialising in investigative psychology.

5. What are the benefits of cross‑border policing research between UK and the Netherlands?

Cross‑border research allows police forces to learn from different approaches, share intelligence and apply behavioural science more effectively. It strengthens science‑informed practice, supports innovation in tackling complex crime and builds trust between jurisdictions, ultimately benefiting victims, investigators and communities.