Annual conference – Vulnerability and Policing: Reducing Harm, Strengthening Justice
Event details
Read more about the conference sessions on the Centre website.
This year’s conference provides a number of keynotes, presentations and panel discussions on topics including preventing harm among vulnerable people, the future of neighbourhood policing, women’s safety in public spaces, improving the police and policy response to modern slavery, and the use of diversion for adults with vulnerabilities, among many others.
The two-day in-person conference is open to representatives from government, policy makers, professionals in policing, public health, social care and education, community-based organisations, third sector organisations supporting vulnerable groups, as well as researchers.
The sessions will reveal new findings from the Centre’s research projects and provide insights into the latest work in the field of vulnerability and policing. By bringing researchers, practitioners, policy makers and community groups together, the event will offer opportunities to explore how research can be applied to policy and practice.
Day 1 programme
Arrival, tea & coffee – 9.30am – 10am
Welcome and keynote – 10am – 11am
Opening remarks – Professor Nick Plant (Deputy Vice-Chancellor: Research and Innovation, University of Leeds).
Keynote -Professor Carlene Firmin MBE, Director of the Global Centre for Contextual Safeguarding at Durham University.
Session 1 – 11am – 12.10pm
- Police interactions with disabled complainants
- Policing the margins: when vulnerability and criminalisation intersect
- Policing, climate vulnerabilities and pathways of resilience
Session 2 – 12.15pm – 1.25pm (alongside first lunch sitting)
- Preventing exploitation in illicit markets
- Policing in the context of neurodiversity, trauma and adverse childhood experiences
Session 2 – 1.30pm – 2.40pm (alongside second lunch sitting)
- Shifting perspectives on gender-based violence
Session 3 – 2.45pm – 3.55pm
- Measuring vulnerability: harnessing routinely collected data
- Volunteers and vulnerabilities: navigating police-public partnerships
- Interactions in homelessness and policing – from rough sleeping to specialist accommodation spaces
- The intersection of sexual violence, mental health and policing
Tea & coffee – 4pm – 4.30pm
Plenary keynote – 4.30pm – 5.45pm
Keynote Darren McGarvey, writer, columnist, broadcaster, social commentator and hip-hop recording artist (Loki).
Drinks reception & hot fork buffet – 6pm onwards
Day 2 programme
Arrival, tea & coffee and welcome – 9am – 9.30am
Session 1 – 9.30am – 10.40am
- Community-level change through co-production
- The intersection of policing and public health
- Women’s safety in public spaces: evidence-based tools for action
Session 2 – 11am – 12.10pm
- Improving the police and policy response to modern slavery
- Supporting the police to work with children’s vulnerabilities
- The future of neighbourhood policing
Session 3 – 12.15pm – 1.25pm (alongside first lunch sitting)
- Policy into practice: comparative perspectives on the implementation of innovative domestic abuse policy in Greater Manchester and Melbourne/Victoria
- Police use of diversion for adults with vulnerabilities
Session 3 – 1.30pm – 2.40pm (alongside second lunch sitting)
- Experts by experience working for systems change
- Police and academic perspectives on the Soteria approach for – and beyond – the police response to rape
Closing plenary panel discussion – 2.45pm – 3.45pm
Delegate rates
In our commitment to ensuring a high-quality experience for everyone, we have decided to introduce a fee for the conference this year. This fee is primarily aimed at contributing to the direct costs associated with the event, such as catering, equipment and venue hire.
This approach enables us to provide not only excellent and accessible venue facilities, and a range of food and beverage options, but also helps in reducing undue waste, ensuring a more sustainable event.
We do understand however, that financial considerations vary for each individual and organisation. If this fee would prevent you from attending the conference, please get in touch with us. We are keen to encourage and support smaller community organisations to attend and are committed to making the conference as accessible as possible to all, therefore we will try to work with you to find a suitable solution.
Please note we have limited funds available to support such requests.
- Delegate fee for Days 1 & 2 – £160
- Delegate fee for Day 1 – £99
- Delegate fee for Day 2 – £99
- Payment for attendance at networking drinks reception and hot fork buffet (Day 1 – evening) – £39
- Discounted rate for PhD students, Centre Affiliates, charity/voluntary sector organisations (Days 1 & 2) – £89
- Discounted rate for PhD students, Centre Affiliates, charity/voluntary sector organisations (Day 1) – £49
- Discounted rate for PhD students, Centre Affiliates, charity/voluntary sector organisations (Day 2) – £49
Evening reception
An evening reception with a hot fork buffet will take place at the end of Day 1, Tuesday 9 September 2025.
The cost of the evening reception is £39 and dietary requirements will be accommodated.
Please note that spaces are limited and therefore we invite you to book your evening reception via the “Additional Items” pop up box when placing your delegate ticket order if you wish to join us.
Accommodation
Delegates can book overnight accommodation for one or two nights at pre-negotiated rates at a variety of central Leeds hotels via the link below. These rates are available until 4 weeks prior to the event. Please note delegate fees do not include accommodation.
Keep in touch
If you have any questions about the conference, please email vulnerabilitypolicing
You can also subscribe to the Vulnerability & Policing Futures Research Centre’s newsletter for the latest updates about our annual conference.