Short Summary

We are offering a placement opportunity for a current PhD student studying at a Policing Academic Centres of Excellence university. The placement will involve reviewing and synthesising existing literature on understanding and responding to Neurodivergent individuals (including particularly individuals with Autism) who display obsessive or fixated behaviours around contacting the police. We will take on one student for this placement.

Description of host organisation

Northumbria Police is responsible for policing the Tyne and Wear and Northumberland areas in North East England, covering a diverse mix of urban and rural communities. The force is led by a Chief Constable and is overseen by the Police and Crime Commissioner. Our core mission is to prevent crime, protect life and property, and safeguard our communities. We work in close partnership with a range of organisations to deliver effective policing and ensure public safety.

Description of project

This placement will involve reviewing and synthesising existing literature on understanding and responding to Neurodivergent individuals (including individuals with Autism) who display obsessive or fixated behaviours around contacting the police. You would conduct systematic searches for existing research studies and relevant evidence which you would review and synthesise.

The key objectives are:

• Identify in the literature the underlying factors that lead to Neurodivergent individuals (including particularly individuals with Autism) displaying obsessive behaviours around contacting the police
• Understand the implications arising from frequent contact with police that have been observed for Neurodivergent individuals and policing (from the literature)
• Synthesise learning from existing interventions and approaches for officers coming into contact with these individuals
• Make recommendations for policing based on the literature

The host organisation will prepare an account of the challenges they are experiencing and share it with you at the start of their placement. Once you have identified provisional themes for enquiry in the literature these would be shared with officers working in this area to review and comment on their relevance.

You would produce a report presenting the synthesised evidence/literature against key themes that you would agree with the host organisation. Your report would also include recommendations for Northumbria Police to help support Neurodivergent individuals. This report will be the output of the placement. You will have considerable scope to influence Northumbria Police policy and practice through your placement, and you will have the opportunity to present your findings to senior police stakeholders.

The length of your written report will be agreed after the project commences, but we would expect this to be a substantial document. You would be listed as the author of the report. We intend to disseminate the report within policing and across partner organisations. You would be able to add the report to your university repository subject to it meeting our requirements for quality and accuracy, which we would consider at the end of the placement. You would be able to use your findings in your own academic publications providing the report has met our requirements and you cite the report appropriately.

Skills and experience required for the role

We expect this opportunity to be of interest to PhD students studying in a relevant topic area or a closely related field, whose PhD involves using similar approaches and skills. In the application process we will be looking for evidence of:

• Proven ability to locate, interpret, and synthesise literature and research evidence
• Strong written communication skills, including the ability to produce clear and impactful reports and presentations
• Ability to communicate research findings to both specialist and non-specialist audiences
• Capacity to work independently, demonstrating effective time management and self-motivation

Working arrangements and placement location

You will be required to make use of your own computer and email address. You will also need access to the internet, word processing software and means of searching for academic papers, research and relevant literature.

You will liaise regularly with the host organisation during your placement.

The placement will be undertaken remotely (i.e. working from your home or university) with no requirement to travel. All communication will be via email and MS Teams meetings.

Duration and timeframe

The placement will last three months. Start and end dates are flexible but it is anticipated that the placement will start no sooner than 1st July 2026 and no later than 1st October 2026.

It is anticipated that the placement project will be undertaken full time for three months but the host is open to flexible or part time arrangements and project breaks for other commitments.

Please make us aware of any accessibility requirements you have which we can accommodate. Our mission under the National policing culture and inclusion strategy 2025 to 2030 is to transform police culture, positioning diversity, equality and inclusion at the heart of good policing and all policies, practices and procedures.

Start date and working arrangements will all be discussed with the successful applicant.

How to apply and deadline for application

Application format is a CV (max 2-3 sides) plus 500 words expression of interest to include: 

• Why you are interested in this opportunity
• How your studies to date have equipped you with the relevant knowledge and skills for this placement
• Whether you have undertaken previous research in this specific area or a related area, and if so, what this entailed.
• What you feel you can offer to assist policing through the work you will produce.

Closing date for applications is 5pm Friday 29th May 2026.

The process will consist of:

• Review of applicant CV and Expression of Interest by panel
• Professional discussion/interview with applicant conducted via MS Teams

Security and vetting requirements

A criminal records check will be conducted by the host organisation as part of the appointment process. Some criminal records will not exclude applicants from being appointed.

Programme eligibility

This opportunity is unpaid. The host organisation will not cover your PhD funding during the placement. It is the applicant's responsibility to ensure that their programme funding will continue during the placement or that they can self-fund for its duration.

Only students on PhD programmes that permit breaks in study for placements are eligible to apply.  It is the applicant’s responsibility to ensure that the placement meets the criteria specified by their programme and university and that they secure the necessary permissions from their university before commencing the placement.

Applications are welcome from PhD students at any stage of their study providing their supervisor and university have endorsed their study break for undertaking a placement. We encourage prospective applicants to discuss the opportunity with their supervisor and consider how a break in their PhD studies would impact upon their progress and development.

Please only apply if you meet these eligibility conditions and have checked this with your university before applying.

Research Ethics

Prior to advertising, this project was reviewed by a research ethics panel convened by the Office of the Police Chief Scientific Adviser (OPCSA) in the National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC). You will also be required to discuss the ethical issues arising from this project with your PhD supervisor.

Queries

Any queries about this opportunity should be directed to:

EvidenceBasedPolicing@northumbria.police.uk