This funding round has closed.

Pre-announcement: Trust and confidence in policing: R&I Consortium

Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC), Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC), Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC), Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC), Medical Research Council (MRC), Natural Environment Research Council (NERC), Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC)

Applications closed

Funding: Up to £2,000,000
Deadline: 27 October 2026
Location: England
Applications: Applications closed

Overview

This UKRI funding opportunity pays for one Research and Innovation Consortium to develop and test new ways of measuring public trust and confidence in policing. The tools should give police real-time feedback, be affordable and be easy to use.

The consortium must prioritise the views of children under 18 and victims and survivors of violence against women and girls. It should also include other underrepresented groups, chosen with local police forces. It will run pilots in at least four areas to test specific policing approaches, such as new technologies, volunteer police or community engagement, and use the new measures to see what works.

It suits research-led teams that can work with police, community groups, third sector organisations, policymakers and industry. The project lead must be at a UK research organisation eligible for UKRI funding.

The full economic cost of the project can be up to £2 million, and UKRI will fund 80% of that. The award lasts 36 months and must start by 1 February 2027. At least 40% of the full economic cost should go into a ring-fenced flexible fund for small pilot projects run by researchers outside the core team.

The opportunity is open now and closes on 27 October 2026 at 4:00pm UK time. One practical caveat: your application must include a genuine, documented co-design plan showing how police and members of the target communities shape the tools before they are used. Conventional large-scale surveys and public opinion polls will not be funded.

You apply through the UKRI Funding Service, not Je-S.

Official source: https://www.ukri.org/opportunity/trust-and-confidence-in-policing-ri-consortium/. Last checked by GrantMatch on 16 October 2026.

Requirements to check

Who can apply:

academic

Key requirements:

Project lead must be at a UK research organisation eligible for UKRI funding
UKRI funds 80% of the full economic cost, which can be up to £2 million
Project must start by 1 February 2027 and last 36 months
At least 40% of the full economic cost should go to a ring-fenced flexible fund
Application must include a documented co-design plan with police and target communities
Must prioritise children under 18 and victims and survivors of violence against women and girls

The project lead must be based at a UK research organisation eligible for UKRI funding. Individuals from UK-based businesses, third sector organisations and government bodies can join as project co-leads. International researchers can apply as project co-leads (international). The page says it will not fund associated studentships, conventional large-scale surveys and public opinion polls, purely theoretical or methodological research, or projects not mainly focused on trust and confidence in UK policing.

This summary may not include every exclusion. Check the full eligibility rules, including who and what the funder will not support.

Who is this for?

UK research organisations leading teams that work with police, community groups, third sector bodies and industry to build new ways of measuring public trust in policing.

Sectors

Professional & Scientific Services

Regions

England

Full details from Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC), Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC), Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC), Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC), Medical Research Council (MRC), Natural Environment Research Council (NERC), Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC)

Apply for funding to develop and test dynamic tools and innovative approaches to measure public trust and confidence in policing by 2030.The tools and approaches developed will access the voices of underrepresented communities, assess the impact of police activity, and identify what builds public trust and confidence.

How to apply

Apply through the new UKRI Funding Service, and make sure your organisation is registered. You cannot apply through the Joint Electronic Submissions (Je-S) system. Applications close on 27 October 2026 at 4:00pm UK time. For questions about this opportunity, email SaferStreetsChallengeThree@ukri.org.

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