Research

Victoria Police is committed to undertaking and supporting research to deliver best practice police services to the Victorian community. Victoria Police seeks to ensure research is aligned with organisational strategic priorities. The following is a list of example research topics that may be of interest to researchers, which are currently relevant to the organisation:

• family violence
• community safety
• serious and organised crime
• health and safety of Victoria Police members
• drug and alcohol
• road policing
• volume crime
• ethics and integrity in policing
• cybercrime and safety
• community engagement

Research is undertaken by various departments within Victoria Police, as well as external research organisations. Victoria Police has built strong research collaborations through the Australian Research Council (ARC) Linkage Grants program. 

Conducting research with Victoria Police

Victoria Police seeks to collaborate with researchers who are interested in undertaking projects aligned with organisational strategic priorities. If you wish to conduct research with Victoria Police, then you must satisfy the relevant application processes.

Applying to conduct research with Victoria Police

Download forms here:

• Research Coordinating Committee (RCC) application form

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• Victoria Police Human Research Ethics Committee (VPHREC) application form

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If you wish to conduct research with Victoria Police personnel, data or resources:

1. all external researchers are required to seek approval from Research Coordinating Committee (RCC)
2. should the Research Coordinating Committee (RCC) approved research project involve 'human research', researchers may be required to seek approval of the Victoria Police Human Research Ethics Committee (VPHREC)

The Research Coordinating Committee (RCC) will review applications for proposed research applications against a number of criteria, including:

• external individuals and research organisations wishing to undertake research
• Victoria Police employees who wish to conduct research for the purposes of gaining an academic qualification

The Research Coordinating Committee (RCC) will review applications for proposed research applications against a number of criteria, including:

• the potential application of results to police work
• the utility and validity of the research
• privacy, confidentiality and data security compliance
• the impact that the project demands may have on police resources
• the alignment of the research with the Victoria Police Research Agenda

The Victoria Police Human Research Ethics Committee (VPHREC) is registered with the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) and considers the ethical acceptability of research proposals from external organisations and internal researchers wishing to conduct research involving Victoria Police personnel or data.

• Victoria Police Human Research Ethics Committee (VPHREC) - Terms of Reference

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Applications considered by the Victoria Police Human Research Ethics Committee (VPHREC) ensure that:

• all research involving human participants that is conducted by external researchers or commissioned by Victoria Police, complies with the principles and guidelines set out in the National Statement for Ethical Conduct in Human Research (the National Statement)
• the welfare and the rights of participants in research are protected
• there is a coordinated approach to research activities within Victoria Police

The Victoria Police Human Research Ethics Committee (VPHREC) and the Justice Human Research Ethics Committee (JHREC) have established a streamlined review process, in accordance with the National Statement, for projects that involve Victoria Police together with areas of the Department of Justice and Regulation (Victoria).

Researchers will need to contact the VPHREC Secretary to confirm whether their project is suitable for the streamlined review process. Projects deemed suitable for streamlined review will now only be required to complete a JHREC Application form, which includes the Victoria Police and Department of Justice and Regulation components of their research project in the one JHREC application form. Such applications will be considered at a JHREC meeting with VPHREC representatives in attendance.

Research protocols

The Research Protocols have been designed to inform and assist external researchers and research organisations wishing to undertake research with Victoria Police. Please refer to the Research protocols when preparing your application to the Research Coordinating Committee (RCC) and Victoria Police Human Research Ethics Committee (VPHREC). The protocols also refer to other documents such as legislation and standards.

• Research Protocol for External Researchers

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Contact

You can contact the Policing Research Unit with any questions or feedback via the following channels:

General Research Enquiries
Email: research@police.vic.gov.au
Phone: 03 9247 3385
Postal Address: G.P.O. Box 913, Melbourne VIC 3001

Research Coordinating Committee (RCC)
Email: research.committee@police.vic.gov.au
Phone: 03 9247 3385

Victoria Police Human Research Ethics Committee (VPHREC)
Email: ethics.committee@police.vic.gov.au
Phone: 03 9247 3385