Research

Victoria Police is committed to undertaking and supporting research to deliver best practice police services to the Victorian community.

Research priorities

We seek to ensure research is aligned with organisational strategic priorities. To ensure this, we have developed research priorities to align with our strategic plan.

Requests for access to police data, information or personnel for research purposes will be assessed and prioritised against these priorities.

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(opens in a new window).

Conduct research with Victoria Police

Victoria Police is open to facilitating researchers who are interested in undertaking projects aligned with our research priorities and organisational strategic priorities.

If you wish to conduct research with Victoria Police, then you must satisfy the relevant application processes.

Research must adhere to the Victoria Police Research Protocols.

Apply to conduct research with Victoria Police

To apply to conduct research using Victoria Police personnel, data or resources, download and complete the Application to conduct research involving Victoria Police form.

All external researchers are required to seek approval from the Victoria Police Research Coordinating Committee (RCC). The RCC will review applications for proposed research applications from:

• 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 RCC will review applications for proposed research applications against specific 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 priorities.

RCC approval does not equate Victoria Police Ethics approval.

Apply for Victoria Police Ethics approval

You can apply to the Victoria Police Human Research Ethics Committee (VPHREC) to conduct research using Victoria Police personnel, data or resources.

Download and complete the VPHREC application.

VPHREC is registered with the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC).

They consider the ethical acceptability of research proposals from external organisations and internal researchers wishing to conduct research involving our personnel or data.

VPHREC is available for internal projects, and for external projects when no other ethics committees are available.

Applications considered by the 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 2023 (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.

VPHREC and the Justice Human Research Ethics Committee (JHREC)(opens in a new window) have established a streamlined review process, for projects between Victoria Police and areas in the Department of Justice and Regulation (Victoria).

This is in line with the National Statement.

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. This form 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 VPHREC.

The protocols also refer to other documents such as legislation and standards.

Contact the Policing Research Unit

You can email the Policing Research Unit with any questions or feedback.

• Research Coordinating Committee (RCC) - RESEARCHCOORDCOMMITTEE-MGR@police.vic.gov.au.
• Victoria Police Human Research Ethics Committee (VPHREC) - RESEARCHETHICSCOMMITTEE-MGR@police.vic.gov.au.