Student project to be used in police training

Ranked in the top 20% nationally for teaching quality across a variety of subjects in The Times Good University Guide 2025, Criminology students at Solent are taught by experts in their field with strong links to local and national services. Utilising this connection, Senior Lecturer Criminology, Nigel Lee, has led to a project developed by three students be selected for use in real-world police training.

As part of a Police, Law and Community module, third-year students were asked to research and present on a type of crime which can affect young people in England. The successful group tackled sexual violence and, as part of their project, had to incorporate the National Decision Model (NDM) into their work. This is a key element of policing in England and Wales, and the  group expertly linked to Project Vigilant, an ongoing initiative at the Thames Valley Police created to prevent sexual violence.

The aim of the brief was to give final-year students an opportunity to showcase their understanding of police strategies as they head towards graduation and out into the world of work. Every student produced high-standard responses, with this particular group excelling in their approach. They say:

"We thoroughly enjoyed researching Project Vigilant and the incredible work Thames Valley Police are doing to prevent sexual violence in the night time economy. Researching the project was both enlightening and inspiring, and it's an honour to know that our work is now being used in training. We are proud to contribute to such an important project."

Now, following a request from the force, part of the group's presentation will be incorporated into Thames Valley Police's training materials on the principles of Project Vigilant. This unique success highlights the high-quality teaching delivered at Solent, guided by lecturers who have decades of experience under their belt.

Thames Valley Police's DI Tina Wallace KMP, says:

"I wanted to take a moment to thank you and your students for the fantastic work they've done in supporting Project Vigilant. The visual representation of the NDM created by your students on LinkedIn was presented in such a simple yet effective way, and I believe it would be incredibly beneficial for our officers to see and use as part of our training. We are constantly striving to modernise and improve our approach, and their work aligns perfectly with that aim."

Find out more about Criminology at Solent here.