Integrating the academic perspectives of management science, psychology and law, Dr Ross Ritchie is currently examining and risk‑assessing the police custody process. His research aims to improve police decision‑making practices, which will ultimately lead to a number of positive individual, organisational and societal impacts This is a novel approach, because it looks at the improvements as a matter not just of reducing the risk to detainees, but identifying where risk aversion increases the cost of running custody facilities. The recommendations based on this work will contribute to the development of a national guideline on detention and custody (England, Wales and Northern Ireland). The work has attracted great interest from several police forces.
