If Prevention is the what, Problem Solving is the how: The Practical Application & Implementation of a Problem-Oriented Policing Approach.
Monday 21st to Friday 25th July 2025
POP & PS Masterclass Overview
Who is this course for?
This course has primarily been designed for those involved in the practical application, support, and ownership of problem solving and prevention in police forces. Officers and staff completing and supervising Problem Solving Plans, those who play a role within Hotspot Policing projects; problem solving advisors, co-ordinators, and analysts; and organisational leads for problem solving, Problem-Oriented Policing (POP), and prevention would find this course particularly beneficial.
For a force to truly become ‘problem-oriented’, it must embrace the concept of POP outside of Neighbourhood Policing, ensuring that each department sees the value that POP can bring to their work. Therefore, those seeking to bring POP to the wider organisation would also benefit from this course.
Finally, although the content is primarily targeted to police forces, associated partner agencies who are involved in taking a problem solving approach will also find this course highly relatable.
Course overview
POP (practically applied through problem solving methodologies) is a well-evidenced policing approach, in which repeat problems experienced by communities are identified, understood, and addressed, in an evidence-based way. Over the last 45 years, it has become widely endorsed, to the point that His Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services assess it within their PEEL Inspection, the National Police Chiefs’ Council place it at the heart of their Prevention Strategy, and the College of Policing have published several documents to support forces in this field. There are also UK (Tilley Awards) and international (Goldstein Awards) awards to celebrate the success of such efforts. Many partner agencies associated with police forces have also adopted a problem-oriented approach.
Despite this considerable drive, police forces have consistently struggled to transform excellent, but isolated, POP initiatives into a systematic forcewide POP approach. This course has therefore been designed to address this. Course content will include:
What is POP? A history, case studies, research behind, related theories, and models
Tackling the barriers to implementing POP
Designing, supporting, evaluating, and tracking Problem Solving Plans
Understanding how POP fits alongside other policing strategies and within all force departments
The vital role of analysts, advisors, co-ordinators, and leaders
The application of problem solving to scenarios such as serious violence, drugs, knife crime, anti-social behaviour, vehicle crime, and road safety
Integrating a POP approach within Hotspot Policing initiatives, from the outset and not as an afterthought
Taking a partnership approach within problem solving
Course Structure
This is a five-day in-person course, held at Selwyn College, University of Cambridge. It will involve a mixture of lectures, group discussions, and group exercises.
Please see below for both residential (bed & breakfast and lunch) and non-residential (lunch) pricing options.
Faculty
The Cambridge Centre for Evidence-Based Policing team teaching this course includes the following instructors:
Matt Sessions MSc, Former Problem Solving Tactical Advisor (Surrey Police) and Problem Solving Team Manager (Warwickshire Police), UK Tilley Award winner, Goldstein Award finalist, and current Tilley Award sift judge
Dr. Eleanor Neyroud PhD, University of Cambridge
Detective Chief Superintendent (Retired) Simon Rose, MBA, MSt, PhD candidate University of Cambridge
Guest speakers- To be conformed
Cost
Residential (inclusive of 4 nights bed & breakfast) = £1,810.00 + VAT (where applicable)
Non-Residential = £1,350 + VAT. (where applicable)
For any further enquiries relating to this course, please contact chief@cambridge-ebp.co.uk