We are delighted to announce that Dr Andrew Wooff has been appointed as the new Director for the Scottish Institute for Policing Research (SIPR), following an interview process led by the SIPR Board of Governance.
Dr Wooff has been an active member of the SIPR research community for over 10 years and has been an Associate Director of SIPR for two years, co-leading the Organisational Development Network.
Andrew has an outstanding record of collaborative research on policing in Scotland and beyond. He is highly experienced in building strong research-practitioner relationships, as his work co-designing the Special Constable transformation plans in Police Scotland will attest.
Andrew is an Associate Professor of Criminology at Edinburgh Napier University and his research interests are varied and interdisciplinary. He is interested in how the police use their power in different ways and on different populations, particularly in relation to rural policing, police custody, police education and the use of police volunteers. In addition, Andrew has significant leadership and management experience in higher education having until recently been the Head of Social Sciences at Edinburgh Napier.
Gill Imery, former HM Chief Inspector of Constabulary in Scotland and current Chair of the SIPR International Advisory Committee, chaired the interview panel and noted that:
“The interview panel was impressed with Andrew’s obvious enthusiasm for the work of SIPR and his vision for the next three years. Having been involved with SIPR in various capacities over many years, he is well placed to build on SIPR’s successes and to continue to develop strong relationships with academic colleagues and key stakeholders.”
Dr Wooff will take up the post of SIPR Director on 1 August 2025. I am sure you will all join me in welcoming Andrew to the role.
Prof Gary Hutchison
Dean of Applied Sciences
