The aim of the network is to both promote, and provide a focus for, independent research on policing and public protection; to collaborate with Police Scotland and other community stakeholders to produce quality research on all relevant areas of public protection; to ensure that independent academic research on public protection is made accessible to police forces, practitioners and policy makers; and to ensure research results impact on police policy, practice and procedure.  In support of these aims, the network draws upon expertise from a range of academic disciplines including: sociology; criminology; geography; psychology; social policy; law; social work; economics; and health. The network seeks to engage with Police Scotland specialist services such as the National Rape Task Force, the National Child Abuse Investigation Unit (NCAIU), the Specialist Crime Division for Public Protection; and Safer Communities.

 The network defines public protection broadly and includes research on areas such as: all forms of gender based violence; child abuse and sexual exploitation; children and young people; gangs and youth violence; hate crime; homicide; missing persons; human trafficking; mental health; vulnerable adults; and the intervention, treatment and management of sexual and violent offenders.  Research of relevance to the network may be directly on policing or the police, but may also focus on other areas or institutions, but with direct relevance for policing or the police. In Scotland there are a number of consortia and groups focusing on public protection issues, however none focus specifically on policing and public protection and this remit will be met by this SIPR thematic network.