Dr Murray shortlisted for Herald Higher Education Award

Dr Kath Murray of the Edinburgh Law School and Dr Colin Atkinson of the University of the West of Scotland have been announced as finalists for the Herald’s 2019 Higher Education Awards.

The awards recognise the achievements of colleges and universities in a number of categories, from students learning and wellbeing to research projects, engagement, and more. Dr Murray and Dr Atkinson have been shortlisted in the category ‘Research Project of the Year’ for their project ‘The integration of British Transport Police in Police Scotland: identifying risks and framing the debate’.

The project investigated the impact of integration on British Transport Police officers and staff, and the operational implications, following the announcement that BTP Scottish Division would be fully integrated into Police Scotland as part of the Scotland Act 2016. The work explained the risks and costs associated with full integration, highlighted the human impact, and made the case for retaining the existing command structure within a devolved accountability arrangement. Through regular public engagement, the project also helped to reframe the debate around railway policing, from a constitutional matter to an operational issue with serious implications in terms of cost, safety, and officer/staff welfare.

On being shortlisted for the award, Dr Murray said: “When the Railway Policing (Scotland) Act was passed in 2017 and the integration of BTP Scottish Division with Police Scotland was taken forward, there was no business case through which to explore the full implications regarding risk and cost. I am pleased to see that, by being shortlisted for the Herald's Higher Education Awards, the work of our project has been recognised.”

The winners of the awards will be announced at a ceremony at the Crowne Plaza, Glasgow, on 5th June 2019.