28th May 2026, 9am – 5pm
Derby University, Kedleston Road
Organisers: Dr Robyn Fawcett (r.fawcett@derby.ac.uk) and Tom Andrews (t.andrews@derby.ac.uk).
Attendance free, registration required (see link below).
With support from a Social Policy Association Opportunity Grant.
Description
The UK’s current social and political landscape, particularly in relation to immigration and social policy, has seen a notable increase in more extreme ‘radical flank’ protests. These events have attracted significant attention from policymakers, media outlets, and senior officials, including the Prime Minister, with allegations of ‘two-tier policing’. This framing illustrates the complex ways in which dissent, belonging, and legitimacy are interpreted across different communities, and how media and political priming can alter perspectives. In particular, the persistent depiction of migrants and refugees as the “problem” can divert focus from the structural forces such as austerity, housing insecurity, and welfare retrenchment that shape hardship across all communities.
This dynamic places additional pressure on public services, including policing, which must respond to protests and dissent while safeguarding rights, dignity, and trust within increasingly diverse communities; often in the face of incredibly divisive media intensifying allegations of ‘two-tier’ policing, regardless of action or inaction. Recent policy and legislative developments and political rhetoric have intensified these pressures by promising increased police powers but that raise serious questions about civil liberties and accountability.
There is strong evidence that higher education and professional training in social policy can support fairer, more proportionate decision-making across public services. Officers and public service workers equipped with such knowledge are better able to make nuanced, informed decisions operationally, tactically, and strategically. This approach supports more effective and proportionate policing by reducing the need for force, encouraging constructive engagement with demonstrators, and building stronger trust, legitimacy, and understanding of the communities officers serve. As the Chief Inspector of Constabularies observes, “public confidence in policing hangs by a thread.”.
This conference aims to convene a diverse network of stakeholders including academics, policymakers, students, early-career researchers (ECRs), practitioners, pracademics, community groups, and third sector organisations, to explore the intersections of the diverse needs of all parties during protests.
Registration
Please fill in the form for attendance and or presenting!
We do have some travel bursaries available for low-income households, please do get in touch.