Mike Rowe

I was, for a number of years, a civil servant working in both management and policy roles. I left to complete a PhD, sponsored by the National Audit Office, and retain an interest in all things public service and public policy. In research, this has included work on the concept of accountability and on urban regeneration partnerships.

My main research interest at present is in policing. With colleagues, I am conducting a long-term ethnographic study of the use of discretion by front line officers. This arose out of on-going concerns about the use of stop and search powers but embraces all aspects of discretion. We have been observing officers in three police forces and are now publishing work on the craft of policing, police culture, the use of body-worn cameras, discretion in decisions to arrest and other topics. The work has also led to the establishment of a European Research Network, funded by EU COST, on Police Stops, of which I am the Vice Chair. Further information will be available at: https://www.polstops.eu/.

I have also written on community land trusts and housing policy. This interest continues and embraces other forms of community activism and social enterprise.