Dr Laura Boulton
School of Justice Studies
Faculty of Arts Professional and Social Studies
Email: L.J.Boulton@ljmu.ac.uk
Dr Laura Boulton is a Senior Lecturer at the Liverpool Centre for Advanced Policing Studies. She is the programme leader for the BA(Hons) Policing Studies programme.
Previously she was a Senior Lecturer in Policing at the University of Central Lancashire and was seconded to Lancashire Constabulary for as their Academic Lead for the Evidence-Based Research Hub.
Providing an evidence base that can be utilised by Police practitioners to impact change in practice was the underlying motivation for her research. She has published a range of journal articles with a focus on policing and decision making. During Laura's time a UCLan, she was principle investigator for multiple research projects, including an examination into return to home interviews, an evaluation of drug related death panels in Blackpool and the long term implications of a project relating to the prevention of serious and organised crime involvement in Manchester.
Laura completed her Psychology PhD in 2014 at the University of Liverpool. Under the supervision of Professor Jon Cole, her thesis examined how cognition, executive functioning, expertise and human factors influence the decision making of Authorised Firearms Officers during armed confrontations.
Her external networks include being a judge for the Tilley awards as well as involvement in the International Network for the Prevention and Investigation of Child Death, the Decision Making Under Uncertainty Network, the Tactical Decision-Making research group and the Armed Policing research network. She also peer reviews articles for five journals and is an article editor for SAGE Open journal.
Having completed her Post Graduate Certificate in Learning and Teaching in Higher Education (PGCert LTHE), she is now a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy.
Degrees
2018, University of Central Lancashire, UK, PGCert LTHE
2014, University of Liverpool, UK, PhD
2007, University of Liverpool, UK, BA Hons
Academic appointments
Senior Lecturer, Liverpool Centre for Advanced Policing, Liverpool John Moores University, 2020 - present
Senior Lecturer, Policing, School of Forensic and Applied Sciences, University of Central Lancashire, 2018 - 2020
Lecturer, Policing, School of Forensic and Applied Sciences, University of Central Lancashire, 2016 - 2018
Post-doctoral Research Assistant, Policing, School of Forensic and Applied Sciences, University of Central Lancashire, 2014 - 2016
Journal article
Boulton L, Simanovic T, McManus M, Walker D. 2024. Policing the pandemic: Exploring public perceptions of the enforcement of COVID-19 restrictions in the United Kingdom The Police Journal: Theory, Practice and Principles, DOI Publisher Url Public Url
Boulton L, Phoenix J, Halford E, Sidebottom A. 2022. Return home interviews with children who have been missing: an exploratory analysis Police Practice and Research, DOI Publisher Url Public Url
Birdsall N, Boulton L. 2022. Theorising victim decision making in the police response to domestic abuse International Review of Victimology, 28 :330-344 DOI Publisher Url Public Url
Phythian R, Birdsall N, Kirby S, Cooper E, Posner Z, Boulton L. 2022. Developments in UK police wellbeing: A review of blue light wellbeing frameworks Police Journal, 95 :24-49 DOI Publisher Url Public Url
Holmes J, Boulton L, Panter HA. 2021. Understanding the role of uncertainty and anxiety in police decision-making during the investigation of sudden unexpected deaths in children Journal of Investigative Psychology and Offender Profiling, 19 :58-72 DOI Author Url Publisher Url Public Url
Phythian R, Birdsall N, Kirby S, Cooper E, Posner Z, Boulton L. 2021. Organisational and individual perspectives of police wellbeing in England and Wales The Police Journal: Theory, Practice and Principles, DOI Publisher Url Public Url
Hurley M, Boulton L. 2021. Early Identification and Intervention with Individuals at Risk of Becoming Involved in Serious and Organised Crime (SOC) Safer Communities, 20 :73-84 DOI Publisher Url Public Url
Boulton L, Phythian R, Kirby S, Dawson I. 2020. Taking an evidence-based approach to evidence-based policing research Policing (Oxford): a journal of policy and practice, DOI Author Url Publisher Url Public Url
Boulton LJ, Phythian R, Kirby S. 2019. Diverting young men from gangs: a qualitative evaluation Policing: an international journal of police strategies and management, 42 :887-900 DOI Author Url Publisher Url Public Url
Sidebottom A, Boulton L, Cockbain E, Halford E, Phoenix J. 2019. Missing children: risks, repeats and responses Policing and Society: an international journal of research and policy, DOI Author Url Publisher Url Public Url
Kirby S, McManus MA, Boulton L. 2017. Examining the demographic profile and attitudes of citizens, in areas where organized crime groups proliferate Trends in Organized Crime, 21 :172-188 DOI Author Url Publisher Url Public Url
Boulton L, McManus MA, Metcalfe L, Brian D, Dawson I. 2016. Calls for police service: Understanding the demand profile and the UK police response Police Journal, 90 :70-85 DOI Publisher Url Public Url
Boulton L, Cole J. 2016. Adaptive flexibility: Examining the role of expertise in the decision making of authorized firearms officers during armed confrontation Journal of Cognitive Engineering and Decision Making, 10 :291-308 DOI Publisher Url Public Url
McManus MA, Almond L, Cubbon B, Boulton L, Mears I. 2015. Exploring the Online Communicative Themes of Child Sex Offenders Journal of Investigative Psychology and Offender Profiling, 13 :166-179 DOI Author Url Publisher Url Public Url
Report
Cox C, Panter HA, James A, Boulton L, Hagan R, Craven J, Silverstone DM. 2023. Diversity and inclusion within police firearms teams Diversity and inclusion within police firearms teams Public Url
Millings M, Boulton L, Carr R, James A, Silverstone D. 2021. Evaluating Operation Target Disruption Activity: Practitioner and Partner Perspectives
McManus MA, Boulton L. 2020. Evaluation of Integrated Multi-Agency Operational Safeguarding Arrangements in Wales Publisher Url Public Url
McManus M, Boulton L, Hesketh R, Corteen K. 2020. Evaluation of Integrated Multi-Agency Operational Safeguarding Arrangements in Wales. An interim report for the National Independent Safeguarding Board Wales and the Welsh Government.
Phythian R, Kirby S, Birdsall N, Cox C, Boulton L. 2020. Wellbeing in Policing: Blue Light Wellbeing Framework. A report for Lancashire Constabulary and Oscar Kilo.
Boulton L, Phythian R, Birdsall N. 2020. Blackpool's Drug Related Death and Non-Fatal Overdose Review Panel: A Process Evaluation
Phythian R, Kirby S, Birdsall N, Cooper E, Posner Z, Boulton L. 2019. Wellbeing in Policing: Landscape Review. A report for Lancashire Constabulary and Oscar Kilo.
Cooper E, Birdsall N, Boulton L. 2019. Understanding 'Sextortion' Incidents with the Lancashire Constabulary.
Birdsall N, Kirby S, Phythian R, Boulton L, Cooper E. 2019. Mental Health Demand in Lancashire. A report for Lancashire Constabulary.
Boulton L, Phythian R, Kirby S. 2019. Police Research Evaluation Framework (PREF): Taking an evidence-based approach to evidence-based policing research. A report for Lancashire Constabulary.
Boulton L, Coleman R, Kirby S, Richardson B. 2018. Exploring the long-term impact of interventions to divert young people from involvement in serious and organised crime: A research report for Greater Manchester Police and the Home Office.
Kirby S, Frampton C, Shorrock S, Okeke R, McManus M, Boulton L, Metcalfe L, Coleman R, Isherwood L. 2017. The Early Action Programme Final Evaluation
Kirby S, Boulton L. 2015. The PCSO Challenger Project. A report for Greater Manchester Police and the Home Office.
Birdsall N, McManus M, Brian D, Boulton L. 2015. Surveying Lancashire: Expectations and experiences of Lancashire Constabulary and its associated partners. A report for Lancashire Constabulary.
Boulton L, Cole J. 2014. A cognitive task analysis of Authorised Firearms Officers’ tactical decision making in armed confrontations. A report for Merseyside Police.
Phythian R, Kirby S, Birdsall N, Cox C, Boulton L. Wellbeing in Policing: Blue Light Wellbeing Framework. Commissioned Report: NPCC.
Chapters
Boulton L. 2023. Police and Decision Making Corteen K, Steele R, Cross N, McManus M. Police and Decision Making :204-208 Policy Press. https://policy.bristoluniversitypress.co.uk/forensic-psychology-crime-and-policing 978-1447359395 Publisher Url Public Url
Kirby S, Phythian R, Boulton L. 2020. Exploring the currency of violence in Serious Organised Crime (SOC) Ireland C, Lewis M, Ireland J, Lopez A. The Handbook of Collective Violence: Current Developments and Understanding Taylor & Francis (Routledge) 9780429197420 DOI Publisher Url Public Url
Kirby S, Phythian R, Boulton L. 2020. Exploring the currency of violence in serious organized crime The Handbook of Collective Violence: Current Developments and Understanding :220-231 DOI Publisher Url
Suss J, Boulton L. 2018. Expertise in Law Enforcement Ward P, Schraagen JM, Gore J, Roth E. The Oxford Handbook of Expertise Oxford University Press 9780198795872 DOI Publisher Url Public Url
Conference publication
Boulton L. 2017. Exploring the Decision Making of Police Officers Investigating Cases of Child Abuse within the Family Gore J, Ward P. Conference Proceedings of The 13th International Conference On Naturalistic Decision Making (NDM13), NDM13: 13th International Conference on Naturalistic Decision Making Publisher Url Public Url
Phoenix J, Boulton L, Sidebottom A, Halford E. Identifying risk factors of/and protective factors from going missing repeatedly using return to home interview data Fourth International Conference for Missing Adults and Children
Internet publication
Boulton L, Power N, Brown O. Terror attacks: How psychological research can help improve the emergency response Author Url
preprint
Sidebottom A, Boulton L, Cockbain E, Halford E, Phoenix J. Missing children: risks, repeats and responses DOI Publisher Url
External committees:
JESIP, Working group member, JESIP Research Working Group. 2025
Other invited event:
Dunkenhalgh Hotel, Blackburn, The Lancashire Constabulary Problem Solving Awards recognises the best examples of innovative policing in Lancashire. I am a shifting judge for these awards., Lancashire Constabulary Problem Solving Awards, https://www.lancashire.police.uk/news/south/south-division-officers-recognised-at-lancashire-constabulary-s-problem-solving-awards/#:~:text=The%20Chenery%20Award%2C%20which%20is,outstanding%20contribution%20to%20problem-solving.. 2025
Liverpool, This JESIP Symposium event brought together academics, practitioners, and policymakers, all committed to a shared goal: improving how we work together in the face of emergencies. This symposium also marked an important milestone in the JESIP Transformation Programme, which aims to ensure that evidence-based practice drives the future of interoperability., JESIP Research Symposium - From Insight to Impact: Measuring and Assuring the Effectiveness of JESIP, https://crestresearch.ac.uk/resources/jesip-research-symposium-summary/. 2025
Burton on Trent, In 2017, South Yorkshire Police were awarded a grant from the Home Office to lead a National Problem Solving Programme on behalf of all forces. NPCC lead from Problem Solving, Chief Constable Lauren Poultney, is responsible for overseeing the delivery of this programme and overarching purpose of transforming ways of working and reducing demand, by embedding a structured problem solving ethos as a core discipline in policing. To achieve this the programme facilitated a number of workstreams, one of which included the launch of the annual National Problem Solving Conference to explore, share and celebrate problem-solving initiatives and knowledge with both police and partners at a local, regional and national level., National Problem Solving and Crime Prevention Conference, https://www.problemsolvingconference.co.uk/. 2024
London, JESIP Research Symposium brought together 30 academics and practitioners to explore the question: ‘How can we improve emergency services interoperability?’. The event featured 11 lightning talks by researchers, followed by Q&A and open discussion., JESIP Research Symposium: Improving Interoperability between Responder Organisations in the UK. 2024
Other Professional Activity:
Sifting judge for the 2025 Lancashire Constabulary Problem Solving Awards. 2025
Policing lead for LJMU's School of Justice Studies Horizon Scanning Exercise - Workshop 1. 2024
Tilley award sifting judge (2024). 2024
Sifting judge for the 2023 Lancashire Constabulary Problem Solving Awards. 2023
Tilley award sifting judge (2023). 2023
Sifting judge for The 2019/20 Tilley Awards. 2020
Conference presentation:
Oral presentation, St Andrews, 4th International Behavioural and Social Sciences in Security Conference (BASS24), Police Decision Making. 2024
Oral presentation, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK, 4th International Conference on Missing Persons and Adults, Missing children: Risks, repeats and responses. 2019
Oral presentation, Turku, Finland, Annual Conference of the European Association of Psychology and Law, Identifying Risk Factors of Intra-familial Child Homicide: A Triad Effect and the Role of the Invisible Father. 2018
Oral presentation, University of Bath, Bath, UK, 13th International Conference on Naturalistic Decision Making, Exploring the Decision Making of Police Officers Investigating Cases of Child Abuse Within the Family. 2017
Oral presentation, University of Huddersfield, Advances in preventing and investigating suspicious child death workshop, Decision time: Exploring SIO decision making during child death investigation’. 2017
Oral presentation, Leicester Marriott Hotel, Leicester, UK, Homicide Working Group, Child-Death Sub-Group, National Conference, Exploring SIO decision making during child death investigation.. 2017
Oral presentation, Orlando, USA, Adaptive Flexibility: Examining the Role of Expertise in the Decision Making of Authorised Firearms Officers during Armed Confrontation., The 7th International Conference on Applied Human Factors and Ergonomics. 2016
Oral presentation, Lancaster House Hotel, Lancaster, UK, Child Homicide, DECISION MAKING AND BIAS. 2016
Oral presentation, Staffordshire University, Staffordshire, UK, POLCON 6, Surveying Lancashire: Expectations and experiences of Lancashire Constabulary and its associated partners. 2015
Research Grants Awarded:
Duration of research project: 12 months, Grant value (£): £4,811.67, LJMU APSS QR, Evaluating the utility of the National Decision Model – Does it actually work to help police make better decisions?. 2023
Duration of research project: 12 months, Grant value (£): £8516, LJMU APSS QR, Freya O'Brien, Laura Pajon, Exploring the response to repeat missing children in a UK Police Force.. 2023
Duration of research project: 12 months, Grant value (£): 9,743.40, The British Academy: Special Research Grants COVID-19, Dominique Walker; Michelle McManus, Policing a Pandemic: An exploration of police use of powers during COVID-19, dis-proportionality and the impact on public perceptions of police legitimacy.. 2020
Duration of research project: 12 months, Grant value (£): £29,983, College of Policing, Phythian, R., Kirby, S., Birdsall, N., Cooper, E., Posner, Z., & Boulton, L., Wellbeing in Policing: Landscape Review.. 2019
Duration of research project: 12 months, Grant value (£): £41,666, Lancashire Constabulary, Boulton, L., Phythian, R., Birdsall, N., & Cooper, E., Evidence Based Policing Hub secondment 2019-20. 2019
Duration of research project: 12 months, Grant value (£): £9,956.22, Home Office, Boulton, L., Phythian, R., Birdsall, N., Heroin and Crack Cocaine Action Area Evaluation. 2019
Duration of research project: 3 months, Grant value (£): £3,818.22, UCLan research catalyst scheme, Return to Home Interviews. 2019
Grant value (£): £1,143.60, UCLan FAS Research and Innovation Services, Birdsall, N., Kirby, S., Boulton, L., Phythian, R., & Cooper, E., Writing Retreat. 2019
Duration of research project: 12 months, Grant value (£): £31,156.86, NPCC, Phythian, R., Kirby, S., Birdsall, N., Cox, C., & Boulton, L., Wellbeing in Policing: Blue Light Wellbeing Framework.. 2018
Duration of research project: 12 months, Grant value (£): £50,000, Lancashire Constabulary, Kirby, S., Boulton, L., Phythian, R., Birdsall, N., & Cooper, E., Evidence Based Policing Hub secondment 2018-19. 2018
Duration of research project: 12 months, Grant value (£): £19,928.42, Home Office, Boulton, L., Coleman, R., Kirby S., & Richardson, B., Engage Evaluation. 2017
Duration of research project: 12 months, Grant value (£): £50,000, Lancashire Constabulary, Kirby, S., Boulton, L., Phythian, R., & Birdsall, N., Evidence Based Policing Hub secondment 2017-18. 2017
Grant value (£): £140,000, Police Innovation Fund, Home Office, Kirby, S., Frampton, C., Shorrock, S., Okeke, R., McManus, M., Boulton, L., Metcalfe, L., Coleman, R., & Isherwood, L, Lancashire Early Action Initiative.
Grant value (£): £3,956.40, UCLan Research Committee, Hydra.
Grant value (£): £4,643.20, UCLan Research Committee, Student research equipment.