Professor Stephen Tong
Faculties, departments and locations
- Faculty of Business and Social Sciences
- Department of Criminology, Politics and Sociology
- School of Law, Social and Behavioural Sciences
- Penrhyn Road
Head of School
- Email:
- [email protected]
About
I am a Professor in Policing and Criminal Justice and Head of the School for Law, Social and Behavioural Sciences.
I obtained my PhD and MPhil in Criminology at the Institute of Criminology, University of Cambridge. Throughout my career, I held various roles, from Lecturer to Professor at Canterbury Christ Church University (2002-2022) before Joining Kingston University in 2022.
I have held various academic roles, including leading research projects, directing undergraduate, postgraduate, and PhD courses, founding and leading a research centre, external examination roles ranging from undergraduate to PhD (at 18 different universities), and strategic research leadership.
My interest in designing academic courses focused on developing a curriculum with academic rigour, transferable skills, and relevance to professions.
My research interests focus on a wide range of policing issues, with a particular interest in police training/education, police whistle-blowing and complaints, miscarriages of justice, technological development in policing, police professionalisation, criminal investigation, and international policing.
Qualifications
- PhD
- MPhil
- BA (Hons)
Domains
I am currently the Head of School for Law, Social and Behavioural Sciences and teach no modules. I have designed courses in policing and criminology and delivered teaching in policing, miscarriages of justice, criminal investigation, and research methods.
My research interests focus on a wide range of policing issues, with a particular interest in police training and education, miscarriages of justice, technological development in policing, police professionalisation, criminal investigation, and international policing.
- Tong. S (2018) ‘Police Leadership in Europe' CEPOL Joint Masters Programme, Schiphol Netherlands 12th December 2018
- Tong, S (2017) ‘Art, Craft and Science of Policing', Bridgewater State University, USA
- Tong, S (2017) ‘Conducting research into European Policing' German Police University, Munster, Germany, Thursday 9th March 2017
- Tong. S (2016) ‘The History of Criminal Investigation', Norwegian Police University College, Oslo, January 2016
Research impact concerns the improvement of detective training, workplace learning and reduce attrition and contribution to the development of new pathways.
- Tong. S & O'Neill. M (2021) ‘Final feedback:- Responding to workforce transformation: Detective recruitment and training Recruitment', NPCC, Retention and Wellbeing of Investigator's working group 21st January 2021, Virtual Presentation.
- Tong. S & O'Neill. M (2021) ‘Final feedback: - Responding to workforce transformation: Detective recruitment and Training Recruitment'. MPS, 19th January 2021, Virtual Presentation.
- Clayman. S, Tong. S & O'Neil. M (2019) ‘Direct Entry Detective: Independent Evaluation' NPCC Investigator Resilience Learning Event, 25th November 2019, College of Policing Ryton.
- Tong. S & O'Neill. M (2019) ‘Interim feedback - Responding to workforce transformation: Detective recruitment and training Recruitment', NPCC, Retention and Wellbeing of Investigator's working group Thursday 12th September 2019, Croydon, London.
- Tong. S (2019) ‘Embedding Research in Policing, invitation from the Metropolitan Police Southern Area Evidence-based Policing lead to deliver a presentation on embedding research in policing to a delegation led by the Head of Strategy, Innovation and Research from the Dutch Ministry of Security and Justice, 16.07.19 Charing Cross station.
- Tong, S (2019) ‘Brexit and the future of European Policing: Views of police professionals and the changing context of European Policing." Counter Terrorism Policing in a Diverse and Changing World – Leadership event Kent Police, 6th February 2019.
- Hadfield. A & Tong. S (2018) ‘Delivering a Brexit Border: Policing, Security, Freight and Customs', Palace of Westminster, Committee Room 6, hosted by Helen Whately, M.P. for Mid-Kent and Faversham, November 13th 2018.
- Mozova. K & Tong, S (2017) Public fear of terrorism and counter-terrorism awareness, Tuesday 14th November, New Scotland Yard, London, Metropolitan Black Police Association.
- Tong, S (2016) ‘Learning from Mistakes? Policing Under Siege: An examination of high profile criticisms of policing and potential responses'. Thursday 21st July, New Scotland Yard, London, Metropolitan Black Police Association.
- Tong, S (2013) ‘Privatisation of Agencies in the Public Sector,' the London Practitioner Forum, London Metropolitan University, Thursday January 10th 2013
- Tong, S (2013) ‘Evolving partnership and collaboration', for the College of Policing conference ‘Growing Police and Academic Partnerships', November 28th 2013, Bramshill, Hampshire.
- Tong, S (2011) ‘The Detective Past and Present: An examination of an evolving profession' presentations at the invitation of the Police Federation, Detective Forum (December 2011)
Head of School Law, Social and Behavioural Sciences
Publications
Introduction to policing research : taking lessons from practice
(2016). Abingdon, U.K.: (Routledge)
Blackstone's handbook for policing students 2016
Tong, Stephen, Graça, Sofia, Lawton-Barrett, Kevin, O'Neill, Martin, Underwood, Robert and Wood, Dominic (2015). Oxford, U.K.: (Oxford University Press)
Leading policing in Europe : an empirical study of police leadership
Tong, Stephen and Caless, Bryn (2015). Bristol, U.K.: (Policy Press and Bristol University Press)
Understanding criminal investigation
Tong, Stephen, Bryant, Robin and Horvath, Miranda (2009). Chichester, U.K.: (Wiley)
The ‘haves and have-nots’ of social support during police recruitment : why the playing field is anything but level
Stubbs, Gareth and Tong, Steve, 2024, Policing and Society, pp 1-17
UK-EU law enforcement cooperation post-Brexit : a UK law enforcement practitioner perspective
Shellaker, Matthew, Tong, Stephen and Swallow, Paul, 2023
Women police leaders in Europe : a tale of prejudice and patronage
Silvestri, Marisa and Tong, Stephen, 2022, European Journal of Criminology (19), 5, pp 871-890
More lesson learning, less risk aversion in England and Wales? Prospects for the police (conduct) regulations 2020
Heaton, Robert and Tong, Stephen, 2022, The Police Journal: Theory, Practice and Principles, pp 0032258X2211075
Police learning in the context of change and diversity
Tong, Stephen and Green, Tracey, 2020, Policing: A Journal of Policy and Practice (14), 2, pp 295-299
Operational risk, omissions and liability in policing
Heaton, Robert, Bryant, Robin and Tong, Stephen, 2019, The Police Journal: Theory, Practice and Principles (92), 2, pp 150-166
The Schengen evaluation mechanism : exploring the views of experts in the field of police cooperation
Kaasik, Joosep and Tong, Stephen, 2019, European Law Enforcement Research Bulletin (18), pp 53-69
The importance of context and cognitive agency in developing police knowledge
Wood, Dominic, Cockcroft, Tom, Tong, Stephen and Bryant, Robin, 2018, The Police Journal: Theory, Practice and Principles (91), 2, pp 173-187
Evidence-based policing : from effectiveness to cost-effectiveness
Heaton, Robert and Tong, Stephen, 2016, Policing (10), 1, pp 60-70
Leading policing in Europe : an empirical study of police leadership
Caless, Brian and Tong, Stephen, 2015, European Police Science and Research Bulletin (12), pp 13-17
Investigative decision making : missing people and sexual offences, crossroads to an uncertain future
Alys, L., Massey, K. and Tong, Stephen, 2013, Journal of Investigative Psychology and Offender Profiling (10), 2, pp 140-154
Gender and police leadership : time for a paradigm shift?
Silvestri, Marisa, Tong, Steve and Brown, Jennfier, 2013, International Journal of Police Science and Management (15), 1, pp 61-73
‘An appropriate space’ : chief officers and police accountability
Caless, Bryn and Tong, Stephen, 2013, Police Practice and Research (14), 1, pp 4-16
Graduate police officers : releasing the potential for pre-employment university programmes for aspiring officers
Tong, Stephen and Wood, Dominic, 2011, The Police Journal (84), 1, pp 69-74
Critical issues in rape investigation : an overview of reform in England and Wales
Horvath, M., Tong, Stephen and Williams, E., 2011, The Journal of Criminal Justice Research (1), 2, pp 1-18
The future of initial police training : a university perspective
Wood, D.A. and Tong, Stephen, 2009, (11), 3, pp 294-305
Art, craft and science of detective work
Tong, Stephen and Bowling, Ben, 2006, The Police Journal (79), 4, pp 323-329
Conclusions and the future direction of policing research
Martin, Denise and Tong, Steve (2024). In: Martin, Denise, (eds.) and Tong, Stephen, (eds.), Introduction to policing research : taking lessons from practice. Abingdon: Routledge, pp 322-328
Homicide detectives : transformational change and challenges
O'Neill, Martin, Tong, Steve and Clayman, Stephen (2024). In: Allsop, Cheryl, (eds.) and Pike, Sophie, (eds.), Routledge international handbook of homicide investigation. Abingdon: Routledge, pp 63-75
Introduction
Martin, Denise and Tong, Steve (2024). In: Martin, Denise, (eds.) and Tong, Stephen, (eds.), Introduction to policing research : taking lessons from practice. Abingdon: Routledge, pp 1-6
Researching detective pathways : opportunities and challenges
O'Neill, Martin and Tong, Steve (2024). In: Martin, Denise, (eds.) and Tong, Stephen, (eds.), Introduction to policing research : taking lessons from practice. Abingdon: Routledge, pp 65-76
Tong, Stephen and Hallenberg, Katja M. (2018). In: Rogers, Colin, (eds.) and Frevel, Bernhard, (eds.), Higher education and police : an international perspective. Cham, Switzerland: Palgrave Macmillan, pp 17-34
Conclusion : challenges and changes in policing research
Martin, Denise and Tong, Stephen (2015). In: Brunger, Mark, (eds.), Tong, Stephen, (eds.) and Martin, Denise, (eds.), Introduction to policing research : taking lessons from practice. Abingdon, U.K.: Routledge, pp 217-224
From the briefing room to the class room : the pedagogical value of researching police elites
Brunger, Mark, Caless, Bryn, Tong, Stephen and Gilbert, Paul (2015). In: Brunger, Mark, (eds.), Tong, Stephen, (eds.) and Martin, Denise, (eds.), Introduction to policing research : taking lessons from practice. London, U.K.: Routledge, pp 137-148
Introduction to policing research
Brunger, Mark, Martin, Denise and Tong, Stephen (2015). In: Brunger, Mark, (eds.), Tong, Stephen, (eds.) and Martin, Denise, (eds.), Introduction to policing research : taking lessons from practice. Abingdon, U.K.: Routledge, pp 1-6
Watching the detectives : researching investigative practice
Hallenberg, Katja, O'Neill, Martin and Tong, Stephen (2015). In: Brunger, Mark, (eds.), Tong, Stephen, (eds.) and Martin, Denise, (eds.), Introduction to policing research : taking lessons from practice. Abingdon, U.K.: Routledge, pp 101-118
Police training and education : past, present and future
Bryant, Robin, Cockcroft, Tom, Tong, Stephen and Wood, Dominic (2014). In: Brown, Jennifer M., (ed.), The future of policing. Abingdon, U.K.: Routledge, pp 383-397
Border trouble? Cooperation between UK and European police, judicial, port and border authorities in the post-Brexit age
Hadfield, Amelia, Bullock, Karen, Tong, Stephen, Mallett, Ellis, Keningale, Paige and Wellings, Fennel (2022). Guildford, U.K.: (Centre for Britain and Europe (CBE), University of Surrey)
Kent and Medway: delivering a brexit border: policing, security, freight and customs
Hadfield, Amelia, Tong, Stephen and Swallow, Paul (2018). Canterbury, U.K.: (Centre for European Studies, Canterbury Christ Church University)
The impact of Brexit on European police cooperation for British policing agencies
Swallow, Paul and Tong, Stephen(2022). In: 22nd Annual Conference Of The European Society Of Criminology, 21-24 Sep 2022 :Malaga, Spain
Direct entry detective training : challenges and opportunities
Tong, Stephen and Clayman, Steve(2022). In: CCPR annual conference: time for change? Reflections on the strategic review of policing in England and Wales, 13-14 Sep 2022 :Canterbury, U.K.
Police and higher education : prospects and challenges II workshop
Tong, Steve, Marshall, Ivor, Hamilton, David and Kjendlie, Per-Ludvik(2017). In: Scottish Institute for Policing Research (SIPR) Annual Conference - Policing and Professionalisation : opportunities and challenges, 14 Dec 2017 :Edinburgh, U.K.
Sink or swim : a case study of detective training
Tong, S.(2017). In: MSc Sociology and Criminology Annual Conference, 24 - 25 Nov 2017 :Guildford, U.K.
Professionalizing criminal investigation : an examination of early attempts to professionalize detectives in the United Kingdom
Tong, Stephen(2017). In: 2017 Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences Annual Meeting, 21-23 Mar 2017 :Kansas City, U.S.A.
Professionalising policing : seeking viable and sustainable approaches to police education and learning
Tong, Stephen(2016). In: CEPOL 2016 Research and Science Conference : Global trends in law enforcement training and education, 5-7 Oct 2016 :National University of Public Service, Budapest, Hungary
Professionalising policing : challenges in the role of education
Tong, S.(2016). In: British Society of Criminology, 06 - 08 Jul 2016 :Nottingham, U.K.
Police reform workshop : professionalisation through education
Tong, S.(2016). In: European Police Research Institutes Collaboration (EPiC) Annual Conference, 30 Jun - 01 Jul 2016 :Cardiff, U.K.
Women and police leadership : a European insight
Tong, S. and Silvestri, M.(2015). In: European Society of Criminology Conference, 02 - 05 Sep 2015 :Porto, Portugal
Police education in England and Wales : a changing landscape
Tong, S.(2014). In: ProPEL Conference of Professional Practice, Education and Learning, 24 - 27 Jun 2014 :Stirling, U.K.
Policing research in an age of austerity
Brunger, M. and Tong, S.(2012). In: British Society of Criminology Conference, Portsmouth, U.K. :04 - 06 Jul 2012
Criminal investigation and higher education : a crossroads to an uncertain future
Massey, K. and Tong, S.(2012). 31 Jan 2012 : Huddersfield, U.K.
The science of criminal investigation
Tong, S.(2011). In: Netherlands Police Academy, Scientific Research and Criminal Investigation Conference, Nov 2011 :Netherlands
Criminal investigation and higher education : a crossroads to an uncertain future
Tong, S., Murphy, R. and Underwood, R.(2011). In: The Higher Education Forum for Learning and Development in Policing Conference, 06 - 07 Sep 2011 :Northampton, U.K.
Police research and interviewing police elites
Tong, S.(2011). In: The Higher Education Forum for Learning and Development in Policing Conference, 06 - 07 Sep 2011 :Northampton, U.K.
Skills and abilities in crime investigation : the investigative journalist versus the detective
Poyser, S. and Tong, S.(2011). In: British Society of Criminology Conference, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, U.K. :03 - 06 Jul 2012
Police leadership : an historical account of the development of police leaders
Caless, B. and Tong, S.(2011). In: Policing Through the Ages Conference, 19 Mar 2011 :Southampton, U.K.
Tong, S.(2010). In: British Society of Criminology Conference, 11 - 14 Jul 2010 :Leicester, U.K.
Graduate Police Officers : releasing the potential for pre-employment university programmes for aspiring police officers
Tong, S.(2010). In: British Society of Criminology Conference, 11 - 14 Jul 2010 :Leicester, U.K.
The more serious the offence, the more powerful the effect? An evaluation of victim-offender mediation in a prison setting
Tong, S.(2010). In: 6th conference of the European Forum for Restorative Justice, Doing Restorative Justice in Europe. Established Practices and Innovative Programmes, 17 - 19 Jun 2010 :Bilbao, Spain
In need of professionalisation : the case for pre-employment training and education for police officers in the UK
Tong, S.(2008). In: British Criminology Conference : Criminological Futures: Controversies, Developments and Debates, Jul 2008 :Huddersfield, U.K.
Confessions of a back seat detective : an ethnography of detective training and practice
Tong, S.(2008). In: International Conference : Justice and Policing in Diverse Societies, 09 - 12 Jun 2008 :San Juan, Puerto Rico
Developments in initial police training : a university perspective
Tong, S.(2008). In: 15th Annual International Police Executive Symposium, 12 - 16 May 2008 :Cincinnati, Ohio, U.S.
Initial police training : challenges and developments in the UK
Phipps, J., Tong, S. and Wood, D.(2007). In: 14th Annual Meeting of the International Police Executive Symposium, 08 - 12 Apr 2007 :Dubai
Investigating effectiveness : competing ideologies and police performance management
Tong, S.(2002). In: British Society of Criminology Conference, 17 - 20 Jul 2002 :Keele, U.K.
Watching the detectives
Tong, S.(2000). In: American Society of Criminology Conference, 17 Nov 2000 :San Francisco, U.S.