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 the School for Law, Social and Behavioural Sciences
- Email:
- [email protected]
About
I am a professor in policing and criminal justice and Head of the School for Law, Social and Behavioural Sciences. My role is dedicated to the leadership and strategic direction of the school.
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 being appointed to the position of Head of School at 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 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)
- Senior Fellow of Advance HE (formerly the Higher Education Academy)
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 12 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 9 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 21 January 2021, Virtual Presentation.
- Tong. S & O'Neill. M (2021) ‘Final feedback: - Responding to workforce transformation: Detective recruitment and Training Recruitment'. MPS, 19 January 2021, Virtual Presentation.
- Clayman. S, Tong. S & O'Neil. M (2019) ‘Direct Entry Detective: Independent Evaluation' NPCC Investigator Resilience Learning Event, 25 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 12 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, 6 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, 13 November 2018.
- Mozova. K & Tong, S (2017) Public fear of terrorism and counter-terrorism awareness, Tuesday 14 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 21 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 10 January 2013
- Tong, S (2013) ‘Evolving partnership and collaboration', for the College of Policing conference ‘Growing Police and Academic Partnerships', 28 November 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
Identity fracture: a social identity theory analysis of police whistleblower narratives in England and Wales
Stubbs, Gareth and Tong, Stephen, 2025, Policing and Society, E-pub ahead of print
United Kingdom-European Union policing and law enforcement cooperation in the post-Brexit era
Bullock, Karen, Hadfield, Amelia, Keningale, Paige, Mallett, Ellis, Tong, Stephen and Wellings, Fennel, 2025, Policing and Society (35), 7pp 901-914, Published
The 'haves and have-nots' of social support during police recruitment: why the playing field is anything but level
Stubbs, Gareth and Tong, Stephen, 2024, Policing and Societypp 1-17, Published
UK-EU law enforcement cooperation post-Brexit: a UK law enforcement practitioner perspective
Shellaker, Matthew, Tong, Stephen and Swallow, Paul, 2023, Criminology and Criminal Justice, E-pub ahead of print
Women police leaders in Europe: a tale of prejudice and patronage
Silvestri, Marisa and Tong, Stephen, 2022, European Journal of Criminology (19), 5pp 871-890, Published
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, E-pub ahead of print
Police learning in the context of change and diversity
Green, Tracey and Tong, Stephen, 2020, Policing: A Journal of Policy and Practice (14), 2pp 295-299, Published
Operational risk, omissions and liability in policing
Heaton, Robert, Bryant, Robin and Tong, Stephen, 2019, The Police Journal : Theory, Practice and Principles (92), 2pp 150-166, Published
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, Published
The importance of context and cognitive agency in developing police knowledge
Wood, Dominic, Cockcroft, Tom, Tong, Stephen and Bryant, Robin, 2018, Bulletin of the New Zealand Society for Earthquake Engineering (91), 2pp 173-187, Published
Evidence-based policing: from effectiveness to cost-effectiveness
Heaton, Robert and Tong, Stephen, 2016, Policing (10), 1pp 60-70, Published
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, Published
Investigative decision making: missing people and sexual offences, crossroads to an uncertain future
Alys, L., Massey, K. and Tong, S., 2013, Journal of Investigative Psychology and Offender Profiling (10), 2pp 140-154, Published
Gender and police leadership: time for a paradigm shift?
Silvestri, Marisa, Tong, Stephen and Brown, Jennifer, 2013, International Journal of Police Science and Management (15), 1pp 61-73, Published
'An appropriate space': chief officers and police accountability
Caless, Bryn and Tong, Stephen, 2013, Police Practice and Research (14), 1pp 4-16, Published
Graduate police officers: releasing the potential for pre-employment university programmes for aspiring officers
Tong, Stephen and Wood, Dominic, 2011, The Police Journal (84), 1pp 69-74, Published
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), 2pp 1-18, Published
The future of initial police training: a university perspective
Wood, Dominic A. and Tong, Stephen, 2009, International Journal of Police Science and Management (11), 3pp 294-305, Published
Art, craft and science of detective work
Tong, Stephen and Bowling, Ben, 2006, The Police Journal (79), 4pp 323-329, Published
Introduction to policing research: taking lessons from practice
(2023). Abingdon, Oxford: [Published]
Kent and Medway: delivering a brexit border: policing, security, freight and customs
Tong, Stephen, Hadfield, Amelia and Swallow, Paul (2018). Canterbury, U.K.: [Published]
Introduction to policing research: taking lessons from practice
(2016). Abingdon, U.K.: [Published]
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.: [Published]
Leading policing in Europe: an empirical study of police leadership
Tong, Stephen and Caless, Bryn (2015). Bristol, U.K.: [Published]
Understanding criminal investigation
Tong, Stephen, Bryant, Robin and Horvath, Miranda (2009). Chichester, U.K.: (Wiley) [Published]
Conclusions and the future direction of policing research
Martin, Denise and Tong, Steve (2024). In: Martin, Denise, Tong, Stephen, (eds.), Abingdon:pp 322-328 [Published]
Homicide detectives: transformational change and challenges
O'Neill, Martin, Tong, Steve and Clayman, Stephen (2024). In: Allsop, Cheryl, Pike, Sophie, (eds.), Abingdon:pp 63-75 [Published]
Introduction
Martin, Denise and Tong, Steve (2024). In: Martin, Denise, Tong, Stephen, (eds.), Abingdon:pp 1-6 [Published]
Researching detective pathways: opportunities and challenges
O'Neill, Martin and Tong, Steve (2024). In: Martin, Denise, Tong, Stephen, (eds.), Abingdon:pp 65-76 [Published]
Education and the police professionalisation agenda: a perspective from England & Wales
Tong, Stephen and Hallenberg, Katja M. (2018). In: Rogers, Colin, Frevel, Bernhard, (eds.), Cham, Switzerland:pp 17-34 [Published]
Professionalising policing: seeking viable and sustainable approaches to police education and learning
Tong, Stephen (2016). [Published]
Conclusion: challenges and changes in policing research
Martin, Denise and Tong, Stephen (2015). In: Brunger, Mark, Tong, Stephen, Martin, Denise, (eds.), Abingdon, U.K.:pp 217-224 [Published]
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, Tong, Stephen, Martin, Denise, (eds.), London, U.K.:pp 137-148 [Published]
Introduction to policing research
Brunger, Mark, Martin, Denise and Tong, Stephen (2015). In: Brunger, Mark, Tong, Stephen, Martin, Denise, (eds.), Abingdon, U.K.:pp 1-6 [Published]
Watching the detectives: researching investigative practice
Hallenberg, Katja, O'Neill, Martin and Tong, Stephen (2015). In: Brunger, Mark, Tong, Stephen, Martin, Denise, (eds.), Abingdon, U.K.:pp 101-118 [Published]
Police training and education: past, present and future
Bryant, Robin, Cockcroft, Tom, Tong, Stephen and Wood, Dominic (2014). In: Brown, Jennifer M., (eds.), Abingdon, U.K.:pp 383-397 [Published]
Problems within the police: blame, corruption and whistleblowing. An Exploratory Study in England and Wales
Tong, Steve(2024). [Published]
UK-EU law enforcement cooperation post-Brexit: A UK law enforcement practitioner perspective
Tong, Steve(2023). [Published]
The impact of Brexit on European police cooperation for British policing agencies
Swallow, Paul and Tong, Stephen(2022). [Published]
Direct entry detective training: challenges and opportunities
Tong, Stephen and Clayman, Steve(2022). [Published]
Police and higher education: prospects and challenges II workshop
Marshall, Ivor, Hamilton, David, Kjendlie, Per-Ludvik and Tong, Steve(2017). [Published]
Sink or swim: a case study of detective training
Tong, S.(2017). [Published]
Professionalizing criminal investigation: an examination of early attempts to professionalize detectives in the United Kingdom
Tong, Stephen(2017). [Published]
Professionalising policing: seeking viable and sustainable approaches to police education and learning
Tong, Stephen(2016). [Published]
Professionalising policing: challenges in the role of education
Tong, S.(2016). [Published]
Police reform workshop: professionalisation through education
Tong, S.(2016). [Published]
Women and police leadership: a European insight
Tong, S. and Silvestri, M.(2015). [Published]
Police education in England and Wales: a changing landscape
Tong, S.(2014). [Published]
Policing research in an age of austerity
Brunger, M. and Tong, S.(2012). [Published]
Criminal investigation and higher education: a crossroads to an uncertain future
Massey, K. and Tong, S.(2012). [Published]
The science of criminal investigation
Tong, S.(2011). [Published]
Criminal investigation and higher education: a crossroads to an uncertain future
Tong, S., Murphy, R. and Underwood, R.(2011). [Published]
Police research and interviewing police elites
Tong, S.(2011). [Published]
Skills and abilities in crime investigation: the investigative journalist versus the detective
Poyser, S. and Tong, S.(2011). [Published]
Police leadership: an historical account of the development of police leaders
Caless, B. and Tong, S.(2011). [Published]
Art, craft & science: contemporary detective practice
Tong, S.(2010). [Published]
Graduate Police Officers: releasing the potential for pre-employment university programmes for aspiring police officers
Tong, S.(2010). [Published]
The more serious the offence, the more powerful the effect? An evaluation of victim-offender mediation in a prison setting
Tong, S.(2010). [Published]
In need of professionalisation: the case for pre-employment training and education for police officers in the UK
Tong, S.(2008). [Published]
Confessions of a back seat detective: an ethnography of detective training and practice
Tong, S.(2008). [Published]
Developments in initial police training: a university perspective
Tong, S.(2008). [Published]
Initial police training: challenges and developments in the UK
Phipps, J., Tong, S. and Wood, D.(2007). [Published]
Investigating effectiveness: competing ideologies and police performance management
Tong, S.(2002). [Published]
Watching the detectives
Tong, S.(2000). [Published]
Border trouble? Cooperation between UK and European police, judicial, port and border authorities in the post-Brexit age
Tong, Stephen, Hadfield, Amelia, Bullock, Karen, Mallett, Ellis, Keningale, Paige and Wellings, Fennel (2022). Guildford, U.K.: [Published]