Abbeygail is a Lecturer in Policing with teaching and research interests spanning policing, investigations, cyber security, digital forensics, and emerging technologies. Since joining the University in 2017, she has taught across both cyber security and policing programmes, bringing an interdisciplinary perspective to contemporary investigative practice.
Her current teaching focuses on the use of artificial intelligence in policing and investigations, exploring how emerging technologies can support decision-making, evidence analysis, and investigative processes, whilst encouraging critical consideration of their ethical and practical implications.
Alongside her teaching, Abbeygail is undertaking doctoral research exploring how different forms of professional knowledge shape police professionalisation and police education in England and Wales. Her research examines how scientific evidence, professional judgement, practical wisdom, experience, and relational expertise are valued within contemporary policing, arguing that effective policing requires the integration of both the science and the art of professional practice. Through this work, she seeks to develop a new understanding of what counts as legitimate police knowledge and how these decisions shape the future of police professionalism and education.
Academic qualifications
- Doctor of Education – In progress
- PgCHPE
- MSc Digital Forensics and Cybercrime Analysis
- BSc (Hons) Professional Policing Practice
- Certified Microsoft Innovative Educator
Expertise
- Policing and investigative practice
- Artificial intelligence in policing and investigations
- Cyber security
- Digital forensics
- Evidence-based policing
- Investigative decision-making and intelligence analysis
- Emerging technologies and digital transformation
- Police education and professional development
- Ethics and technology in criminal justice
- Interdisciplinary approaches to public protection and investigation
Research interests
- Police professionalisation
- Police education in England and Wales
- Knowledge legitimacy in policing
- Evidence-based policing
- Professional judgement and discretion
- Practical wisdom and tacit knowledge in policing
- Professional identity within policing
- Artificial intelligence and emerging technologies in investigations
- Technology, ethics, and decision-making
- The relationship between the science and art of policing
- Contemporary policing reform
- Knowledge, professionalism, and practice in policing and criminal justice