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Exeter Defence, Security and Resilience Network

Homeland Security

Homeland Security

Contemporary homeland security is concerned with a broad range of areas, including extremism and terrorism, organised crime, threats to public health, disaster management, supply chain resilience, and many more. Effectively tackling the issues and threats that arise from these disparate areas involves collaboration between aspects of the local, national, and international security apparatus, broader areas of government, and the private and academic sectors, all working as an integrated whole. 

As part of the Exeter Defence, Security, and Resilience Network, researchers at the University conduct work in many of these areas, and engage with organisations such as the UK Home Office, National Crime Agency (NCA), regional police forces and fire and rescue services, local authorities, and more, to develop our understanding and provide evidence-based and data-driven insights into both contemporary and future homeland security issues. 

Examples of this come from the University’s Centre for Computational Social Science (C2S2) and the Forensic Investigation Research Group. Researchers from C2S2 combine in-depth subject-specific knowledge with expertise in data science and computational research methods to provide unique and novel data-driven insights. This has enabled these researchers to carry out projects in a range of areas that have provided data-driven and actionable insights; such as emerging extremist threats, developing policies for effective evidence-based policing, and many more. 

Similarly, researchers from the Forensic Investigation Research Group, through their existing research and consultancy partnerships, have conducted work that has encompassed -   

Threat analysis and forecasting: Using advanced data analytics and modelling techniques to identify emerging threats and predict and mitigate against their potential impacts.   

Policy development and evaluation: Provide evidence-based recommendations to support and inform policy decisions to improve national and international security and response strategies.   

Operational support: Developing tools and technological solutions to complement and enhance the capabilities of law enforcement and emergency responders.   

Risk management: Develop strategies to mitigate risk and build resilience in critical infrastructure and supply chains.   

By combining academic expertise with real-world experience and data-driven insights, we are driving innovation and progress in homeland security and protecting our communities from harm.  

This theme comprises researchers from Archaeology, Bioscience, Computational Social Science/ Data Science, Computer Science, Law, Medicine, Politics and Sociology. 

Expertise groups 

Cyber security and digital technologies:

Forensic ecology: 

Risk mitigation and disaster management:

Data science: