Prf Clifford Stott

Clifford Stott MBE is Professor of Policing Research and Academic Director of the Centre for Policing Research and Learning (CPRL) at The Open University. He is an internationally recognised social psychologist whose work has transformed understanding of crowd behaviour, public order policing, and the dynamics of protest and conflict.

His research has been central to the development of the Social Identity Model of crowd behaviour, providing a scientific foundation for reforming policing practice toward dialogue-based and legitimacy-focused approaches. This work has had substantial real-world impact, informing policy and operational strategies across the UK, Europe, and North America, including large-scale public events, protest policing, and responses to mass emergencies.

Professor Stott has secured over £8 million in research funding and has led major collaborative projects with governments, police agencies, and international partners. His work has contributed directly to national and international policy development, including advisory roles with the UK’s National Police Chiefs’ Council and during the COVID-19 pandemic. He was awarded an MBE for services to crowd psychology and public safety.

Alongside his academic work, he is deeply committed to research-led innovation and co-production with practitioners. At the CPRL, he leads efforts to build interdisciplinary research capacity, strengthen partnerships with policing and security organisations, and deliver impactful, evidence-based solutions to contemporary challenges in public safety and security.

His current work focuses on dialogue policing, legitimacy, and the management of collective behaviour in high-risk and rapidly evolving environments, including protest, major events, and mass emergencies. He has recently co-authored a book with Prof. Ed Maguire of Arizona State University on Policing the Crowd.