ICT4COP - Interview with Cecilia Dunster
The ICT4COP Center invited Cecilia Dunster for a conversation about her role in and involvement with the Police Expert Network (PEN).
Cecilia is now a retired Police Chief Inspector from the UK and has extensive experience in international policing, including her work with the United Nations Mission in South Sudan and the NATO Mission in Afghanistan.
Contributions to Research
Cecilia enjoyed reviewing research and contributing insights from her professional experience. She fondly remembers working with Ph.D. student Erika Rojas, who shared papers on peace in El Salvador.
“I remember them so well because they were so interesting, and it was a great opportunity to make suggestions, especially from the practitioner’s perspective.”
Challenges and Future of PEN
The COVID-19 pandemic impacted PEN’s planned events, but Cecilia was asked to host the final online conference. She expressed a strong belief in the project's work and remains involved through the ICT4Cop Center’s Advisory Group.
“I got a bit nervous thinking what I had just said yes to, but it was brilliant – absolutely brilliant! After that, we thought ‘We can’t stop now, there is so much value in what’s being produced, so how can we sustain the PEN and how can the PEN support the work that is being produced and disseminated; how can it be used in the future?’”
Photo: Cecilia Dunster
Becoming a PEN Member
When Cecilia joined PEN, the network had been running for nearly a year. At the time, she was a serving Police Officer with the UN Mission in South Sudan and was introduced to the network by Tor Damkås. Soon after, she attended a workshop with other PEN members, where she noticed the distinct approaches of practitioners and academics.
“The practitioners were eager to get started, they were more like ‘We might have a plan, but we kind of work it out as we go along,’ – it was much about doing. On the other hand, the academics were more like ‘We’ve read this, we’ve thought about this or that,’ which started the conversation about the two different approaches. It was really interesting, not to mention useful!”
Collaboration and Learning
Through PEN, Cecilia engaged in discussions that helped bridge the gap between academic and practical approaches to policing. She attended a workshop in Portugal where she valued the opportunity to learn about different policing cultures from international colleagues.
Reflections on International Collaboration
Working with international colleagues helped Cecilia challenge her own assumptions and deepen her understanding of different policing contexts.
“There was a lot that we could learn from one another. And later, when I have wanted ideas or access to resources, I have used the network to get it.”
Photo: Cecilia Dunster