Richard James enjoyed a highly successful career as a senior UK police officer operating at all levels from constable to chief superintendent across three police force areas. During his career he co-ordinated a five-force response to the national CONTEST strategy. He led numerous organisational change programmes and has substantial experience in the design and delivery of evidence-based community engagement strategies. Richard was the operational commander at successive British Formula 1 GP events and an experienced critical incident commander.

Richard continues his work with leaders across all sectors in the UK and the EU to develop ever-more effective approaches that enable leaders to better identify and mitigate risk and support those who are most vulnerable in society. He is currently leading projects across the UK to support effective community engagement between public authorities and local communities.

Richard works with the European Commission as a subject matter expert advising on effective community engagement across numerous EU settings and reviewing project proposals as a registered Subject Matter Expert.

In 2016 Richard founded Intensive Engagement- an association of experts and practitioners who focus on building stronger communities in challenging and complex places.

Richard is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts, has a master’s degree in criminology and is a registered subject matter expert for the European Commission. He presents on his research and findings at national and international events and writes for national publications. He is a recognised and forthright advocate of effective purposeful and evidence-based community engagement across numerous policy areas.

Richard’s recent articles include a series of white-papers shared with national stakeholders:

· Are Actions Speaking as Loud as Words? Richard James and Dr Timothy Curtis

Community Engagement, Leadership, Participation, Community, volunteering, policing, stronger communities, social capital, partnerships , community safety, asset mapping, asset based community development 2022

· Enabling a new mode of policing and place based public safety Richard James, Andrew Higgins and Stephen Carr

policing, leaders, partners, community engagement 2022

· Turning the Key- Can leaders unlock the transformational power of communities Richard James, Dr Iain Britton and Jayne Pascoe

Community engagement, volunteering, policing, stronger communities, social capital, partnerships , community safety 2022