Personal profile
Biography
I am an Assistant Professor in Criminology. I joined Northumbria University as a Research Fellow on an ESRC-funded Visible Policing project in 2019. I previously worked in Justice Analytical Services (JAS) at The Scottish Government (2017-2018). Here, I undertook a research internship on ‘Public in the police and satisfaction during encounters’ and created a Public Confidence steering group in Scotland. My doctoral thesis examined the dynamics of police legitimacy and social media in Scotland (2015-2020). I have researched and published solo and co-authored articles on police legitimacy, technology and social media in policing, democratic policing, visible policing, policing sports, and homicide investigations. Recently, I published an Introduction to Policing textbook (4th Edition) with colleagues Professor Mike Rowe and Dr Ali Malik. I am also Programme Leader for Northumbria Police (DHEP) and teach Undergraduate students on Criminology and Policing degrees, as well as student officers on the Police Constable Degree Apprenticeship (PCDA) and the Degree Holder Entry Programme (DHEP).
Main research interests: policing, police legitimacy, public confidence, technology, and social media
Education/Academic qualification
Criminology, PhD, The dynamics of police legitimacy and social media in Scotland, Edinburgh Napier University
Oct 2015 → Jul 2020
Award Date: 1 Jul 2020
Criminology, MRes, University of Glasgow
1 Sept 2014 → 1 Sept 2015
Award Date: 1 Sept 2015
Criminology, BA (Hons), Edinburgh Napier University
1 Sept 2010 → 1 Apr 2014
Award Date: 1 Apr 2014
Expertise related to UN Sustainable Development Goals
In 2015, UN member states agreed to 17 global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure prosperity for all. This person’s work contributes towards the following SDG(s):
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SDG 4 Quality Education
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SDG 16 Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions
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Collaborations and top research areas from the last five years
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Policing, social media, and riots: User responses to the police during the 2024 UK summer protests and riots
Ralph, L., Robinson, P. & Aitken, A., 16 Mar 2026, In: Policing and Society. 36, 3, p. 273-287 15 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open AccessFile1 Citation (Scopus)82 Downloads (Pure) -
The Crafting of an Online Police Métier. The case of Norwegian Online Police Patrols
Diderichsen, A., Rønn, K. V., Koss Hartmann, M. R., Ralph, L. & Trottier, D., 1 Mar 2026, In: The Police Journal. 99, 1, p. 38–51 14 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open AccessFile34 Downloads (Pure) -
Navigating the digital beat: a review of social media as a public engagement tool in policing
Ralph, L., Elliott, I. C., Murphy, J. & Glennon, R., 29 Nov 2024, In: International Journal of Emergency Services. 13, 3, p. 201-214 14 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open AccessFile3 Citations (Scopus)140 Downloads (Pure) -
Introduction to Policing
Rowe, M., Ralph, L. & Malik, A., 14 Nov 2023, 4th ed. London: SAGE. 368 p.Research output: Book/Report › Book › peer-review
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The dynamic nature of police legitimacy on social media
Ralph, L., 9 Aug 2022, In: Policing and Society. 32, 7, p. 817-831 15 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open AccessFile30 Citations (Scopus)728 Downloads (Pure)
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Social media and the 2024 UK Summer Riots (Athens, European Society of Criminology)
Ralph, L. (Speaker)
Sept 2025Activity: Talk or presentation › Oral presentation
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Social Media Practices by Police Football Units in England and Wales (Bucharest, European Society of Criminology)
Ralph, L. (Speaker)
Sept 2024Activity: Talk or presentation › Oral presentation
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Police visual communication in the online world- Does it matter to citizens (Florence, European Society of Criminology)
Ralph, L. (Speaker)
Sept 2023Activity: Talk or presentation › Oral presentation
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Police use of Twitter in the UK during the Euro 2020 football championships (University of Southern Denmark)
Ralph, L. (Speaker)
25 May 2023Activity: Talk or presentation › Invited talk
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The dynamic nature of police legitimacy on social media (University of Southern Denmark)
Ralph, L. (Speaker)
3 May 2022Activity: Talk or presentation › Invited talk
Prizes
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Special Recognition by the Information Science doctoral colloquium (IDOCQ)
Ralph, L. (Recipient), 30 Jun 2016
Prize
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International Graduate Summer School for Policing Scholarship
Ralph, L. (Recipient), 2016
Prize: Other distinction
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