"It is easy to define a way of working as inter-disciplinary; in reality this is often a new label given to the same way of working, with very little difference in the day to day approach of teaching and research. The Secure Societies Institute marks a genuine change in the way that we work. Research staff and students from across the seven Schools work collaboratively to address global security challenges 'as diverse as violence against women, terrorism, modern slavery, child sexual abuse, cyber crime, hate crime and the safety and policing of  minoritised communities'.  Our research is practitioner-led, ensuring that solutions are directly influenced by the needs of those working to reduce crime and terrorist threats and to build stronger, safer communities. With a membership of almost 100 staff and post-graduate researchers we are able to bring together skills, methodologies and expertise in forensic science, architecture, product design, investigative psychology, digital forensics, policing, law, to name just a few. The Institute is about working more effectively as a University, sharing the knowledge that we already have, but also adding value to produce something exciting, innovative and truly inter-disciplinary.” - Professor Jason Roach, Director