Ben Wallace MP, Minister of State for Security, has met with researchers at the forefront of one of the largest interdisciplinary security research centres in the UK.

The MP for Wyre and Preston North came to Lancaster University met with university leaders to discuss shared interests in the region and to hear first-hand about the work led by the researchers at Security Lancaster.

One of Lancaster University’s four cross-faculty Institutes, Security Lancaster’s 48 academic staff and over 100 post-doc and PhD researchers come from ten science and social science departments, making it one of the largest interdisciplinary security centre in the UK.

Since 2016, the Institute has secured £9.61M in grant income, advanced strategic collaborations with corporate, SME, and public sector partners from The Bank of England to the National Crime Agency and more than 130 students on Masters and professional development programmes have passed through the institute.

Professor Dame Sue Black, Lancaster University Pro Vice Chancellor for Engagement, said: “The visit was an important, productive meeting between the Minister and our leading security researchers. It was also an opportunity to build on our constituency ties. We have shared interests ranging from securing high quality graduate employment in the region to the developments with Eden North.”

Professor Paul Taylor, Director of Security Lancaster, said: “One of the advantages of Security Lancaster is the diversity of our research base, which draws on all disciplines.

“This visit enabled us to discuss some of our most innovative work, ranging from identifying novel ways to identify those with malicious intent to understanding the mechanisms behind the transmission of extremist ideology.

“It is important for us as academics working in this space to develop a clear understanding of needs and pressures of parliamentarians, and how our research can feed into the legislative agenda.”