Policing and security has been taught at the University for more than 15 years. Within this time, we have built up an unrivalled team that combines senior figures from the policing profession, who bring a wealth of operational knowledge, with academics who are at the cutting edge of research into key areas such as religion-based terrorism, international relations, and police governance and accountability.

Jay Dave is the former Superintendent of South Wales Police and one of South Wales Police’s most senior ethnic minority officers. Jay led a project which encouraged minority ethnic people to consider a police career, and was a founder member of the South Wales and Dyfed Powys Black Police Association. He has extensive experience of operational planning, counter terrorism and emergency planning.

Professor Peter Vaughan, QPM, CStJ, DL is the former Chief Constable of South Wales Police. Joining South Wales Police on graduation, he progressed to Superintendent leading the Community Safety Department. After a period with head office, he became head of the BCU in Merthyr Tydfil, and then Divisional Commander at Rhondda Cynon Taff. Vaughan then attended the ACPO Strategic Command Course, and was thereafter appointed Assistant Chief Constable for Wiltshire Constabulary, during which time he led the investigation into the deaths at Tidworth Camp. During this period he led the ACPO Police Dog Working Group and Public Order Events team. He returned to South Wales Police in 2007 as Assistant Chief Constable, progressing to Deputy Chief Constable in April 2007. Appointed Chief Constable in January 2010, Peter served in this role until his retirement in 2017. 

Hannah Coombs is an experienced former police offer. Prior to joining the University, Hannah served as an operational police officer for thirteen years, performing several roles within South Wales Police throughout this time. Spending the majority of her service working within response and neighbourhood policing teams in the city centre of Cardiff, Hannah later became Staff Officer to the Chief Officer Group at Police Headquarters in Bridgend. Serving as a Police Sergeant for four years, Hannah managed the training and education of new police recruits and the delivery of College of Policing’s ‘pre-join curriculum’ to both internal and external candidates. Developing a specialism in Police Education for new recruits, prior to joining USW Hannah became the Welsh lead for the implementation of new entry routes into the service under the College of Policing's 'Policing Education Qualifications Framework' (PEQF).

Professor Colin Rogers is a former police Inspector with South Wales Police with 30 years' service. His areas of expertise include community safety partnerships, situational crime prevention, problem-oriented partnerships, the future of policing, police education and also police governance and accountability.

Jackie Roberts QPM is the former Chief Constable of Dyfed Powys Police, the largest geographic policing area in England and Wales and the top performing Police Force in England and Wales throughout her tenure. Jackie led the force through the April Jones abduction and murder - the largest search operation ever embarked upon in the history of UK policing - to its successful conclusion at trial. She also founded the first Female Police Association to help support and develop women in underrepresented areas of the organisation. With over 30 years of policing and security experience, Jackie brings significant experience in all areas, particularly forensics, counter terrorism, organised crime, firearms, child protection, domestic abuse and sex offending. 

Gareth Evans joined the University after serving with South Wales Police as an operational Police Officer for thirty years. He performed various roles during that time including front line policing and a range of specialist departments. In 2010 Gareth became the Initial Police Learning Sergeant having managerial responsibility for training and development of new recruits. In 2014 Gareth was seconded to the Fire Service as part of an all Wales task force to tackle deliberate fires across Wales. Gareth returned to South Wales Police in 2017 as the Project Lead of the All Wales Police Force Strategic Group for the implementation of the College of Policing’s ‘Policing Education Qualifications Framework’ (PEQF). 

Professor Christian Kaunert is Chair of Policing and Security, as well as Director of the International Centre for Policing and Security at the University of South Wales. His research has a clear focus on Policing and International Security, especially in the area of EU counter-terrorism, including its external dimension, terrorism and counter-terrorism, and international relations more generally. He is the author of several articles on EU counter-terrorism, EU asylum and migration, EU Justice and Home Affairs and wider global security matters.