To mark CREST’s 10th anniversary, we’ve created a timeline highlighting just a handful of milestones from the past ten years. This is only a small snapshot of our work and doesn’t come close to capturing the full breadth or impact of what CREST has achieved.
Over the coming weeks, we’ll be sharing more case studies as well as stories from our recent survey that shine a light on the diverse research, collaborations, and engagement that have defined our first decade.
Here is a small selection of reflections on CREST’s impact:
“I am a better psychologist, a more informed applied practitioner, and the base knowledge of all of our customers is significantly higher than it was pre-CREST. I honestly can't remember (or make sense of) how I coped in Pre-CREST times.”
— Government practitioner
“CREST’s openness to multidisciplinary research is not simply rhetoric — its influence and reach has changed behaviour and cognition.”
— Professor Julie Gore
"I was there from the start of CREST and saw its development from it's earliest days. I therefore have a lot of time for the outputs they have provided; and still recommend articles/research to NPSA customers to this day."
— Government practitioner
"CREST has had a significant impact on my personal and professional development, particularly in a training capacity...Perhaps the key value from CREST was the ability to develop enduring relationships with researchers to mould their work to find answers to challenges faced by practitioners."
— Professor David A. Ellis
Finally, we’d like to express our gratitude to all who have contributed to CREST’s achievements, including academics, practitioners, policymakers, and everyone who has engaged with us along the way.
10 Years of CREST
A pioneering protocol tested in live hostage-taking exercises, improving rapid information extraction under pressure.
We’ve witnessed first-hand the efficacy of this pioneering technique.
– Practitioner
Funded by UKRI, supported by CREST, NABS+ was launched a cross-sector network on behavioural and social science for security. The inaugural event gathered 29 institutions to tackle online harms, disinformation, and AI.
Networking with both academics and practitioners was invaluable.
– Government
The chance to work as a connected, multi-disciplinary team was unique.
– Researcher
Special issue on counterterrorism and extremism evaluation, marking CSR’s 20th edition.
Without CREST products like the magazine, I’d regularly risk feeling out of my depth.
– UKIC
Brown’s CREST research revealed how social media signals can indicate when users in far-right forums may mobilise to real world violence. After the 2024 UK riots, her work informed public understanding through outlets such as Financial Times, Policing Insight, BBC, LBC, and CBC News, shaping debate on online harms and safety.
BASS24 hosted 65+ talks, 192 delegates, 49 universities, and 85 government reps. Keynotes from Montreal and OFCOM, plus a UK policing panel, highlighted practice-driven impact.
⭐ Average rating: 4.3/5
It wasn't just an academic conference with practitioners in attendance. It was fascinating to hear about the work that was going on across different agencies.
– Government
It was fabulous… amazing opportunities to meet up, networks and exchange ideas.
– Researcher
The variety of speakers… enabled a deeper understanding of topics.
– Practitioner
Co-led by CREST and NCITE USA, IAPSS connected 62 delegates from 12 countries and 17 networks. The two-day meeting built new partnerships and identified shared research challenges.
Identifying shared challenges and building international connections was invaluable.
– Delegate
Exposed the “principle-to-implementation” gap in emergency response, underpinning new research and a UKRI Future Leaders Fellowship.
Consolidated best practice in assessing extremism risk, including a systematic review on neurodivergence and vulnerability. Al-Attar’s findings were featured in BBC Radio 4’s The Boys Are Not Alright, bringing the research to a wider public audience.
BASS23 brought 59 talks and 230 delegates from seven countries. Keynotes came from King’s College London, Cardiff, and DSTG Australia, alongside popular returning themes.
⭐ Average rating: 4.5/5
…one of the most organised (and best) conferences I’ve been to… exceptional quality of speakers.
– Practitioner
…my first conference presentation… the feel of the conference was nice and welcoming.
– PhD
Attracted huge public interest, surging to 40k views in one month after the Netflix TV show Adolescence came out.
CREST has been an invaluable resource… enabling me to advance my career.
– Lewys Brace
Explained emerging extreme far-right movements, siege culture and lethal subcultures, helping to inform Counter Terrorism Policing training.
The far-right presentation was outstanding.
– Practitioner
After the pandemic pause, BASS returned with 65 talks on risk, eliciting information, and disruption. It hosted 180+ delegates from eight countries, plus DSTL-funded panels on social bias.
⭐ Average rating: 4.5/5
One of the best conferences I’ve ever been to… practical utility and wide array of speakers.
– Practitioner
…a great opportunity to present my work and get feedback from brilliant people.
– PhD researcher
Delivered with the UK CT Negotiation Team, this private event explored communication, engagement, and influence in negotiations. Five of seven presentations came from CREST.
The event really improved my knowledge.
– Police
…today shows how much I rely on CREST in this respect.
– Practitioner
A practical tool for interviewing and debriefing, rapidly deployed during the pandemic.
…one of the best pieces of training in my 40 years of service.
– NCA
Explored how anti-minority and far-right activism escalates or is contained during ‘hot periods’. The project and briefings received detailed praise from security practitioners.
Explored why families and friends hesitate to report loved ones’ extremist activity, becoming a central element of delivering the UK PREVENT strategy, influencing a number of workstreams ledby the national PREVENT team.
Explored how criminals manage their own security and weigh risks when committing crimes, shaping understanding of offender decision-making.
Following the success of his first project on terrorist decision-making, Gill went on to lead three further CREST projects, including the Development of Risk Assessment Schemes for Channel. These projects deepened understanding of risk and vulnerability assessment and helped shape tools for practitioners.
Gill’s work on vulnerability assessment framework would likely not have been commissioned pre-CREST, but was possible thanks to the trust established by CREST.
– Former policymaker
Widely used by managers and adopted by NHS Scotland and CPNI (now NPSA), these tools helped organisations manage change effectively.
Ros Searle’s toolkits… essential reading, particularly helpful during the COVID-19 pandemic.
– Government
A two-day showcase designed for government stakeholders. ECRs presented new research and joined informal discussions, creating direct opportunities for policy–research exchange.
CREST’s most cited publication, this seminal 2019 paper shaped the development of conspiracy theory research as a field. It continues to guide academics, policymakers, and practitioners in understanding the psychology and social dynamics of conspiracy beliefs.
Explored approaches to disengagement and evaluation. Informed Home Office policy and led to Marsden chairing an independent advisory committee.
The first public BASS featured 50+ talks across three themes, with keynote speakers from Canada and Australia. Over 100 delegates attended to share research and explore international perspectives.
⭐ Average rating: 4.5/5
A unique and great knowledge exchange event
– Government
Amazing mix of academics, policy makers, and researchers
– Practitioner
Revealed systematic disinformation after the 2017 UK terror attacks, leading to international funding and an evidence review on social media’s role in crises. The report, commissioned by the Five Country Ministerial Countering Extremism Working Group, has been published and shared with stakeholders around the world.
A set of short guides created to make CREST’s in-depth research on Islam more accessible to practitioners. Used in training for nearly 1,000 end users across multiple countries and agencies.
Explores the narratives and issues that drive Sikhs in Britain to engage in visible activism, becoming a key resource for understanding Sikh radicalisation.
Jas Singh’s work on Sikh radicalisation was not seen as ‘policy critical’ at commissioning, but quickly became of interest and is now the go-to resource.
– Impact Assessment
The second conference focused on building the CREST community and sharing research across core and commissioned projects. Presentations featured work from ECRs alongside senior researchers.
⭐ Average rating: 4.7/5
Research on how ideology is passed in families shaped new training and induction materials, saving time and resources for stakeholders.
A simple technique for eliciting more information from cooperative interviewees, now integrated into security training and policy.
Prof Vrij’s research has informed UK Aviation and Border Security interrogation policy.
– Practitioner
The inaugural conference showcased cutting-edge research from CREST PhDs, early career researchers, five core programmes, and commissioned projects, bringing stakeholders together to explore the full breadth of CREST’s work.
…talks were pitched at exactly the right level
– Government
Our most popular resource ever, with over 67k downloads and 225k views, still topping monthly charts nine years on.
CREST began in 2015, bringing together researchers and practitioners to better understand and address pressing security challenges.
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