A creative project between the Northumbria Police and the NCLA arose in 2015 when Christy Ducker became thepoet in residence with the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner. Ducker was able to accompany police officers on patrol in the evening and witness their work in the community. From her observations, Ducker wrote the pamphlet The Poetry of Policing, which features a preface by police and crime commissioner for Northumbria police, Vera Baird QC. Ducker’s poems skilfully explore topics significant to the work of the Northumbria police, including the ‘trained eye’ of police officers, as well as the stories and voices of victims of crime.

Since 2017, poets Kris Johnson and Peter Hebden and photographer Phyllis Christopher have been working with police in training and listening to their stories about their work. A new pamphlet is in the works and will be launched on National Poetry Day, 28 September 2017.