In September, Ingrid Nyborg attended the 8th International Conference on Law Enforcement & Public Health (LEPH2026), accompanied by one of her interns - Sophia Sourbes. Ingrid participated in the conference as a board member of the Global Law Enforcement and Public Health Association (GLEPHA) and presented her research on community resilience, crisis preparedness and human security.

Ingrid opened the conference as part of the first plenary, “Vulnerability, Law Enforcement and Public Health: International Perspectives on Systemic Prevention,” where she presented “The Role of Police in Crisis Preparedness and Community Resilience: Human Security as an Inclusive Lens.”

Her presentation explored models of crisis preparedness and community resilience, highlighting their complexity when considering different perspectives on vulnerability and agency, levels of responsibility, and sectoral support. By introducing a human security lens, Ingrid discussed how the role of police in crises is still predominantly understood as one of response. Her research instead opens up possibilities for community-oriented policing to play a longer-term role in community resilience and crisis preparedness, working alongside public health, social services and other community actors.

A central theme of the presentation was the importance of mutual trust-building as a core component of community-oriented policing. Ingrid highlighted that relationships and local networks should be understood as part of the infrastructure of security, rather than simply as tools to be relied upon once a crisis occurs. She also emphasised the importance of strengthening cooperation between police, health and social services, and communities to support both crisis preparedness and prevention.

Later in the conference, Ingrid also participated in discussions around the development of the emerging field of climate change and public safety, including a new GLEPHA Special Interest Group on Climate Change and Public Safety. While still a developing initiative, the topic attracted considerable interest from participants across a range of professional and academic fields.

Ingrid’s presentation and participation throughout the conference created opportunities for further discussion and exchange with participants working across law enforcement, public health, academia and related fields. LEPH2026 provided an important space for exchanging perspectives, experiences and knowledge across disciplines, while exploring new approaches to prevention, community resilience and public safety.

Read more about GLEPHA here.
Read more about LEPH2026 here.

Photos provided by GLEPHA.