Assoc Prof Dr Cheah Phaik Kin has been appointed as Visiting Fellow in Volunteer Law Enforcement at the Institute for Public Safety, Crime and Justice (IPSCJ), University of Northampton, United Kingdom on 3 January 2023.

The appointment by the university’s Dean of Research, Impact and Innovation Dr Cathy Smith was in recognition of Dr Cheah’s scholastic achievements in the broad area of volunteer law enforcement.

Dr Smith said, “This appointment is well-deserved as Dr Cheah is an esteemed scholar in volunteer law enforcement. She led a team to publish the first scientific report on volunteer policing in Malaysia. We are pleased to have Dr Cheah accept this appointment and she is an asset to our team.”

“The university is very proud to collaborate with Dr Cheah in this area of research as volunteer law enforcement has existed for many years but research in this area has a lot of potentials. Volunteer law enforcement is an essential component in many nations and communities to complement and support full-time law enforcement officers. Furthermore, being a volunteer law enforcement officer in the Royal Malaysia Police Volunteer Reserve, her role as a scholar and practitioner gives her unique insights to facilitate the advancement of knowledge,” Dr Smith added.

Director of IPSCJ Prof Matthew Callender said, “I am delighted with the appointment of Dr Cheah as Visiting Fellow. She has significant experience in the field of volunteering in law enforcement and adds to a growing international network of academics and practitioners working in the IPSCJ. The IPSCJ is a globally leading organisation in this field and most recently convened an International Roundtable Event in London. I am excited for the collaborative opportunities this appointment will bring as well as strengthened ties between UTAR and the University of Northampton.”

Dr Cheah expressed appreciation for the appointment in recognition of her work and said, “I am grateful to the University of Northampton for this appointment in recognition of my research in the area of volunteer policing. Research in this area is still scarce even though volunteer police officers all over the world play an important role and make significant contributions to communities and nations.”

She added that the research collaboration would pave way for more projects and activities that would accelerate the growth of research in this area.