Michael Smith is a Senior Lecturer in Criminal Justice at Edge Hill University, having served for 30 years as a police officer, specialising in public order and public safety policing, where he has national and international experience. Michael has previously published Protest Policing and Human Rights: A Dialogical Approach.

Rebecca Phythian is a Reader in Policing at Edge Hill University and a UKRI Future Leaders Fellow researching international law enforcement information exchange. Her work focuses on police and partner information sharing, and she collaborates widely with industry, police and other agencies nationally and internationally.