Mark Ellison
Research Fellow
My profile
Biography
I am a Research Fellow in the Policy Evaluation & Research Unit (PERU) at Manchester Metropolitan University. I work in the fields of Environmental Criminology, Data Management and Evaluation.
I lead on managing interdisciplinary projects, data collection / analysis and developing relationships with external partners to undertake impactful research. I am currently working with several police forces, violence reduction units, local authorities, and partners on a range of Big Data and evaluation projects.
I currently teach on the undergraduate (3rd year) Space, Place and Crime unit, and the QSTEP Quantitative MSc programme (Data Management / Big Data Analytics).
I am currently the project manager and research evaluation lead supporting the Greater Manchester Violence Reduction Unit (VRU). I have led on evaluations of the GM Hospital Navigators Programme, Community led Programme, and PIED (Prevention, prosecution, intervention, education, and diversion) Programme. I have supported the VRUs Strategic Needs Assessments, RCT of Hotspot Policing evaluation, development of theory of change/logic models, and outcomes frameworks to support the evidence-led public health approach to violence reduction.
Prior to this, I was the project manager for the Greater Manchester Police (GMP) Operational Analytics / Data Science project, understanding demand upon GMP across Greater Manchester, including the areas of Domestic Abuse, Missing Persons, Mental Ill Health, and Knife Crime. I have also worked with police forces on a variety of projects including the relationship between crime and alcohol outlets in the West Midlands (working with West Midlands Police (WMP)), the impact of minimum unit pricing on crime and disorder (Police Scotland / NHS Health Scotland). I have also supported the ESRC Understanding Inequalities project and developing research with Police Scotland.
Previously, I have supported Interserve / Purple Futures (Probation Community Rehabilitation Companies) with demand, business, and outcomes modelling. I have worked on a Troubled Families data-mining project with Manchester City Council. I have previously worked on a range of Criminal Justice projects and evaluations including; Greater Manchester ICO evaluation, Manchester College / Novus impact of education on re-offending, GM Transforming Justice Project, London Criminal Justice Partnership Reducing Reoffending evaluation, HMP Preston impact evaluation, Wigan DAAT Payment by Results Pilot and London Probation Trust evaluations. I have also previously worked on the European FP7 MYPLACE project (contemporary views of young people), managing the UK survey (fieldwork / data collection) and analysing the consortium dataset of 17,000 records.
Prior to joining MMU in July 2011, I worked in the public sector for 11 years in a range of organisations and policy areas, and has led Information, Analysis and Research teams at Cumbria Constabulary, Blackpool Council Children & Young People’s Department, and Government Office for the North West. I have been PRINCE 2 trained and has managed several ICT projects. In a previous role with Department of Communities and Local Government (DCLG), I worked on Local Area Agreements (LAAs), Tools to capture and present Local Authority Performance Information (Data Interchange Hub/Places Analysis Tool) and analysis on the economic downturn (Risk, Resilience and Recovery, and PSA and Place). I have strong project management, research, and analytical skills, with a good knowledge of a range of software including MS Excel, MS Access, R, QGIS, MapInfo, ARCGIS and SPSS.
Projects
Areas of Expertise
- Management of large datasets
- Quantitative analysis
- Performance Management
- Project Management
- Data Visualisation
- Evaluation
- Geographical Information Systems (GIS)
- Crime and the Economy
Research Activity & Consultancy projects
- Project Manager, Data Analytics and Evaluation, Greater Manchester Violence Reduction Unit, GMCA (2019-2025) - £1.080 million
- Research Fellow, RCT Hotspot Policing, GMP/HO (2021-22) - £100k
- Research Fellow, Evaluation of Minimum Unit Pricing (MUP) on Crime and Disorder in Scotland, NHS Health Scotland (2019-2021) - £97k
- Project Manager, The Extent and Nature of Knife Crime in Greater Manchester, Greater Manchester Police (2019) - £27k
- Project Manager, Greater Manchester Police Data Science / Operational Analytics project, Greater Manchester (2016-2019)
- Research Fellow, ESRC Understanding Inequalities (2018-2020)
- Research Fellow, Crime and Alcohol Outlets in the West Midlands (2016-2019)
- Research Fellow, Evaluation of Novus / The Manchester College Offender Learning in Prisons Programmes (2015-2017)
- Research Fellow, Evaluation of Interserve / Purple Futures Community Rehabilitation Companies Offender Management Programmes (2015-2017)
- Research Fellow, Evaluation of Interserve Enablers of Change Assessment tool (2016-2017)
- Project Manager, Intensive Community Support (ICO) Evaluation, Police & Crime Commissioner (2014-2018) - £50k
- Project Manager, Oxfordshire County Council Strategic Intelligence Assessment, (2012-19)
- Research Associate, Insight to Evaluation: Troubled Families Data Mining Exercise, Manchester City Council (2014-2016)
- Project Manager, Evaluation of Rochdale Connections Trust Freedom Programme (2015)
- Research Associate, European FP7 MYPLACE (Memory, Youth, Political Legacy and Civic Engagement) Project, (2012-15)
- Research Associate, Data analysis supporting GM Strategic Intelligence Assessment, New Economy (2014)
- Research Associate, Impact Evaluation of the Inside Out project, HMP Preston (2014)
- Project Manager, Specialist Financial Modelling Project Support for Wigan DAAT Payment by Results (2011-13)
- Research Associate, Spatial Data Analysis of DHLE to support MMU Employability Review (2013)
- Research Associate, HMP Grendon Cost Benefit Analysis Feasibility Study (2013)
- Research Associate, Evaluation of the effect of effect of housing provision on re-offending (2012)
- Project Manager, Impact and Economic Evaluation of Rochdale Connections Trust Targeted Youth Service (2011-12)
- Senior Research Assistant, Evaluation of London Reducing Reoffending Programmes, LCPS (2011-12)
- Research Associate, Greater Manchester Crime Futures Project (2011-12)
- Research Associate, Estimating the costs and benefits of an alcohol treatment requirement, Acorn Housing (2011)
- Government Office North West Project Manager, Risk, Resilience and Recovery – Spatial Impact of the Economic Downturn, DCLG (2008-10)
- Government Office North West Project Manager, PSA and Place, DCLG (2009-10)
- Government Office North West Project Manager, Government Office Places Handbook, DCLG (2008-09)
- Government Office North West Project Manager, DCLG Data Interchange Hub and Places Analysis Tool, DCLG (2008-10)
- Various Analyses of Children, Family and Young People datasets, Blackpool Council (2006-2008)
- Production of Crime and Disorder Audits and Strategies, Cumbria (2002-2005)
- Research Analyst, Project Hammered – Targeted Policing Initiative (TPI) Alcohol Related Violent Crime and Domestic Violence, Cumbria Constabulary (2001-2003)
Teaching
Why do I teach?
I currently teach on the undergraduate (3rd year) Space, Place and Crime unit.
QSTEP Quantitative Methods MSc programme (Data Management / Big Data Analytics).
I enjoy teaching students practical and technical skills. I am an active researcher working with a range of criminal justice organisations. I use academic research and practical experience to inform my teaching.
Subject areas
Environmental Criminology
Geographical Information Systems (GIS) and Science
Quantitative Methods
Data Management
Research outputs
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Chapters in books
Bannister, J., Adepeju, M., Ellison, M. 'Is the policing prioritisation of and response to crime equitable? An examination of frontline policing deployment to incidents of violence-against-the-person.' Handbook of Crime and Inequality. Edward Elgar Publishing,
Grimm, R., Pollock, G., Ellison, M. (2017) 'Eurosceptic youth: Interest, trust and ideology.' In Leruth, B., Startin, N., Usherwood, S. (ed.) The Routledge Handbook of Euroscepticism. Routledge, pp. 215-230.
Grimm, R., Pollock, G., Ellison, M., Koronaiou, A., Lagos, E., Sakellariou, A. (2017) 'Attitudes towards the eu among young people in eastern Germany, Greece, and the UK: Embedding survey data within socio-historical context.' Understanding Youth Participation Across Europe: From Survey to Ethnography. pp. 67-98.
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Reports
Kinsella, R., Clarke, R., Lowthian, J., Ellison, M., Kiss, Z. Whole system approach to women offenders final evaluation report.
Ellison, M., Haleem, M., Krzemieniewska-Nandwani, K., Bannister, J. The extent and nature of Knife Crime in Greater Manchester.
Ellison, M., Haleem, M., Bannister, J. Understanding Mental Health Demand using a text mining approach.
Ellison, M., Hall, B., Bannister, J. Greater Manchester Violence Reduction Unit : The PIED (Prosecution, Intervention, Education and Diversion) pilot programme – An Implementation Evaluation.
Krzemieniewska-Nandwani, K., Bannister, J., Ellison, M., Adepeju, M. (2022) Evaluation of the Impact of Alcohol Minimum Unit Pricing (MUP) on Crime and Disorder, Public Safety and Public Nuisance.
Adepeju, M., Bannister, J., Ellison, M., Morris, S., Krzemieniewska-Nandwani, K. (2022) Directed Hotspot Policing with Contextual Safeguarding – A Randomised Control Trial.
Ellison, M., Bannister, J., Hall, B. (2021) Greater Manchester Violence Reduction Unit: Hospital Navigators Pilot - An Initial Implementation Evaluation (First five months).
Ellison, M., Haleem, M., Krzemieniewska-Nandwani, K., Bannister, J. (2019) Understanding ‘Missing from Homes’ demand in Greater Manchester.
Kinsella, R., Clarke, R., Lowthian, J., Ellison, M., Kiss, Z., Wong, K. (2018) Whole System Approach for Women Offenders - Final Evaluation Report. Policy Evaluation and Research Unit (PERU) Manchester Metropolitan University.
Fox, C.C., Ellison, M., Partridge, H., Szifris, K., Horan, R. (2016) The Enablers of Change Assessment Tool Evaluation. Manchester Metropolitan University.
Kinsella, R., O'Keeffe, C., Lowthain, J., Clarke, R., Ellison, M. (2015) Evaluation of the Whole System Approach for Women Offenders. Sheffield Hallam University.
Clarke, R., Ellison, M., Ozan, J., Fox, C.C. (2015) Evaluation of Intensive Community Support - Interim Report. Manchester Metropolitan University.
Ellison, M., Pollock, G. (2014) MYPLACE WP4 report Measuring Participation, European Commission MYPLACE Deliverable 4.6.
Ellison, M., Goswami, H., Pollock, G. (2013) MYPLACE WP4: Measuring Participation, Country specific analyses which highlight local historical and cultural factors and which contrast the two regions sampled in the UK, European Commission MYPLACE Deliverable 4.5.
Smyth, G.M., Smith, C., Watson, A., Fox, C., Ellison, M. (2013) Evaluation of Choose Change at HMP Manchester.
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Journal articles
Ellison, M., Bannister, J., Lee, W.D., Haleem, M. (2021) 'Understanding policing demand and deployment through the lens of the city and with the application of big data.' Urban Studies: an international journal for research in urban studies, 58(15) pp. 3157-3175.
Langton, S., Bannister, J., Ellison, M., Haleem, M.S., Krzemieniewska-Nandwani, K. (2021) 'Policing and Mental ill-health: Using Big Data to Assess the Scale and Severity of, and the Frontline Resources Committed to, mental ill-health-related calls-for-service.' Policing: A Journal of Policy and Practice, 15(3) pp. 1963-1976.
Ellison, M., Pollock, G., Grimm, R. (2020) 'Young People's Orientations Towards Contemporary Politics: Trust, Representation and Participation.' Zeitschrift für Erziehungswissenschaft, 23(6) pp. 1201-1226.
Lee, W.D., Haleem, M.S., Ellison, M., Bannister, J. (2020) 'The influence of intra-daily activities and settings upon weekday violent crime in public space in Manchester, UK.' European Journal on Criminal Policy and Research, 27(3) pp. 375-395.
Haleem, M.S., Lee, W.D., Ellison, M., Bannister, J. (2020) 'The ‘Exposed’ Population, Violent Crime in Public Space and the Night-time Economy in Manchester, United Kingdom.' European Journal on Criminal Policy and Research, 27(3) pp. 335-352.
Ellison, M., Szifris, K., Horan, R., Fox, C. (2017) 'A Rapid Evidence Assessment of the effectiveness of prison education in reducing recidivism and increasing employment.' Probation Journal, 64(2) pp. 108-128.
Pollock, G., Brock, T., Ellison, M. (2015) 'Populism, ideology and contradiction: mapping young people's political views.' Sociological Review, 63
Ellison, M., Fox, C., Gains, A., Pollock, G. (2013) 'An evaluation of the effect of housing provision on re-offending.' Safer Communities, 12(1) pp. 27-37.
Fox, C., Albertson, K., Ellison, M., Martin, T. (2011) 'How will the recession affect crime rates in Greater Manchester?.' Safer Communities, 10(3) pp. 17-30.
Fox, C., Albertson, K., Williams, K., Ellison, M. (2011) 'Estimating the costs and benefits of an alcohol treatment requirement.' Drugs and Alcohol Today, 11(3) pp. 147-155.
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Conference papers
Haleem, M., Han, L., Harding, P., Ellison, M. (2019) 'An Automated Text Mining Approach for Classifying Mental-Ill Health Incidents from Police Incident Logs for Data-Driven Intelligence.' In Proceedings IEEE Conference on Systems, Man and Cybernetics 2019. Bari, Italy, 6/10/2019 - 9/10/2019. IEEE,
Ellison, M., Lee, W.D. (2019) 'The efficacy and efficiency of the Domestic Abuse, Stalking and Honour-based Violence (DASH) questionnaire as a risk assessment tool.' In European Society of Criminology. Ghent, Belgium, 18/9/2019 - 21/9/2019.
Ellison, M., Bannister, J., Brunt-So, B. (2019) 'Insights from data science: Understanding demand and vulnerability.' In Excellence in Policing. College of Policing, Ryton-on-Dunsmore , UK, 16/9/2019 - 17/9/2019.
Ellison, M., Haleem, M., Lee, W.D. (2019) 'Understanding police demands and deployment across space and time.' 19th Annual Conference on European Society of Criminology 2019, Ghent, Belgium,
Haleem, M., Ellison, M. (2019) 'The scale, nature and spatio-temporal patterning of mental health-related incidents: Insights from text mining police incident logs.' In 18th Annual Conference on European Society of Criminology, Sarajevo, Bosnia.
Haleem, M., Ellison, M. (2018) 'The scale, nature and spatio-temporal patterning of mental health-related incidents: Insights from text mining police incident logs.' In European society of criminology conference 2018.
Lee, W., Ellison, M. (2018) 'Police Risk Assessment of Domestic Abuse: The mediating role of space and time.' 29/8/2018 - 1/9/2018.