Emma Spooner

Emma Spooner is a Senior Lecturer in Policing at the University of Sunderland and serves as Programme Leader for the BA (Hons) Applied Investigation. Formerly a detective with Wiltshire Police and the National Crime Agency, her career focused on child abuse, homicide, and rape investigations, alongside investigative interviewing expertise. She teaches modules on research methods, professional competence, and workplace decision-making. Her research explores standards in investigative interviewing, workplace learning, and adherence to best practices, with a doctoral thesis (2020) examining how interviewers construct knowledge and deviate from guidance. Key interests include professional identity, leadership, and culture within policing.