Rich Honess

Rich Honess serves as a Senior Lecturer in Policing at Canterbury Christ Church University (CCCU), where he joined in 2017. He holds dual responsibilities as Head of Policing & Professional Contracts, Apprenticeships and CPD, and is a core member of the Police Education Consortium delivering the Police Constable Degree Apprenticeship and Degree Holder Entry Programme for Surrey, Sussex, and Hampshire Police.

His research centers on the theoretical foundations of police legitimacy, currently investigating the relationship between epistemic authority and self-legitimacy among frontline officers through doctoral work. This focus bridges practical policing education with critical examinations of officer identity and institutional trust, emphasizing how professional self-perception influences operational conduct and community interactions.

Mr. Honess leads the university's Policing Team in developing national professional contracts and continuing professional development frameworks, directly shaping modern police training standards through strategic partnerships with multiple UK police services. His work integrates academic rigor with real-world policing applications, particularly in apprenticeship program design and professional credentialing.