Georgia Priestley joins the Vulnerability & Policing Futures Research Centre having been awarded an ESRC-funded White Rose Doctoral Training Partnership 1+3 Associated Studentship at the University of Leeds.

Georgia graduated with BSc (Hons) in Economics and Politics from Queen Mary, University of London, where she specialised in social economics. After working in the financial sector, as a securities analyst, she worked within the social sector. Most recently, Georgia worked as an interviewer for policy evaluation for the Department of Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC), where she interviewed participants suffering from multiple disadvantages, including domestic abuse, homelessness, substance misuse, and mental health issues. While working within social research, Georgia was obtaining a PGDip in Social and Public Policy, from the University of Leeds. During her PGDip she focused on vulnerable groups and welfare policy.

Georgia’s research interests include mental health, vulnerable groups, law and policy, safeguarding, and welfare.

Situated in the School of Healthcare at the University of Leeds, Georgia’s PhD thesis is titled ‘Examining the use of restrictive practice by the police in response to mental health crises’. This will explore the use of restrictive practices (such as physical and mechanical restraints, e.g. grip handcuffs, tasers and tear gas) as a police response to managing someone who is exhibiting behaviours that could lead to harm to themselves and/or others.