2025 Montgomerie Award for research into drivers of change in police practice and policy
The winner of the 2025 RCS Montgomerie Award is Hunter Culbong, a PhD candidate at the Australian National University, for his research into police practice and policy and how police adapt to major crime and social issues – specifically organised crime, civil disobedience and terrorism - and the impact these changes can have.
Hunter, who comes from Perth WA, brings an appropriate background to his current research. For his ANU Honours degree in Criminology, completed n 2022, he spent time conducting policing research with the Australian Federal Police in Canberra. His current position as an academic associate at ANU has involved his participation in projects across several disciplines, including Aboriginal experiences with the criminal justice system and youth gambling research.
Hunter will carry out his research using semi-structured interviews with police organisations in Australia, the United Kingdom and Canada, in what he hopes will be a significant multi-country comparative analysis of how police have changed over time, the consequences of these changes for the police and the public, as well as provide insight into emerging problems. Hunter also hopes that his findings will inform policy and make practical changes for more effective policing and safer communities.
Hunter intends to use his $5000 award to support travel and accommodation costs associated with his research.
The Montgomerie Award is named for its benefactor, Mrs Phyllis Montgomerie, a former President of the RCS ACT Branch and passionate social justice advocate, who died in 2012. In her will, Mrs Montgomerie left a bequest to the Branch for a ‘research or education’ project. In exploring how her wishes would be carried out, the Society decided that research outcomes should have the potential to benefit the subjects of the study and that the research be carried out in a Commonwealth country.
For previous winners of the Award and a short description of their projects, follow the links under ‘Awards’ on the RCS website home page or click here.
