Inga Heyman
inga heyman

Prof Inga Heyman PhD. R.N, R.M.N, Masters (Nurse Led Practice), Pg.Cert Higher Education and Learning, FRSPH, FHEA, FGLEPH

Associate Professor

 0131 455 3453

  I.Heyman@napier.ac.uk

   

Biography

Dr Inga Heyman , Associate Professor is a subject expert in Policing and Public Health at Edinburgh Napier University. She is an Honorary Member of the Faculty of Public Health, Fellow of the Global Law Enforcement Association and Fellow of the Higher Education Academy . She is Co-Director of the Scottish Centre for Policing and Public Health based in the interdisciplinary Centre for Mental Health Practice, Policy and Law Research (CMHPPLR) and Adjunct Associate Professor, The University of Tasmania. Inga is also a Research Affiliate to the ESRC Vulnerability and Policing Future Research Centre and a member of the Scottish Institute of Policing Research Public Protection network Steering Group.

Inga has served on the Board of of the Global Law Enforcement and Public Health Association and as invited expert witness and adviser to national and international governments. She has held expert advisory roles on national and international groups including the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime and the HMICS review in Policing and Mental Health .

Inga's international, interdisciplinary clinical, educational and research career spans 41 years. Her professional practice focus lies at the intersect of policing and public health is underpinned by her clinical practice as a registered Adult and Mental Health Nurse and teacher working across health and police services in Scotland and Australia

Inga is Co- Lead for Collaborative Practice and Inter-professional Learning in the School of Health and Social Care. She has held module leadership roles in the School of Health and Social Care and School of Applied Sciences.

She has been honoured with a number of awards for teaching and research . Recently these have included finalist and Highly commended is the Times Higher Education Awards Research Project of the Year: Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences (2024) . Commendation for Research project of the Year in the The Herald Education Awards (2024). Shortlisted finalists for The Scottish Knowledge Exchange Awards (2023) and Best Lecturer in the School of Health and Social Care.(2024),

Inga has enjoyed a strong and continued affiliation with the Global Law Enforcement and Public Health Association (GLEPHA) having served in the organising committee or as conference program member of the 4th, 6th, 7th and 8th International Law Enforcement and Public Health Conferences. She was Conference Director and host for the 5th International Law Enforcement and Public Health Conference and international satellite special interest group events and meetings in Edinburgh 2019. Inga is Co- lead of GLEPHA Educations Special interest groups supporting international knowledge exchange , post graduate students and teaching and learning development at the intersect of policing and public health

Inga co-convened the National Summit on Mental Health, Distress and Emergency Departments, both hosted by Edinburgh Napier University and supported by the Health & Justice Collaboration Board of The Scottish Government and GLEPHA (www.leph2019edinburgh.com).

NMC Registered Adult Nurse
NMC Registered Mental Health Nurse
NMC Registered Teacher
(Hon) Member of the Faculty of Public Health
Fellow of the Global Law Enforcement and Public Health Association
Fellow of the Royal Society for Public Health
Fellow of the Higher Education Academy
Member of the International Initiative for Mental Health Leadership (IIMHL)
Member of the Royal College of Nursing
Member of the Scottish Institute of Policing Network
Member of the Global law Enforcement and Public health special interest groups: Mental Health; Neurodiversity: Violence Prevention: Education
Member of the Scottish Alcohol Research Network
Member of the Edinburgh Napier University Harm Reduction Group
Edinburgh Napier University mental health champion

School

Research Groups

Themes

Research Areas

News

Esteem

Advisory panels and expert committees or witness

  • Invited expert advisory board member - The Health-Justice Nexus: Crime and Justice as Social Determinants of Health in Scotland, CSO Applied Health Research- £1 million grant
  • Expert advisory group member - Preventing Death/Serious Injury in Police Custody Risk Assessment/Care Plan/Observations CJSD Round Table Event
  • Senior partnership group member - Police Scotland CJSD Death in Police Custody
  • Expert advisory group member Good transfer of Care . Policing and mental health
  • Invited expert witness to The Scottish Government Criminal Justice Committee- Policing and Mental Health roundtable evidence session- Inquiry into access to emergency services, providing oral evidence on policing and vulnerable people
  • Steering group member Burdett Trust project focused on respiratory health of people with intellectual disabilities
  • Invited expert panel member - Evaluating Scotland's mental health and wellbeing strategy (Public Health Scotland)
  • Invited comminatory Scottish Government Suicide Prevention Training in the Higher and Further Education Curriculum
  • Scottish Police Authority - Mental Health and Policing - Framework for Collaboration and Collaborative Commitments
  • Expert advisory group - Mental Health and Routine Police Work ESRC funded project
  • Invited International Expert advisory group member- United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime
  • Invited member : Police TOM - Custody Healthcare & Forensic Medical Services Delivery
  • Invited member of the Police Scotland National Mental Health Reference Group
  • Advisory committee member- Co-creation of a CPD Toolkit to enable nursing students acquire the skills and knowledge to support individuals with learning disabilities to self-manage respiratory health issues.’
  • Invited member Scottish National Prison and Police Education & Workforce Group,
  • Response to the Scottish Government Consultation Learning Disabilities, Autism and Neurodivergence Bill
  • Policing and public expert advisor -Scottish Mental Health Law Review
  • Expert witness Scottish Government Criminal Justice Committee - Policing and Mental Health roundtable evidence session
  • Core Steering Group National Police Care Network
  • Invited member of Police Scotland National Taser Advisory Group
  • Police Scotland Harm Prevention Sub Group
  • Invited member Police Scotland Mental Health Strategic Oversight Board
  • Advisory board: Member of Evidence Review Board to National Institutes for Health Research (NIHR), for Public Health and Policing.
  • Review panel: Member of project review panel 'A collaborative response to Distress: Strategic Priorities' to Justice Analytical Services, Scottish Government
  • Review panel: Member of project review panel for Contact Assessment Method (CAM) training, Police Scotland
  • Board member: Global Law Enforcement and Public Health Association
  • Advisory board: Scottish Government Distress Intervention Group, short life working group - Unscheduled Care Management of Individuals presenting with Mental Health Issues

 

Conference Organising Activity

  • Conference host and lead conference organiser - Policing and Neurodiversity 2 day conference
  • Invited conference organising committee 8th International Law enforcement and Public health Conference
  • Convenor Policing and vulnerable people conference
  • Session Chair: Policy, Partnership and Learning, The 6th International Law Enforcement & Public Health Conference, Philadelphia, USA (virtual); March 2021.
  • Conference Programme Committee Member: Public Health Approaches in Policing & Serious Violence across the UK 4 Nations, UK (Virtual), 8-12 Feb 2021
  • Programme Committee Member: 6th International Law Enforcement & Public Health Conference, Philadelphia , USA March 2021
  • Session Chair Scottish International Policing Conference: Policing and Public Health: opportunities and challenges
  • Programme Committee Member: 5th International Law Enforcement & Public Health Conference, Edinburgh, 20-23 October 2019
  • Major session Chair : Working Across sectors to develop an evidence based approach to policing mental health and distress in Scotland. 4th International Law Enforcement & Public Health Conference, Toronto , Canada October 2018
  • Conference Chair, organising committee and program committee : International Law Enforcement & Public Health Conference, Edinburgh, 20-23 October 2019
  • Conference program committee :Scottish International Policing Conference: Policing and Public Health: opportunities and challenges
  • Session Chair: Scottish International Policing Conference 2017: Police Professionalisation and Leadership
  • Session Chair :3rd International Law Enforcement & Public Health Conference, Amsterdam, The Netherlands October 2016
  • Session Chair :3rd International Law Enforcement & Public Health Conference, Amsterdam, The Netherlands October 2016
  • Programme Committee Member: 3rd International Law Enforcement & Public Health Conference, Amsterdam, The Netherlands October 2016
  • Program committee: Scottish Mental Health Nursing Research Conference , Robert Gordon University, Aberdeen 2013

 

Editorial Activity

  • Invited Editor special edition : Journal of Psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing Law enforcement and mental health

 

External Examining/Validations

  • External Examiner for PhD thesis, Stirling University, The Thistle and the Rose: a Bacchian analysis of the ‘problems’ of drug use, diversion and the Scottish context

 

Fellowships and Awards

  • Scottish Institute for Policing Research Knowledge Exchange & Dissemination Grant £1000
  • THE Awards 2024 - Research Project of the Year: Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences (Highly commended)
  • The Herald HE Awards 2024 - Research Project of the Year (Highly commended)
  • Edinburgh Napier University student nominated awards- Winner , Best Lecturer in School of Health and Social Care
  • THE Awards, Knowledge Exchange/Transfer Nomination
  • Finalists - Scottish Knowledge Exchange Awards
  • Invited to develop data skills resources by Data Skills Gateway £18K
  • Scottish Institute for Policing Research Impact Award. Finalist and runner up
  • Edinburgh Napier Student nominated awards- Best lecturer in Health and Social care - Nominated
  • Fellow of the Royal Society for Public Health
  • Edinburgh Napier University Above and Beyond Awards Nomination - Innovation
  • Edinburgh Napier Above and Beyond awards Finalists for Partnership
  • Fellow of the Higher Education Academy

 

Grant Funding Panel Member

  • Invited panel member SIPR Responsive Research Grant funding Policing and Mental Health Transfer of Care

 

Grant Reviewer

  • The Chief Scientist Office of the Scottish Government

 

Invited Speaker

  • Police and Health' Working across complex systems to support people webinar
  • NASA - Aerospace Medical Association (AsMA), American Public University System’s Analog Research Group
  • Neurodiversity: Navigating the criminal justice system at the intersect of policing and health - Policing and Vulnerability Doctoral and ECR Webinar Series
  • Invited Orators Panel Chair - President Atifete Jahjaga President of the Republic of Kosovo (2011 – 2016), member of the Council of Women World Leaders and President Aleksander Kwaśniewski President of the Republic of Poland (1995-2005) Chair of the Eastern and Central European and Central Asian Commission on Drug Policy (ECECACD) Member of the Global Commission on Drug Policy, European Law Enforcement and Public Health conference Umea, Sweden
  • Panel co-chair and speaker. European Law Enforcement and Public Health Conference 2023 Developments in LEPH education: promising opportunities and cautionary tales
  • Invited panel chair - International Law Enforcement and Public Health Conference , Philadelphia, US A. Policy and partnership
  • Panel session Chair - European Law enforcement and Pubic health conference Public Health Approaches in Policing - Scotland
  • Global Public Health week -In Crisis: Police and Community Response to Mental Health Calls An International Panel on Alternatives and Engagement Impact of police and healthcare systems and practice on human rights of those in mental distress
  • Chair - Orators President Atifete Jahjaga, Former President of the Republic of Kosovo and President Aleksander Kwaśniewski, Former President of the Republic of Poland,
  • Session chair The 6th International Law Enforcement & Public Health Conference, Philadelphia, USA (virtual); March 2021.Mental health pathway: right care, right time
  • Session Chair . Public Health Approaches in Policing & Serious Violence across the UK 4 Nations, UK (Virtual), 8-12 Feb 2021
  • I.HEYMAN.The Intersection between People in Mental Health Distress, Police and Out-of-hours Health Services: An Exploratory Case Study School of Nursing and Midwifery Postgraduate Research Symposium, Robert Gordon University, Aberdeen.
  • Invited conference speaker Murray J, Enang I, Heyman I, Dougall N, Wooff A, Aston E & Grandison G. Defining and assessing vulnerability Perspectives across Law Enforcement and Public Health. International Association of Forensic Mental Health Services Conference. Montreal, Canada, June 25-27, 2019.
  • Conference talk: (Symposium) Dougall N, Heyman I, Murray J, Enang I, Aston L, Wooff A. 'Law Enforcement and Public Health: towards a unified partnership approach in Scotland', International Law Enforcement & Public Health Conference, Toronto, 2018
  • HEYMAN I, DOUGALL N, THOMAS S, KERR J. Mental Health and Distress in the Emergency Department. National Summit. In collaboration with The Scottish Government Distress Intervention Group and the Global Law Enforcement & Public Health Association (GLEPHA) Mental Health Special Interest Group
  • Invited speaker : Murray J, Enang I, Dougall N, Wooff A, Aston E, Heyman I. Defining and Assessing Vulnerability: Perspectives across Law Enforcement and Public Health (LEPH), Innovation in Public Services and Public Policy (PUBSIC) Conference; Milan, Italy, 2019.
  • HEYMAN, I. The Intersection between Police, People in Mental Health Distress and Unscheduled Health Care: An Exploratory Case Study. The Fifth Scottish Institute for Policing Research (SIPR) and Police Scotland Postgraduate Symposium. Edinburgh: Scottish Institute for Policing Research.
  • HEYMAN.I. , DOUGALL.N.,WHITE, C., MURRAY, J., ENANG, I., WOOFF, A., & ASTON, E., The Scottish Centre for Law Enforcement and Public Health: how we got here and where we are going. Major session (M1) presentation given by I Heyman and panel at the 5th Global Law Enforcement and Public Conference, Edinburgh 2019.
  • HEYMAN I, DOUGALL N, WILLIAMS B, HEIJMER-MASON O. 2018 Working across sectors to develop an evidence-based approach to policing mental health and distress in Scotland. Major session (M14) conference presentation by I HEYMAN and panel at the 4th Global Law Enforcement and Public Conference, Toronto 2018.
  • I.HEYMAN.Black, white and grey – a case study of the experiences of police, people in mental health distress and emergency health services. School of Nursing and Midwifery Postgraduate Research Symposium, Robert Gordon University, Aberdeen.
  • Police and Emergency Health Practitioner Experiences in the Care of People in Mental Health Distress. Presentations by I. HEYMAN. Police Division, Safer Communities Directorate Scottish Government, St Andrews House, Edinburgh
  • A study of police and emergency health practitioner experiences in the care of people in mental health distress. Presentations by I. HEYMAN Health and Justice Collaboration Board, Scottish Government, St Andrews House, Edinburgh
  • Police and Emergency Health Practitioner Experiences in the Care of People in Mental Health Distress Presentations by I. HEYMAN, Justice Analytical Services, Scottish Government, Crowne Plaza, Edinburgh
  • PhD Scottish Institute for Policing Research and Centre for Evidence Based Crime Policy International Policing Scholar Summer School (IPSSS) George Mason University, Washington USA. Summer School
  • Black, White and Grey - A study of Police and emergency health practitioner experiences in the care of people in mental health distress. Presentation by I. HEYMAN, Justice Analytical Services Scottish Government, St Andrews House, Edinburgh
  • HEYMAN, I.. Police and emergency health practitioner experiences in the care of people in mental health distress- a ‘grey area’ of practice. The Fourth Scottish Institute for Policing Research (SIPR) and Police Scotland Postgraduate Symposium. Edinburgh: Scottish Institute for Policing Research.
  • HEYMAN, I. Black, white and grey – a study of the interface and pathways between police, those in mental health distress and emergency health service.: Robert Gordon University Postgraduate Research Symposium. Aberdeen, Scotland
  • HEYMAN, I., . Supporting an understanding of the pathways and interface between police, those in mental health distress and emergency health services. Scottish Institute of Policing Research and Police Scotland Postgraduate Symposium. Dundee University.
  • HEYMAN, I. Supporting an understanding of the pathways and interface between police, those in mental health distress and emergency health services. The Third Scottish Institute for Policing Research (SIPR) and Police Scotland Postgraduate Symposium. Edinburgh: Scottish Institute for Policing Research.
  • HEYMAN, I., The pathways and interface between police, those in mental health distress and emergency health services – A Literature Review. Scottish Institute of Policing Research International Conference – Policing Vulnerable People and Vulnerable Places. Edinburgh.
  • HEYMAN, I. A study of pathways and interface between police, those in mental health distress and emergency health services. The Third International Conference in Law Enforcement and Public Health. Amsterdam, The Netherlands
  • HEYMAN, I. Insider-outsider collaborative health and police research: challenges and facilitators. The Third International Conference in Law Enforcement and Public Health. Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
  • TEE, S., WEBSTER- HENDERSON, B.J., and HEYMAN, I., The Patient’s Voice in Health Professional Education in the UK – 10 Years on: Beyond a Tick Box Exercise toward Cultural Change? Inter-Professional Health Care Education. Vancouver, Canada.
  • HEYMAN, I., GIBB, A., . Integration of the UK Prevent counter-terrorism strategy into mainstream health and social care education. Nurse Education Today Conference. Churchill College, Cambridge.
  • HEYMAN, I. Black, white and grey: The pathways and interface between police, those in mental health distress and emergency health services. The Second Scottish Institute for Policing Research (SIPR) and Police Scotland Postgraduate Symposium. Edinburgh Scottish Institute for Policing Research.
  • HEYMAN, I., The Challenges of Adult Support and Protection. (Key note speaker) National Adult Protection Conference, Renfrewshire.
  • HEYMAN, I., Understanding the challenges of Police and interagency education and practices to protect those most susceptible to serious harm in Scotland. POLCON 5, Teesside University.
  • HEYMAN I., INNES. G., GOODHAND, K., The Hidden Educator – The use of High Fidelity Silicone Masks in Health and Social Care Education. Innovate to Stimulate conference. Robert Gordon University, Aberdeen.
  • HEYMAN I., . Multi agency learning using The Collaborative Outcomes Learning Tool. Workshops x2. National Child Protection conference. Connecting, Exchanging, Protecting: Getting it Right for Child Protection. Stirling.
  • HEYMAN I., Multi-agency learning using The Collaborative Outcomes Learning Tool. Workshops x2. National Adult Protection conference. Connecting, Exchanging, Protecting: Getting it Right for Adult Protection. Stirling.
  • HEYMAN, I. AND INNES, G., Virtually joining forces - Collaborative police and health practice and education to support those with co-morbid physical and mental health needs in police custody. Workshop. Law Enforcement and Public Health Conference. Amsterdam, Netherlands.
  • HEYMAN, I., . Curriculum development through understanding the student nurse experience of suicide intervention education- a phenomenographic study. NET NEP, Netherlands.
  • HEYMAN, I., The Challenges of Adult Support and Protection. (Key note speaker) National Adult Protection Conference, Renfrewshire.
  • HEYMAN, I., GIBB, A., INNES, G., Preventable? Integration of the UK Prevent counter-terrorism strategy into mainstream health and social care education. Law Enforcement and Public Health conference. Amsterdam, Netherlands.
  • HEYMAN, I., JOSEPH, S., DIACK, L., KLEIN, S., MCCLUSKEY, S. AND WOOLNOUGH, P., Collaborative vulnerabilities? – understanding the challenges of interagency education and practices to protect those most susceptible to serious harm in Scotland .Law Enforcement and Public Health Conference. Amsterdam, Netherlands.
  • HEYMAN, I., GOODHAND, K. AND INNES, G., Collaborative Outcome Learning Tool (COLT) – An interactive, multiagency educational tool to support public protection communication and information sharing. POLCON 5, Teesside University.
  • HEYMAN. I., A Risky Business? – The Scottish Nursing Experience of Protecting Vulnerable Adults. International Council of Nurses Quadrennial Congress. Melbourne, Australia.
  • HEYMAN. I, AND WEBSTER- HENDERSON, B.J., . Sick, nicked and hanging out for change. Police and Nursing roles in the care of those with complex mental health needs in custody. International Council of Nurses Quadrennial Congress. Melbourne, Australia.
  • HEYMAN I, WEBSTER – HENDERSON, B.J., Joining Forces – Collaborative police and nurse interventions and education to support those with mental health needs: a comparative international literature review. International Council of Nurses Quadrennial Congress. Melbourne, Australia.
  • HEYMAN, I., The Student Nurse Experience of Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training (ASIST) – A Phenomenographic Study. Enhancing Nursing through Educational Research (ENTER) Conference: Edinburgh Napier University.

 

Media Activity

  • The NEN – North Edinburgh News - Pioneering conference highlights neurodiversity and policing
  • International blog - Joining dots: A Multisystem Approach to Policing and Public Health.
  • Pod cast - Faculty of Public Health - The Emergency Services SIG. Policing and public health
  • Newspaper article: Public health providers and police services are two sides of the same coin, The Scotsman, 27th June 2019,

 

Membership of Professional Body

  • Co-Lead Global Law Enforcement and Public Health Educational Special Interest Group
  • Scottish Institute for Policing Research Public Protection network Steering Group

 

Public/Community Engagement

  • Pioneering conference highlights neurodiversity and policing
  • Peter Hillen and Inga Heyman “I’m not going to leave someone to die”: A policing response to Scotland’s drugs death crisis. Sceptics Society Edinburgh .
  • Public engagement funding . Interprofessional Learning

 

Reviewing

  • Journal of Drug Issues
  • Criminology & Criminal Justice
  • Australasian Emergency Care
  • Harm Reduction Journal
  • Oxford Bibliographies- Oxford University Press
  • Policing and Society
  • Journal of Psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing
  • International Journal of Mental Health Nursing

 

Visiting Positions

  • Adjunct Associate Professor - University of Tasmania, Australia
  • Host Fulbright Scholar

 

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Date


43 results

Training manual for law enforcement of cials on HIV service provision for people who inject drugs

Other
Riley, D., Thomson, N., Monaghan, G., & Jardine, M. (2025)
Training manual for law enforcement of cials on HIV service provision for people who inject drugs

Neurodiversity: Navigating the criminal justice system at the intersect of policing and health

Presentation / Conference Contribution
Heyman, I., & Spassiani, N. (2025, January)
Neurodiversity: Navigating the criminal justice system at the intersect of policing and health. Presented at Vulnerability & Policing Futures Research PhD Series, Online
People with neurodiversity or a neurodisability are overly represented in policing interactions. Yet, knowledge to support meaningful and positive impacts on criminal justice ...

Police and Health: Working together across complex systems to support people

Presentation / Conference Contribution
Heyman, I. (2025, January)
Police and Health: Working together across complex systems to support people. Presented at The National Police and Prison Care Networks Webinar series, Online

‘Safe spaces’ call as mental health crisis consumes police

Newspaper / Magazine
(2025)
‘Safe spaces’ call as mental health crisis consumes police
Cited in the article.

Evaluating the training, carriage and administration of naloxone in Police Scotland.

Presentation / Conference Contribution
Hillen, P., Speakman, E., Dougall, N., Heyman, I., Murray, J., Jamieson, M., Aston, E., & McAuley, A. (2024, December)
Evaluating the training, carriage and administration of naloxone in Police Scotland. Presented at Naloxone in the Justice System, Scottish Health in Custody Network Webinar, Online

Influence social change with your research by building relationships

Newspaper / Magazine
Hillen, P., & Heyman, I. (2024)
Influence social change with your research by building relationships
Invited submission following recognition at THE awards 2024 Researchers from Edinburgh Napier University needed to form relationships with a range of people when evaluating P...

“I’m not going to leave someone to die”: A policing response to Scotland’s drugs death crisis

Presentation / Conference Contribution
Hillen, P., & Heyman, I. (2024, November)
“I’m not going to leave someone to die”: A policing response to Scotland’s drugs death crisis. Presented at Edinburgh Sceptics, Edinburgh

Evaluating the training, carriage and administration of naloxone in Police Scotland

Presentation / Conference Contribution
Hillen, P., Speakman, E., Dougall, N., Heyman, I., Murray, J., Jamieson, M., Aston, E., & McAuley, A. (2024, September)
Evaluating the training, carriage and administration of naloxone in Police Scotland. Presented at Policing, Public Health and Vulnerable People - Scottish Institute of Policing Research, Edinburgh

Engaging police and the public health sector to collaborate for the public good

Report
Global Law Enforcement and Public Health Association. (2024)
Engaging police and the public health sector to collaborate for the public good. World Federation of Public Health Associations
Submitted by Global Law Enforcement and Public Health Association (GLEPHA) Collaboration between police and public health sectors can improve community well-being. Key aspec...

Police officer knowledge of and attitudes to opioid overdose and naloxone administration: an evaluation of police training in Scotland

Journal Article
Hillen, P., Speakman, E. M., Jamieson, M., Dougall, N., Heyman, I., Murray, J., Aston, E. V., & McAuley, A. (2025)
Police officer knowledge of and attitudes to opioid overdose and naloxone administration: an evaluation of police training in Scotland. Policing and Society, 35(1), 1-16. https://doi.org/10.1080/10439463.2024.2367142
In the context of escalating drug-related deaths, during 2021 Police Scotland implemented a pilot project incorporating naloxone training to test the carriage and administrati...

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