A Keele University Professor has been awarded an MBE in this year’s Queen’s Birthday Honours list.

Professor Clifford Stott receives the award for his services to crowd psychology and the Covid-19 response, thanks to his years of research and his work as a member of the Government’s Scientific Pandemic Insights Group on Behaviours (SPI-B) a sub-committee of the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (SAGE).

A Professor of Social Psychology, Professor Stott is a world-renowned expert in crowd psychology, riots, policing and public order, whose research is frequently drawn upon by Government, police forces and organisations in the world of football.

His research focuses on the development of crowd theory and its application to policing in football, protests and over the past year in relation to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Professor Stott also established and co-chairs the SAGE policing and security sub-group - which provide advice to ministers aimed at helping people adhere to Government restrictions brought about due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Professor Stott said: “I am of course delighted that my work has been acknowledged in this way. This Honour brings important recognition to the work that we do here at Keele and the impact our research has on helping society to deal with some of the challenges we face. The award will help us to take our work forward and I thank those that nominated me, along with my colleagues and others who have supported me across my career.”