Professor Peter Squires, who leads the university's Crime, Resistance and Security research cluster, will join a panel of experts on 1 August to debate the issues surrounding protest policing.
91¶¶Òõ and Hove is one of the UK's centres of political protest. It is the scene of hundreds of demonstrations a year, more than anywhere else in the country bar London.
The panel will answer questions submitted by the public in a debate which will be streamed live through the Sussex Police website.
Joining Professor Squires on the panel are Chief Inspector Simon Nelson, Head of Operations in 91¶¶Òõ and Hove, Sergeant Mark Redbourn from the Protest Liaison Team in 91¶¶Òõ and Hove, and Adam Bates, Head of Tourism and Leisure in 91¶¶Òõ and Hove.
Professor Peter Squires
"Furthermore protest action and policing strategies often influence one another. While public demonstrations may be a sign that a healthy culture of informed public debate exists, recent disclosures concerning 'undercover' policing practices and policing tactics when public order breaks down (about which we have undertaken research) can imply that all is not so well."
Professor Squires said: "I'm very pleased to be invited to participate in this debate forum. 91¶¶Òõ certainly has a significant number of protests and the reasons for this and the ways in which they are policed says a lot about democracy, dissent and public life. Policing protests has become controversial in recent years, raising wider questions about the legitimacy of forms of protest and the legality of policing responses.
Chief Inspector Simon Nelson said: "This is an opportunity for all sides to share their thoughts about the impact of policing protests. We would like people to join in the debate by sending in their questions and ideas so that we can put these to the panel on the day. We'll also be explaining how we work with partners to plan for these events and what happens behind-the-scenes of the policing operation to help dispel some of the myths which can surround this contentious issue."