Criminology, Policing and Investigation research cluster

The Criminology, Policing and Investigation research cluster conducts research that seeks explanations and motivations for criminal behaviour, while also researching how criminality and criminal behaviour can be tackled to prevent its future occurrence.

Such research focuses upon structural issues as inequalities in society, as well as researching individual behaviour. Our work examines, for example, exploring the reasons for sexual offending (and attempts of subsequent control of that offending), as well as examining issues such as the criminal careers, criminology across the life course (including youth offending) as well as examining more troublesome and serious offenders, such as those exhibiting psychopathic tendencies.

Our work on policing and investigation focusses more upon how enforcement agencies (such as, but not only, the police) takes steps to prevent and detect criminal activity. Further, our research also examines the notion of policing itself, focussing upon issues of the tensions within and between police cultures, ethical codes, human rights, and police governance. We also examine issues of how do we evaluate policing and the very notions of policing by consensus and democratic policing. We also explore the very heart of police education, examining how do we best ensure that future police officers are equipped with the skills to undertake policing in contemporary society.

Our research takes us into more micro issues too, though of no less importance. For example, our work examines domestic abuse and domestic homicide, seeking news ways to tackle this persistent crime and prevent its re-occurrence. Our research also looks at crimes such as modern slavery and organised crime, seeking ways of better understanding victim identification, financial trails, and intelligence sharing. Our research also covers the investigation of crime, specifically that as it relates to evidence gathering though the interviewing of victims, witnesses and suspects of crime (whether children or adults), gaining insight into a much under-explored (but important) area of law enforcement activity.

The team