School of Criminology, Sociology and Social Policy

Research

Working closely with communities, partners, and stakeholders, we conduct methodologically diverse and innovative research that transforms theory, policy, and practice at local, national, and global levels. 

Our research addresses two broad themes:

Inclusive and secure societies

Working with individuals, communities and institutions, our research strives to build a society that is safe, secure, and underpinned by the principles of equality and social justice.

Beyond the gaze: working practices, safety and regulation of internet-based sex workers in the UK

Professor Teela Sanders and Dr Rosie Campbell have been funded by the ESRC to investigate how digital technologies have affected the sex industry using a participatory research methods approach which locates sex workers at the centre of the work.

We have produced the largest datasets of online sex workers and their customers in Europe, if not beyond, to expand our understanding of how the sex industry has changed and now operates. We have interviewed 55 police across 16 police forces and have some clear recommendations regarding policy and practice as police and others try to react to a fast changing industry. The project has produced safety resources for the sex work community, and good practice guidelines for health practitioners based on a collective consortium of practitioners and sex workers.

Learn more about the project or download the 5 briefings

This study will lead to the development of an outreach information service for sex workers via the internet and a Netreach toolkit for good practice guidance on models of internet outreach and working with internet-based sex workers.

Criminal justice demands

East Midlands Forensics Network

Enhancing the detection and prosecution of prolific serial offenders through crime linkage

Global Justice and Forensic Science

Qualitative and quantitative research into the motivations of offenders who carry and use acid and other corrosives in violent attacks and other criminal acts

Sex workers in crisis

Student Sex Work

Healthy, resilient and sustainable futures

Our research is building new understandings of how individuals, communities, and societies are affected by and respond to change, and how we can ensure a more healthy, resilient, and sustainable world in the face of such change.

Covid in Cartoons

Nicolas Vadot of Belgium Cartooning for PeaceThe Covid in Cartoons projects worked with young people, political cartoons and cartoonists in the UK, South Africa, Kenya and Côte d'Ivoire to foster processes of meaning-making in relation to the pandemic and peace-making.

Learn more about the Covid in Cartoons project

DREAMS

Evaluation of RECONNECT services for adult prison-leavers

From cross sectional multi level modelling to longitudinal analysis

Multidisciplinary Evaluation of Sexual Assault Referral Centres for Better Health (MESARCH)

Neurodiverse police officers and staff: The n-POLICE study

R-NEET: Protecting African youth who are NEET against depression

The Digital Ethics of Care project

The Mental Health Assessment project

The World Awareness of Children in Trauma project

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