Category Archives: Crime Issues and Theory

Last week, the BBC published details of a long-running investigation into an MI5 agent who, it is alleged, terrorised, abused and attempted to kill an intimate partner. The BBC had further located an intimate partner in another country, with similar experiences, and suggestions of active targeting of young women, by this agent, for exploitation. TheContinue reading “24-May-22 MI5, Abuse and the Patriarchal State”

Reports from Ukraine in recent weeks evidence that, as in other conflicts around the world and through time, rape is being used as a tool of war. Traditionally, this issue has received minimal attention in the history books. Writing in 1995, Copelon (p.197) observes that: When war is done, rape is comfortably filed away asContinue reading “26-Apr-22 Sanctions for Sexual Violence in War”

Well, it’s been a year since my last blog which tells you something about juggling work and home life.  I am actually towards the end of three months research leave, a period which should involve a great outpouring of thinking and writing.  But, as other wiser colleagues had told me, and I now realise, youContinue reading “24-Apr-22 Returning, and ‘Rough Sex’”

On Monday, I was listening to Eric Nelson, defence attorney for Derek Chauvin, the Minneapolis police officer who faces three charges of second and third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter for the killing of George Floyd.  Nelson was questioning prosecution witness and Chief of the Minneapolis Police Department Medaria Arradondo, who had fired all four policeContinue reading “9-Apr-21 Escalation mentality”

On 24 September 2020, the Government introduced the Covert Human Intelligence Sources (Criminal Conduct) Bill 2019-21. The Government explained the Bill rationale as follows: Undercover operatives and agents play a crucial role in preventing and safeguarding victims from the most serious crimes, including terrorism and child sexual abuse. In order to gain the trust ofContinue reading “31-Dec-20 Criminal Conduct Authorisations”

How do we decide when the actions of the privileged are harmful? When do they also become criminal? On Friday 21 August 2020, US actress Lori Loughlin was handed a two-month jail sentence, fine and community service for her part in a college admissions scandal. Around 50 individuals have been charged following Operation Varsity Blues,Continue reading “25-Aug-20 Privilege”

On 5 August 2020, the BBC reported leaked excerpts from a forthcoming report by independent investigator Vicky Lawson-Brown into abuse of women and children within the ‘Jesus Army’ or ‘Jesus Fellowship’. Established in 1969 at a chapel in Northamptonshire, the Jesus Army grew quickly, drawing in the homeless and substance misusers, among others, to liveContinue reading “10-Aug-20 Abuse in Religious Organisations”

The BBC website reports this morning on the case of Daniel Lewis Lee who will be subject to the first federal execution in the United States in more than 17 years.  Lee and an accomplice were convicted of murdering three members of the same family. Two details stand out in the report.  First, the murdersContinue reading “13-July-20 Capital Punishment and Victims”

There is something intrinsic to our nature to seek to explain the world around us.  It is particularly satisfying to identify one simple explanation for a given scenario, and better still if that explanation can be applied to a number of similar scenarios.  In a 2000 piece (reproduced in a reader by McLaughlin and Muncie,Continue reading “1-June-20 General Crime Theory”

In an interview on Channel 4 News this week, Karolina Gerlich, executive director of The Care Workers’ Charity – and herself a care worker – was interviewed alongside Conservative MP Caroline Nokes about the points-based immigration bill, voted through the House Of Commons on Monday evening.  Immigrants need to be designated ‘skilled workers’ and earnContinue reading “21-May-20 Crimmigration”

‘Calls for a public inquiry’ is a phrase we hear increasingly.  Early in the pandemic crisis for example, there were demands for inquiries into the Government’s response. Public inquiries are set up to establish disputed facts, determine accountability, restore public confidence… prevent recurrence of events and tak[e] forward public policy” (House of Lords Select CommitteeContinue reading “19-May-20 Public Inquiries and Scandal”

I am drawing across two lecture topics delivered this week – torture and violence against women – to raise a question about definitions and power.  What we include in definitions matter; the boundary between what is ‘in’ and what is ’out’ has material impact.  So when we are trying to think critically, we should alwaysContinue reading “27-Apr-20 Violence Against Women as Torture”

It is difficult to mount a terrorism operation and certainly to run a terrorist organisation, without people, knowledge and money.  Indeed, there is much in common between licit and illicit organisations.  It’s why both management experts and criminologists have useful insights to offer on organised crime such as county lines, human trafficking operations or theContinue reading “20-Apr-20 Terrorist Financing”

Transnational crimes are different from international crimes.  The ‘trans’ prefix (from the Latin meaning ‘across’ or ‘through’) shows us that this refers to crime which is planned, executed or has an impact in more than one country.  ‘International crime’ refers generally to crimes against humanity which may involve two or more countries.  Albanese (2017) identifiesContinue reading “6-Apr-20 Transnational Crimes”

Incapacitation is a method of removing or limiting someone’s freedom such that they cannot commit further crime.  It can be seen also to protect society.  Examples include prison, electronic tagging, restraining orders or the stocks.  For white collar crimes, there is removal of license to practice or a restraint of trade order, for example. Indeed, weContinue reading “1-Apr-20 Incapacitation”

A short blog to round off the week, along the theme of interesting and emerging areas of Criminology.  Have you ever been on a crime tour?  There are plenty around the UK, including Criminal London and Gangster Tours. You might already know that there is a sub-discipline of Criminology called ‘Deviant Leisure’ (see Smith andContinue reading “27-Mar-20 Deviant Leisure”

What would I read in Criminology, if I had the luxury of more time?  One area is ‘Indigenous Criminology’ and particularly the work of academic Dr Juan Tauri at the University of Wollongong in Australia. His article, The Master’s Tools Will Never Dismantle the Master’s House: An Indigenous Critique of Criminology, published in 2018 isContinue reading “26-Mar-20 Indigenous Criminology”