Class of 2022
Criminology with Police Studies
IF YOU STUDIED YOUR UNDERGRADUATE PROGRAMME AT YORK ST JOHN UNIVERSITY OR FOUNDER COLLEGES, DID YOU GO ON TO POSTGRADUATE STUDY?
Yes, at York St John University
JOB:
Lecturer in Policing
WHY HAVE YOU CHOSEN THIS PHOTO AS YOUR YSJ SNAPSHOT?
My Masters graduation day was one of my most memorable experiences of my time at York St John. My Dad, brother (also YSJ alumni) and son were all present and we had a wonderful time celebrating everyone’s success.
WHAT ARE YOUR FONDEST MEMORIES OF YORK ST JOHN UNIVERSITY?
- The very last seminar I attended on our third year module ‘Death’ and our lecturer Jack Denham nipping off to buy us all coffee ready for our 90 minute writing retreat! Such a memorable way to end teaching.
- Jo Doran’s working in criminology module – it was so informative and opened so many career doors for me
- Meeting up with my little brother in the library or canteen for lunch and general study support. It’s been a family affair our YSJ experience!
WHY DID YOU CHOOSE YORK ST JOHN UNIVERSITY OR FOUNDER COLLEGES?
The support available for mature students.
WHAT HAVE YOU BEEN DOING SINCE COMPLETING YOUR STUDIES?
Since 2021, I have been working for the Independent Domestic Abuse Service in York, firstly as a Domestic Abuse Practitioner in which I qualified with Women’s Aid National Training Centre with the IDVA qualification in 2022 shortly before my degree was completed. I was promoted to Lead Practitioner for the Family Courts in 2023 and overall Manager for the HUB, Family Courts and Domestic Abuse Prevention late 2023. My work at IDAS has involved being placed and present in both civil and criminal courts, working with and leading on multi-agency working and more recently managing a team of Practitioners. I sit on the Local Family Justice Board and National Judiciary Public Panels for crime and family. I do a large amount of guest speaking at events raising awareness of the key issues surrounding domestic abuse and sexual violence.
In October 2023 I started my PhD in Criminology at York St John, which is an investigative study into domestic violence and private family law. My PhD work led me to winning an annual award with the Socio Legal Studies Association for excellence in research and publications after presenting my research poster at their annual conference at the University of Portsmouth in March 2024. Since then, I have recently been appointed as a Lecturer in Policing for a leading college of technical excellence, working alongside Humberside Police to prepare students for joining the force. I am also employed as a casual academic through York St. John lecturing on the Law in Action module and assisting with the CLOCK (community collaborative legal project) within the Universities Law Clinic.
My ongoing academic and research interests include victims experiences of both the criminal and civil courts, the policing of domestic violence and protective orders. My interests expand to the prison system – in particular women in prison, and the role of the police in tackling and preventing professional and organised crime.
WHY DID YOU CHOOSE YOUR SPECIFIC COURSE?
I wanted to invest my time in a subject that I found both interesting and rewarding, after growing up around my Dads successful career in Policing and Law. Criminology with Police Studies not only provided me with the fundamental theory surrounding issues in the criminal justice system and where that fits into society, but also the key elements needed to understand the work of the police, such as evidence led policing and community policing. I particularly enjoyed professional and organisers crime, and the Murder module which added depth to my understandings of Socio-criminological issues. My Masters qualification allowed me to specialise in a particular area of the criminal justice system and gave me the skills needed to succeed as a postgraduate researcher. This then prepared me for my PhD which is now giving me the opportunity to invest further into my specialist area within Socio-legal studies and take my academic writing to a higher level.
WHAT WERE THE BEST FEATURES OF YOUR COURSE?
A good choice of modules to specialise in, for year two and three (I chose Murder, Death, Prisons and Penology, as well as Evidence Based Policing)
Access to career information and opportunities
Excellent teaching style – lectures deliver the information and seminars cement this with peer support
Access to amazing facilities with the library and through staff
WHAT ONE PIECE OF ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO A CURRENT STUDENT, OR ONE ABOUT TO GRADUATE?
Read your feedback several times and apply it to all that you do, at every opportunity! Oh…..and also….you must always believe in yourself!