Criminal Justice and Policing

Based on Decriminalising Abortion in the UK, edited by Sally Sheldon and Kaye Wellings, this briefing covers key messages and policy recommendations around abortion, the likely impact of decriminalisation and how to ensure effective regulation afterwards.…Read more

Eris' story is taken from Degrees of Freedom, edited by Rod Earle and James Mehigan, which documents the vital work done by The Open University in the development of prison education.…Read more

Rebecca Tomlinson, Commissioning Editor, shows how the Key Themes in Policing series addresses the huge challenges that the police service in England and Wales is facing in the current political and economic climate.…Read more

The term ‘crime’ may appear, at least at first glance, a rather simplistic concept in which particular images and ideas spring to mind. We often ask students to provide an example of what exactly constitutes a ‘crime’ and on almost all occasions responses include such criminal acts as serial murder, mass shootings, contract killings and Read More

Based on Gangs, Drugs and (Dis)Organised Crime by Robert McLean, this briefing covers contemporary British gang activity at all levels with an emphasis on involvement in organised crime, and in particular the illegal supply of drugs. Policy recommendations include addressing the root causes of crime, adopting a strategy of support for members rather than gang Read More

It is that time of year again when we are out at conferences, meeting our authors, editors, readers and making new connections. At these events, we’re often asked about becoming Bristol University Press and where Policy Press now fits. When we launched Policy Press (PP) in 1996, our very first conference was the Social Policy Read More

Did you know that, contrary to public belief, in the UK a life sentence does last for life? And that capital punishment in the UK was abolished for murder in 1965 but the Death Penalty was a legally defined punishment as late as 1998? 50 Facts Everyone Should Know About Crime and Punishment in Britain, Read More

In the light of #MeToo and similar campaigns, myths about sexual violence and domestic abuse must be explored. Rachel Fenton looks at why these myths are held and how they shape our perceptions of sexual violence.…Read more

Fiona Vera-Gray, author of The Right Amount of Panic, looks at how safety and freedom work together in women's lives.…Read more

Brenda Fitzpatrick writes a personal and powerful post about her experiences in Rwanda, what she saw and the stories she was told by survivors of ‘tactical rape’ in the immediate aftermath of the conflict in 1994.…Read more