Blog

In this series of blogs, HERC takes a multidisciplinary approach to exploring harmful evidence and evidencing harm. We consider the roles of harm and crime, uses and abuses of evidence in criminal justice and criminalisation to de-criminalisation.

** All views in the blogs are the author’s own.


  • SNC-Lavalin: Charges to settlement, have lessons been learned?

    In this article, Sharon Hartles and Liam Miles examine the significance of corporate criminality and leverage through the business activities of a Canadian multi-national company. Sharon Hartles was awarded an MA in Crime and Justice (with distinction) from The Open University in December 2019 and is a member of HERC. Liam Miles is a Second Year BA (Hons) Criminology student at Birmingham City University.

    22nd June 2020
  • Grenfell, three years on: let us not forget

    In this article, Steve Tombs marks the third anniversary of the fire at Grenfell Tower which killed 72 people and changed forever the lives of many more; he does so through the lens of the ongoing health crisis and the renewed critical attention to manifestations of structural racism. Steve Tombs is a Professor of Criminology at The Open University.

    12th June 2020
  • In search of the Covid–secure workplace

    In this article, Steve Tombs queries the protections offered by Government regulators to the health and safety of workers as they are forced back into work after the coronavirus lockdown. Steve Tombs is a Professor of Criminology at The Open University.

    18th May 2020
  • Lessons from COVID-19: How transformative justice and mutual aid can help to address harm in communities

    In this article, Julia Downes discusses what mutual aid groups could do to support those made more vulnerable to interpersonal and state violence during COVID-19. Julia Downes is a Lecturer in Criminology at The Open University.

    11th May 2020
  • Coping in Isolation: Time to Think – insights from Long Kesh for Lockdown 2020

    In this article, Gabi Kent discusses the development of the new OpenLearn course, based around the Time to Think archive. Gabi Kent is a Lecturer in Knowledge Exchange at The Open University.

    1st May 2020
  • Police and public relations during the COVID-19 outbreak

    Jim Turner and Camilla Elphick discuss the potential for public-police conflict, and the need for mutual public-police trust and solidarity, in the context of the COVID-19 outbreak. Jim Turner is a Senior Lecturer in Forensic Psychology and Camilla Elphick is a post-doctoral Research Associate in Psychology, both at The Open University.

    24th April 2020
  • Shut The Sites!

    In this article, Steve Tombs argues that keeping construction sites open is putting workers and their families at unncessary risk from coronavirus. Steve Tombs is Professor of Criminology at The Open University.

    21st April 2020
  • Infectious criminalisation: new waves of ‘coronavirus’ criminalisation and zemiology

    In this article, Avi Boulki considers the ways in which social harms are proliferating during the Coronavirus pandemic. Avi Boukli is Senior Lecturer in Criminology at The Open University.

    6th April 2020
  • On why REF work is ethically compromising in a post COVID-19 crisis: a very personal account

    In today's blog, Jo Phoenix considers the ethical questions surrounding the REF (Research Excellence Framework) in the context of the Coronavirus pandemic. Jo Phoenix is Professor of Criminology at The Open University.

    30th March 2020
  • Coronavirus and prisons: the need for radical alternatives

    In this week's post, David Scott and Joe Sim consider the position of prisoners in relation to Coronavirus. David Scott is Senior Lecturer in Criminology at The Open University and Joe Sim is Professor of Criminology at Liverpool John Moores University.

    27th March 2020