By Bronte Woodhouse,
UWE Bristol (University of the West of England).
This extended literature review explores the impact of trauma-induced biological changes (TIBC) on male violence and aggression. Initially, thematic analysis was used to identify the relevant themes relating to the research inquiry which were then used to form the chapter titles and subheadings. The findings suggest that trauma can change biological mechanisms which can contribute to the externalisation of violence and aggression in men. The implications for this evidence are discussed in relation to the court setting in England and Wales and other western countries. The findings highlight the need for trauma-informed practices to be implemented into the criminal justice system to support the complex needs of offenders, particularly those with PTSD. The findings also emphasise the importance of conducting more research on TIBC before they are recognised in court as mitigating factors, in order to prevent unjust legal outcomes. These findings support previous research linking trauma to violent offending behaviour, emphasising the need for offenders to have access to the appropriate treatment to support their journey towards rehabilitation.
This work received the 2025 JCJD Dissertation Prize.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.16098618
By Freya Carr,
Leeds Beckett University.
The nighttime environment can be viewed as a fun social setting to enjoy a drink with friends, but it soon feels dangerous as the threat of spiking looms over women. This gendered environment, where women are repeatedly urged to look after themselves and prevent themselves from being needle spiked or having their drink spiked, has become an unsafe place where women can no longer enjoy themselves without the danger of spiking presenting itself. Expanding on current research on spiking in the night-time economy (NTE), specifically in relation to women – who have been proven to be more likely to fall victim to this crime – this research investigates how women are responsibilised to protect themselves from spiking and how perpetrators hold much less responsibility than potential victims. The Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA) of spiking awareness posters, which were collected for this research, looked closely at the presentations, language, and truth modalities of the posters, and how these combined factors responsibilised women as a result. The analysis showed that women are much more likely to be responsibilised in spiking awareness posters than men, with the force of gendered stereotypes coming into play – resultantly expressing the burden which women, as a group, must face in being their own forms of crime prevention to protect themselves, and each other, from spiking attacks. With women often being told how to behave and how to look after themselves in the NTE, these outside factors have detrimental effects on how women perceive their safety and how responsible they are for it. More research is needed, to further fully understand the extent of this issue, however this research will still unpack the issues surrounding women being responsibilised in potential spiking scenarios, and the consequences of this.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.16041644
By Ioana-Tatiana Draghici,
London Metropolitan University.
Examining the ethical and legal foundations of undercover policing, this library-based research investigates the extent to which covert police practices in the United Kingdom are ethically justifiable and effectively regulated. It focuses on the role of undercover officers (UCOs) and covert human intelligence sources (CHIS), both used in investigations involving organised crime, terrorism, and other serious offences. While these tactics may contribute to public safety, their use has raised long-standing concerns about abuse of power, emotional and psychological harm, and a lack of transparency. These issues raise serious questions about ethical policing practices and current regulations.
This study adopted a qualitative approach, drawing on UK legislation, official inquiries, academic literature, and policy documents. All material was ethically sourced and selected for relevance and credibility. The research is structured around two core questions: (1) to what extent can covert policing tactics be considered ethically justifiable, and (2) to what extent are they effectively regulated under UK law? These are explored through two central themes: ethical justification, assessing risk of harm, accountability, proportionality, and legal regulation, including human rights protection, supervision and transparency.
The findings show that undercover policing in the UK is only partially justifiable in practice. While covert tactics can disrupt serious and organised crime, their use often leads to emotional harm, particularly when informants are poorly managed. Officers and CHIS handlers also reported insufficient training and a lack of psychological support, raising concerns about their duty of care. Legally, the CHIS (Criminal Conduct) Act 2021 does not prohibit serious offences such as murder or torture, and the authorising bodies remain largely self-regulated. Victims are often not informed or offered redress, and there is no public transparency or accountability regarding informant spending. Because there is no disclosure, victims are deprived of their rights and unable to seek justice or understand the extent of their involvement in covert operations.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.16039709