By Alice Preston,
UWE Bristol (University of the West of England).
This dissertation explores the environmental impacts caused by warfare and examines the disproportionate impact of these harms on women. An interdisciplinary approach drawing on green criminology and feminist frameworks examines conflict-driven environmental damage and how it creates unique vulnerabilities for women and exacerbates existing gender inequalities. The dissertation identified critical links between militarism, environmental degradation and gendered vulnerabilities through a systematic literature review and thematic analysis of international case studies. The intersection of environmental justice and gender justice is evaluated, arguing that traditional criminological frameworks tend to overlook the impacts of warfare on marginalised populations and non-human species. This dissertation identifies a need for more inclusive and gendered approaches to post-conflict environmental recovery and policy development.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.16035483
By Sorcha Sexton,
Leeds Beckett University.
This research study is concerned with spiking, specifically focusing on female victimisation. The objective of the research is to investigate the effectiveness of contemporary legislation and anti-spiking practices in protecting women and girls from spiking in England and Wales. This research addresses the limited existing literature on spiking’s impacts on women. This is despite data published showing the repeated trend in female victimisation and increases in its occurrence. The aim of this research is to gather public perceptions of the gaps in legislation and measures to reduce spiking, and to obtain recommendations for increasing protection of women from spiking, whilst simultaneously reviewing the limited existing data on anti-spiking practices by implementing feminist theory.
The approach taken to gather data was a qualitative feminist interviewing process. Findings from this were thematically analysed to produce four key areas of focus: knowledge of spiking, legislation, gendered opinions, and recommendations for change. The compelling findings from this study argue for the introduction of a specific clear and coherent anti-spiking law, to empower victims and give them the confidence to report spiking, providing for better data collection for a more accurate depiction of this societal issue. Alongside new legislation, there is a need for further education and awareness into spiking, to quash the spread of misinformation. Safety will be increased with the implementation of physical measures including CCTV, spiking inhibitors, and increased physical searches to minimise spiking instruments inside venues.
In conclusion, this study provides an insight into perceptions the public have on spiking, its prevalence, and the need for further protection. The gendered lens allowed for a feminist standpoint drawing the difference between gendered attitudes and opinions towards spiking and what can be done to protect women.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.15927116
By Grace Elizabeth Moore,
Leeds Beckett University.
This dissertation aims to explore the harms caused to young people by Child Criminal Exploitation from within County Lines drug gangs. It aims to review academic literature such as journal articles and books to gain an understanding of the severe implications that this type of exploitation can have. This project uses government reports and evaluations to develop knowledge around the effectiveness of responses implemented by the government to reduce this threat. This is because county lines gangs target vulnerable young people and children and proceed to coerce and manipulate them into criminal activities. They then use extreme violence and intimidation to ensure the young people are unable to leave and reach support. It was found that young people are manipulated through grooming tactics that are based on their perceived vulnerability such as a lack of parental supervision. Also, there is a significant impact on the role that the social environment and community has on how young people end up trapped within county lines gangs. Moreover, another main finding was the damaging physical and psychological harm that is inflicted on young people throughout their engagement with gang members. Also, within chapter 2, it was found that there have been improvements in supporting young people after they have been exploited, but an overall lack of provisions for preventing child criminal exploitation in the first place which identifies where progress needs to be made within tackling county lines gangs. Therefore, further research should prioritize investigation into how social inequalities leads young people to engage in county lines gangs and criminal activities.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.15863105