By Liliana Nikai,
London Metropolitan University.
This research aims to understand how the police in the United Kingdom respond to victims of human trafficking, how well they identify and support victims, and what challenges police face. These aims are important given the complex nature of human trafficking, which is driven by global push and pull factors such as poverty and demand for cheap labour and sexual services. While the Modern Slavery Act 2015 and the National Referral Mechanism have strengthened the institutional response, significant issues remain. Both the police and existing legal frameworks often misidentify (e.g., as migrant smugglers and prostitutes) and criminalise victims, have deficient police training, and lack effective multi-agency cooperation. Some progress has occurred, but structural obstacles remain to prevent victim-oriented and trauma-sensitive approaches. The study presents recommendations that aim to improve victim protection methods and enhance police operations. The study adopts a library-based methodology, relying on secondary sources such as academic journals, government publications, and NGO reports to provide a comprehensive overview of the current landscape and ongoing debates.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.15863062
By Thomas Leggett,
Leeds Beckett University.
This dissertation examined the methods paedophile hunters employ during their investigations and sting operations, with particular note to the contentious aspects of their practice and how these practices can delegitimise their work. This project utilises an integrative literature review methodology to apply empirically tested theoretical knowledge to this contemporary topic in order to contribute to the base of knowledge. The main themes identified in this project were: online public shaming, disintegrative shaming, inconsistent investigations, and poor accountability and transparency. This project proposes a harm reduction approach to paedophile hunting in which the aim is to legitimise paedophile hunter groups through concentrating on intelligence collection and ceasing practices which can cause harm. This proposition highlights the inadequate elements of paedophile hunter practice and seeks to ameliorate these aspects of practice in order to reduce harm to the targets of their investigations and their families, the criminal justice system, and the paedophile hunter groups themselves.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.15862937
By Emily Barclay,
Bournemouth University
Evidence suggests rates of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) are disproportionately high among women with a history of offending. Evidence also suggests that if women were treated for their ADHD, criminality could be reduced by approximately 41%. Despite this, these women are under researched, underdiagnosed and under treated.
Semi-structured interviews of four professionals and practitioners who work around these women were used to investigate the awareness, attitudes, and the provision of support for these women.
The findings reveal a pervasive lack of awareness about ADHD in women, compounded by inadequate training and persistent stigma and misconceptions within the CJS. The study highlights how these issues result in poor identification and support for women with ADHD, exacerbating their challenges within the CJS. Additionally, the research uncovers the impact of prioritizing other factors such as substance misuse, domestic abuse, and child welfare over the ADHD needs of these women.
The insights gained underscore the necessity for comprehensive and mandatory training tailored to ADHD, improved screening and identification processes, and enhanced support mechanisms within the CJS. This research addresses a critical gap in the literature and provides a foundational step towards more effective interventions and policy developments to better support women with ADHD in the criminal justice system.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.15863014