At the Leicester University Department of Criminology, Claire Vanneck is reading a paper on door staff at the uni on November 10, from 1pm to 2pm.
It focuses on the regulation of the private security industry through provisions of the Private Security Industry Act 2001. It specifically addresses how the Act, which introduced occupational licensing as a mandatory requirement for many sectors of the private security industry, has impacted on the door supervisor industry or ‘bouncers’ as they are more colloquially known, and related key stake-holders in the Night-Time Economy.
About Claire Vanneck
After returning to education as a mature student in 2002 Claire graduated from the University of Leicester with a First Class BA (Hons) in Criminology, before going on to gain an MSc in Applied Criminology with distinction in 2009. Prior to returning to education, Claire worked in what is now referred to as the Night-Time Economy in a variety of positions until becoming the General Manager of a large dance music arena. Claire witnessed a distinct rise in both client-to-client and client-to-staff violence, which resulted in increased static and manned security measures. This experience has influenced her research interests and provided Claire with insight into a relatively under-researched area.
Meanwhile, a partnership between criminologists from the University of Leicester and representatives from regional criminal justice organisations will be launched from the start of the next academic year.
Neil Chakraborti and Jon Garland, senior lecturers at Leicester’s Department of Criminology, have received funding from the University’s Knowledge Exchange Stimulation Scheme to support the creation of a Partnership Against Targeted Hate (PATH), designed to offer member organisations a forum through which they can share ideas for best practice in this highly important and challenging area of policy. Dr Chakraborti’s and Mr Garland’s expertise in the field of targeted hate crime has frequently been drawn upon by policy-makers and practitioners, and the establishment of the PATH network presents them with an opportunity to share their academic knowledge with criminal justice partners keen to develop closer links and to identify opportunities for collaborative activities.
Dr Chakraborti commented: “We are excited by the potential of the PATH network to facilitate much-needed knowledge exchange amongst regional criminal justice organisations. Developing effective responses to targeted hate is a difficult and ongoing challenge, and a partnership of this nature will be of benefit in the identification and delivery of good practice”. The PATH will consist initially of six criminal justice partners from within the region, including Leicestershire Constabulary, Leicestershire and Rutland Victim Support; HMP Leicester; HMP Ashwell; Glen Parva Young Offenders’ Institution; and Northamptonshire Police.
“Combating targeted hate has increasingly become a priority for both academics and practitioners” added Jon Garland, “but all too rarely have we seen criminologists and criminal justice agencies jointly working to identify solutions. That is what makes this partnership so important.”
