Examining laws designed to protect vulnerable people from
exploitation and grooming was the focus of a special international research event
led by leading academics and practitioners at Northumbria University.
Organised by Northumbria Law School, the event sought to
examine criminal justice and socio-legal issues connected to existing and
potential new safeguards for victims of controlling or exploitative behaviour.
The one-day session, titled: “Power Imbalance: Adult Victims
in the Criminal Justice System”, brought together academics from Northumbria
Law School with experts from across the UK and Australia.
It was funded by the Society of Legal Scholars following a
successful bid by Dr Nicola Wake, Associate Professor of Law, Professor Alan
Reed, Associate Pro Vice-Chancellor for Research and Innovation in the Faculty of Business and Law, and PhD student Sean Mennim.
Key research themes explored included preventing the
criminalisation of children who have been victims of exploitation and grooming,
coercive and controlling behaviour in intimate relationships, and criminalising
revenge pornography.
Human trafficking, vulnerability and the State and legal
approaches to protecting vulnerable victims of domestic abuse in England, Wales
and Russia were also debated.
Northumbria Police and Crime Commissioner Dame Vera Baird, an
Honorary Doctor of Civil Law at Northumbria University, attended the session,
she said: “This has been a great event funded by the Society of Legal Scholars
at my old University of Northumbria where we looked in depth at vulnerable
victims in the criminal justice system and what better mechanisms we can use to
support them. This has given rise to a number of ideas for further research
projects and collaborative work.”
Explaining the significance of the research seminar, Dr
Nicola Wake, said: “The purpose of the event has been to bring about real change
that will help disadvantaged victims, particularly adult victims, in the
criminal justice system.
“The session also formed the basis of an important special
edition of The Journal of Criminal Law with Sage Publishing, which focuses on
these topical issues and will help to raise awareness and advocate change to
the law.
“Through international collaboration, perspectives and research
between academics and law practitioners, we can help to shape this area of
criminal law for the benefit of the vulnerable in our society.
“We are extremely grateful to the Society of Legal Scholars
for recognising the importance of more study around this aspect of the law and for
their £3,000 charitable grant which enabled us to deliver the event.”
The President of the Society of Legal Scholars, Professor
Richard Taylor, said: “The Society is delighted to have been able to provide
support for this very well thought out event which examines a set of
increasingly serious problems for vulnerable people in society and which will
help in identifying effective mechanisms for their protection and safeguarding.
“The potential for academic research to improve the
situation on the ground for victims and the disadvantaged is a powerful
incentive for all legal scholars and the Society of Legal Scholars is grateful
to the Northumbria Law School for organising this very timely event.”
Associate Pro Vice-Chancellor for Research and Innovation in Business and Law, Professor Alan Reed added: “This international seminar, with
contributions from world-leading academics, presented new insights and
impactful, optimal reform options to assist the vulnerable within the criminal
justice system, and to challenge the conceptualisation and parameters of
coercive and controlling behaviour across different legal systems and
jurisdictions.”
