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School of Criminology and Criminal Justice

Explore the pioneering work we're doing within our School of Criminology and Criminal Justice

The School of Criminology and Criminal Justice was founded in 1992 and is internationally-recognised for its study of crime, its causes, and the societal and personal impact it has. We're the largest criminology department in the UK and we have interdisciplinary expertise in criminological analysis, applied psychology, policing, community justice, penology, risk, security and international and comparative criminal justice.

Our courses and research range from criminology and criminal justice, to counter fraud, forensics, criminal psychology and cybercrime. 

Our mission

  • To enhance and develop knowledge and understanding in the field of criminal justice and criminological studies
  • To further the development of human rights, equal opportunities, integrity and fair treatment within criminal justice and related areas
  • To further the development of democratic governance and accountabilities within criminal justice and related agencies
  • To promote the interests of disadvantaged communities and groups discriminated against, by and within, criminal justice and related areas
  • To promote the development of professionalism and professionalisation within criminal justice and related agencies

Teaching

We provide high quality teaching programmes and facilities, with our well-qualified teaching staff who all have, or are working towards, Fellowship of AdvanceHE.

We have secured strategic investment for the piloting and evaluation of technology enhanced active learning within our undergraduate campus courses.

We're also the main provider of Trainee Probation Officer education in England and Wales, and in 2019 we secured contracts to deliver Police Constable Degree Apprenticeships and degree holder conversion programmes for Hampshire, Sussex and Surrey police (with consortium partners).

We use the latest technologies to deliver eLearning via dedicated tablets combined with Masterclass sessions, and many of our teaching staff are leading research academics in their fields.

We also work closely with the School of Area Studies, Sociology, History, Politics and Literature in the delivery of combined honours courses with Criminology, and with Portsmouth Law School.

To explore the full range of undergraduate and postgraduate degrees we offer, visit the Criminology and forensic studies subject area page. You can also read about our short courses and CPD programmes in criminal justice studies, or find postgraduate research opportunities on our Criminology postgraduate research degrees page.

What kind of careers can a criminology degree lead to?

Studying a degree in criminology will open you up to a wide variety of career opportunities. From policing and cyber security, to NGOs and charities, discover some of the roles you could take on, and learn how we'll support you to achieve your goals.

Simona Ciobotaru: Studying a degree here at the University of Portsmouth in our School of Criminology and Criminal Justice will open you up to a wide variety of career options.

Alexandra Hemingway: It's not always really obvious exactly what kind of job you might want to do. A lot of students do need some help or inspiration, and a lot of that comes from directly inside their course.

If they're studying forensics, they've got really good simulations where they're doing practical examples of working with a scene of crime and stuff where they're going outdoors and really taking the science outside.

Laura Haggar: We have some students who might go into the prison service. We might have students who are interested in economic crime.

Simona Ciobotaru: A lot of students can go either into cyber security, NGOs and charities. They can work for the police.

Dr Richard John: One of the great attractive measures of policing today is actually you could join with this degree as a detective or an investigator.

Becky Milne: We have a big partnership with Hampshire Police, but also police right across the country and across the globe.

Dr Craig Collie: We tend to recommend that students do a placement or some work experience so they can put some of those skills to use.

Alexandra Hemingway: For example, working with Hampshire Constabulary as well as with charities or victim support. Another option is study abroad. You could go and do potentially a semester or a year in another university and you could also pick a work placement abroad. And there have also been opportunities to work right here in the university.

Michela Scalpello: Students can move into other areas in terms of analysis, data or government.

Dr Richard John: The sky really is your limit. The university of Portsmouth gives you the skills, it gives you the confidence and it gives you that academic ability to negotiate complex and difficult issues.

Dr Craig Collie: Learning how people think and behave and understanding how you yourself react to those things work into how those jobs would work. We've just got a wonderful team who are very experienced. Our team is one of the biggest criminology provisions in the country. You can nurture that interest here with us at Portsmouth.

Facilities

The school invests in and engages with the latest technology to support our teaching and learning. We're home to facilities including:

  • The Forensic Innovation Centre
  • Hydra Immersive Learning Suite
  • Forensic Interviewing Suite
  • Technology Enhanced Active Learning

Research

We have a strong international reputation for research and innovation, which feeds into our teaching and makes a positive impact on society. 

Research groups

Explore the work we're doing across our eight groups in Criminology research

Collaboration of Forensic Interviewing Group

The Collaboration examines the best ways to elicit reliable and fulsome information from interviewees in a trauma-informed way and to ensure informed decision-making.

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Cybercrime and Cybersecurity Group

We're researching how crime takes place using technology, such as cyber fraud, hacking, online abuse, and its impact on individuals and society. 

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Economic Crime Group

We're researching the scale, impact and cost of economic crimes — such as fraud, corruption and money laundering.

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Forensic Science Group

The forensic science research group at the University of Portsmouth is using science to identify, reconstruct and inform how crime is investigated.

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Missing Persons Group

We're researching patterns of behaviour that may precede a person going missing and working to improve how cases are handled.

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Policing Research Group

We're working in collaboration with local, national and international police organisations to research the social, economic and political context in which policing operates.

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Probation, Prison and Penology Group

The University of Portsmouth is working to better understand the role of punishment & how this links with processes of justice and rehabilitation to promote change.

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Victimology and Ecological Justice Group

We're researching victims and victimisation, inequality, domestic and online abuse, ecological justice, wildlife crime and climate change.

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Paul Smith Portrait

Professor Paul Smith

Head of School

Paul1.Smith@port.ac.uk

School of Criminology and Criminal Justice

Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences

PhD Supervisor

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Nicholas John Howden Pamment Portrait

Dr Nick Pamment

Director of Innovation

Nick.Pamment@port.ac.uk

School of Criminology and Criminal Justice

Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences

PhD Supervisor

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Andrew Robert John Williams Portrait

Dr Andy Williams

Principal Lecturer

Andy.Williams@port.ac.uk

School of Criminology and Criminal Justice

Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences

PhD Supervisor

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Explore our faculty

Explore the other schools and departments that make up our Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences.

School of Area Studies, Sociology, History, Politics and Literature

Explore the School of Area Studies, Sociology, History, Politics and Literature, and find out more about the teaching and research activities happening now within the school.

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School of Education, Languages and Linguistics

Explore the School of Education, Languages and Linguistics, and learn more about the teaching and research activities that take place within the school.

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Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences

Explore more about the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, teaching and research activities taking place across the faculty's four schools and institutes.

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Contact us

To get in touch, please contact our Faculty office.

Phone: +44 (0)23 9284 2992

Email: hss-enquiries@port.ac.uk