Image Courtesy: Suki Chan

Suki explains “I am creating an art installation that is about how people imagine revolution and I am asking local residents to participate. Your voices (only) will be used as part of the installation – which will be exhibited at Aspex Gallery in May to July 2012.

Those interested will be invited to a sound recording studio at the University of Portsmouth where they will be asked to describe their own modern day revolution. This might be personal, social, cultural, philosophical, technological, as well as political revolution. I am seeking a range of ideas from small personal revolutions that improve the daily life of one person, to ambitious ideas attempting to solve recurrent social ills, such as housing, distribution of money, debt, social welfare, education, the prison system, etc.”

What would you like to change?

Recording sessions will take place Oct – Dec 2011.  Place and time to be confirmed.  Each contributor will be recorded individually and each session will last max 20 minutes.

Participants will be credited as contributors to the project and will receive invites to the exhibitions.

To register your interest, please email: sukichan@hotmail.co.uk
More information on the artist: www.sukichan.co.uk

For more information on the project – see below.

A Hundred Seas Rising

Installation with sound, 100 school tables, texts and books

Inspired by Dicken’s novel, A Tale of Two Cities, A Hundred Seas Rising explores how literature might be implicated in the imagination and trajectories of revolutions. The installation will use the sound of 100 individual voices as a sculptural material, re-imagining Dicken’s revolutionary mob sonically by creating surges of ideological thought that reverberate across the gallery space.

In the summer of 1957, the Hundred Flowers Movement in China invited a variety of views and solutions to national policy issues. The name of the movement originated from a poem: “Let a hundred flowers bloom; let a hundred schools of thought contend.” This movement was the first of its kind in the history of the People’s Republic of China in which the government opened up to ideological criticisms from the general public. The campaign grew in momentum, from expressions of minor issues of a few to increasingly large numbers of intellectuals voicing their radical ideas, including the overthrowing of the government. Six weeks into the campaign, threatened by the overwhelming criticisms of the people, Mao Tse-tung, ordered a halt to the campaign. The result of the Hundred Flowers campaign was the Anti-Rightist Movement in which ideas against the government were suppressed, leading to the loss of individual rights and persecution.

Local residents, including students from the University of Portsmouth, colleges and schools will be invited to participate in the imagination of modern day revolutions. These might be personal, social, cultural, philosophical, technological, as well as political revolutions. They will be encouraged to describe the cause or structure they would like to transform, the motivating ideology for this change -including books that might have inspired their ideas, how they would mobilise others, the objectives of the revolution and how this would be achieved, i.e. through peaceful or violent means. The voice of each student will be recorded individually and each recording (edited to about 10 mins max) will be assigned to one of the school desks, arranged in rows like a classroom environment. It is intended that the students represent a cross-section of views from different cultural and social backgrounds. Teachers of the institutions may provide some guidance as to the selection of students. The topics for discussion might range from small personal revolutions that perhaps improves the daily life of one person, to ambitious ideas attempting to solve recurrent social ills, such as housing, distribution of money, debt, social welfare, education, the prison system, etc. Dicken’s own education came to an abrupt end when his father spent beyond his means and was imprisoned. In many of Dicken’s novels, socio-economic reform was a recurrent theme. It is my intention that this artwork creates an open dialogue without censorship.

The audience will be able to move amongst the rows of tables and the cacophony of voices. They would be able to choose their own path in this space, to sit at a table and intimately connect with the disembodied voice – with their unique history, their concerns. The displacement of the voice conceals the identity of the speaker and allows the voice of the “other” to be heard on equal footing. There is the possibility of hearing something you may not eventually agree with, or dedicating your time to a person who belongs to a social group you may not normally sympathise with. A transcript of the individual dialogue would be available on each table.

Sometimes the room may be quiet and only one or a few voices may be heard in different parts of the space. From those points, like a drop in the ocean creating a rippling effect, voices nearby will start to speak, as if encouraged by the first to speak out. At times, the voices may come together to form waves, surges of volume across the gallery space, drawing strength from each other as they come together, in order to be heard.  As the waves of voices gathers momentum and becomes dramatic, it may be impossible to hear any one singular voice and the audience may feel overwhelmed by the force of the voices. Then quiet once more.

As well as asserting the voice of the individual, A Hundred Seas Rising explores how the complex phenomenon of revolution might evolve in the future. The etymology of the word “Revolution” originates from the Latin verb, revolvere (to revolve). It was first used in astronomy and was applied to the motion of the planets before passing into the vocabulary of astrologers in the sixteenth century, when it came to designate abrupt and unforeseen events determined by the conjunction of planets. Political usage of the word appeared in England in the seventeenth century. During the French revolution, the opportunity to realise the Enlightenment-ideals was seized and revolution came to mean a new world order increasingly through violent means.

Image Courtesy: City Eye

The story follows an artist who has escaped his life of petty crime and gangs, and is fast becoming a rising star in the urban music scene.  During an interview his manager takes a call that rips the artist’s new life apart.  His sister Sasha, who he hasn’t seen for five years, has been found dead – an apparent victim of a knife crime.  He must return home to confront his past and go on a journey to find out what happened and who killed his sister.

Choices is a youth inclusion project made with young people from Southampton taking the lead in all aspects of film production – from story, acting, direction, camera work through to the final edit.  A truly collaborative process that tries to take a fresh look at the issue of knife crime.

The film was funded by City Eye, a leading community filmmaking resource in South East England who have been promoting video production within Southampton and the surrounding area since 1987. They are a not for profit company and receive financial support from Southampton City Council, and Screen South, the film and media agency for the South.  They exist to inspire and promote film and video culture across Hampshire and the Isle of Wight. City Eye support the community, arts organisations, and individuals, emerging and established talent in the achievement of their filmmaking goals.

A new specialist Centre of Forensic Interviewing opened on 15 December at the University of Portsmouth which will train practitioners and students in investigative interview techniques.

The Centre uses Home Office-standard state-of-the-art digital equipment to record interviews that allows real time viewing and recorded play back anywhere in the university.

It means that students and those in the profession can take what they learn in the lecture theatre and on the job and practice it for real in one of the best facilities available in the UK.

It will be used by students of criminology, psychology and law as well as members of the police, counter-fraud practitioners, security services, lawyers, and the probation service. Students and professionals alike will have the opportunity to take part in mock interviews which will be recorded in order to learn from watching, being directly involved in and allowing minute scrutiny and analysis. It will also be available for the police to interview vulnerable witnesses and suspects in cases where specialist recording is required.

The new facility is being officially today by Professor Emeritus John Grieve and will be attended by representatives from the police forces of Avon and Somerset, British Transport Police, Devon and Cornwall, Dorset, Hampshire, Kent, Metropolitan, Surrey, and Sussex.

The Centre’s leader, Dr Becky Milne, a chartered forensic psychologist and lecturer at the University’s Institute of Criminal Justice Studies, is a leading figure in police interview training, working closely with the police and other criminal justice organisations in the UK and abroad. She specialises in cognitive interviewing, witness interview and interviewing of vulnerable groups. She said: “The police interview is at the heart of every criminal investigation and doing it well is a critical tool for all those involved in the criminal justice process. We’re ahead of the game in terms of the equipment and facilities which rival the best in the world and which we can offer to all types of investigator at different stages of their career, from learning the basics to advanced interview skills. “And it’s an exciting opportunity to conduct new research in the field which will in turn help to inform the training we provide to students and interview practitioners.”

The Centre will become a venue for specialist seminars and master classes in all aspects of forensics, the first one on statement credibility by renowned Professor Gunter Kohnken from the University of Kiel, Germany.

The videos were able to be made through a grant obtained from Foundation Direct within the University of Portsmouth.  The aims of the project were to disseminate the dual benefits of higher educational study for both career and personal development.

Crime and Criminology

Counter Fraud and Criminal Justice Studies

We would welcome feedback  (sarah.charman@port.ac.uk) from any new students who watch the video before applying.

Quicklinks:

Apply for Crime and Criminology degree

Apply for Counter Fraud and Criminal Justice Studies degree

Researchers at the Centre for Counter Fraud Studies, at the University of Portsmouth, and chartered accountants and business advisers MacIntyre Hudson LLP interviewed victims of frauds ranging from those who had been sold a fake holiday to those who lost a lifetime’s business and their entire pension pot.

While the types of fraud and amounts lost vary widely, the effects are almost uniform – victims feel embarrassed and angry and most say they will never again trust people.

Mark Button, Director of the Centre for Counter Fraud Studies and a Reader at University of Portsmouth, said: “Given the common assumption that fraud is a victimless crime and after publishing several reports illustrating the financial costs of it, we felt it was important to show the devastating impact upon ordinary people this crime can often have.”

Co-author Jim Gee, Director of Counter Fraud Services at MacIntyre Hudson LLP and Chair of the Centre for Counter Fraud Studies, said: “Fraud is a pernicious problem. Its costs are social, financial and personal. At a society-wide level it corrupts human interaction and undermines good behaviour; at an organisational level it undermines the financial health and stability of companies and public sector agencies which we rely on to enjoy a proper quality of life; and at a personal level it causes real damage to the health and wealth of those who are its victims. This report exposes that serious human cost.”

The Centre for Counter-Fraud Studies was commissioned to conduct research on fraud by the National Fraud Authority and the Association of Chief Police Officers. The researchers then decided to highlight the human cost of fraud – the so-called victimless crime – by collating the transcripts of interviews with victims.

Dr Button said: “One of the striking myths about fraud is it has less impact than some other crimes. This is wrong – fraud has a devastating impact on victims and their families.”

One victim, the owner of a small design business, said being targeted by a fraudster was like being stung by a mosquito then finding out you had malaria.

He is 59 years old and was within reach of retirement when a senior member of staff, hired to help him grow his business, defrauded his company and left him on the verge of bankruptcy.

He said: “The woman who defrauded my company is pure gold-plated evil. She knew how to take us for everything. She was so good she effectively made the fraud vanish from the books, not even the receiver could bring her to account. The police said there was nothing they could do. She was untouchable.

“What she did was dreadful but it’s even worse knowing she is still out there and she will be doing it to someone else now.

“For 14 months, I could not sleep for more than two hours at a time without waking up.

“My company was worth £650,000 when she started. Within just 14 weeks we were not even worth £35,000. It had all gone.

“The thing is, in business, if competitors or suppliers know you’ve been done over they circle like sharks, they smell blood in the water and they’ll exploit your weaknesses. They see an opportunity and they’ll withhold vital funds, for example.

“On a human scale, fraud smashes into your life and destroys it. My wife and I took 31 years building the reputation of our business and our name. In the end it was the only thing that saved us. One customer who knew us well took the risk of trusting us and gave us a single order. It was the only order we’d had for months and it saved us and allowed us to start rebuilding the company.

“Until you’ve been done over you don’t have a clue. I don’t trust anyone now.

“In business you sometimes take sensible, calculated risks. But the fact I didn’t spot her evil work is frightening. You lose faith in your own ability, it’s tragic. I used to always back my own people, I was a loyal employer and hoped they would repay that with loyalty. But this woman wanted to ruin me.

“I think what the Centre for Counter Fraud Studies is doing to highlight the real cost of fraud to individuals is really important if we are ever to change things in this country. Changing the tax system would be a start.

“Despite us being the victims of fraud, it is us who are disadvantaged. It is our name and reputation that is associated with failure in the marketplace, not the fraudster’s name; it is our future business revenue which has been lost; we cannot get a business overdraft, we cannot get credit cards. This one incident of fraud has pushed us into over 75 per cent mortgage on our home as we approach retirement age.”

The Human Cost of Fraud report was written by Dr Button, Jim Gee, Chris Lewis and Jacki Tapley.

MacIntyre Hudson LLP and the Centre for Counter Fraud Studies have previously published three reports on the financial cost of fraud:

• “The Financial Cost of Fraud” in November 2009
• “The Financial Cost of Healthcare Fraud” in January 2010
• “The Financial Cost of UK Public Sector Fraud” in April 2010

They are available from http://www.macintyrehudson.co.uk/services/counter-fraud/fraud-updates/fraud-publications.

The new specially tailored courses run by the University of Portsmouth will include units on strategies to reduce the risk of offending, understanding crime and criminal behaviour, risk management, substance abuse and managing dangerous offenders.

Training is delivered by lecturers from the University’s Institute of Criminal Justice Studies who have previously worked in the probation service. The courses are available to current probation staff and those interested in joining the probation service as graduates. It marks the first time that an in-service route to full professional qualification has been available for existing Probation Service Officer (PSO) grade staff.

Barrie Crook, Chief Probation Officer from Hampshire Probation Trust said: “Probation Service staff perform an important role in our community, helping to protect the public and working to rehabilitate offenders. I’m delighted that they are to have this new training opportunity. Distance learning courses are highly flexible and allow individuals to manage their own learning around their work commitments and home lives.”

Students will complete a structured e-learning programme comprising specially tailored electronic materials and interactive exercises, supported by online seminars, regional workshops, one-to-one support and on-the-job training.

Those with a relevant undergraduate degree will study for a Graduate Diploma in Community Justice over a 15-month period. Students with no prior relevant qualifications will study for an honours degree in Community Justice completed over 27 months. Both qualifications are designed to be undertaken while in full-time employment and will lead to a full professional qualification as a probation officer.

The University will train probation staff from five regions including the South East, the South West, the North East, Wales and London under a contract with the National Offender Management Service.

Director of the University’s Institute of Criminal Justice Studies, Steve Savage, said: “We’re extremely pleased to be offering a full honours degree to raise the bar on the level of training available to probation service staff.”

Are you looking to build your knowledge and under standing of crime and security? Seeking a career or promotion in a crime and justice related profession? Want to learn where and when you like?
Thanks to flexible distance learning you can do this and much more at The Institute of Criminal Justice Studies at the University of Portsmouth.

Origins
Since it was established in 1992, the Institute has developed rapidly into one of the country’s leading centres for research, course provision and consultancy in criminal justice and policing studies. With 50 academic staff and more than 1,800 students, the Institute is one of the largest departments of its kind and has become an internationally renowned focal point for the multidisciplinary study of crime and criminal justice processes. It draws together expertise in criminological analysis, risk, counter fraud, security, international and comparative criminal justice, forensic psychology, police governance and management.

Over the years, many hundreds of students have become graduates or postgraduates of the University and many of these are now in key positions. Our activities embody a commitment to quality and diversity, coupled with a strong value-base which prioritises human rights, good governance and professional standards.

Develop your own judgement
Criminal justice and security professionals operate in an increasingly complex national context. Much policy in this area is driven by government emphasis on the need for partnerships to reduce crime and disorder, and the foundation on which these partnerships rest is that of human rights.

The relationship between citizens and both the public and private sector is always important. For example, the UK’s Human Rights Act gave citizens the right to expect a minimum standard of service from the public sector and the private sector is the subject of increasing regulation. Linked with that is the importance attached to consultation and empowerment – a crucial strand in reducing crime and disorder and increasing security. The diverse national and international context, coupled with the trend in multi-agency approaches to criminal justice, creates a need for professionals who are able to understand and respond to these demands. Studying for a qualification will help you to gain a broader perspective of the landscape where you might be employed and an informed understanding of issues relating to policing, crime and justice in today’s society.

Our courses
We offer several undergraduate and postgraduate degrees via distance learning, enabling you to study at your own speed while you are working. If you believe you have already undertaken relevant studies, or had experience equivalent to university study, you may be entitled to credits for relevant prior learning. Of particular interest to those leaving the armed forces would be:

BSc (Hons) Risk and Security ManagementBSc (Hons) Crime and CriminologyOther courses which may be of interest to you are:
BSc (Hons) Counter Fraud and Criminal Justice StudiesMSc International Criminal JusticeMSc Counter Fraud and Counter Corruption StudiesMSc Criminology and Community Safety/Criminal Justice/Criminal PsychologyMSc Security ManagementBSc (Hons) Digital Forensics (full-time course)MSc Forensic Information TechnologyMSc Forensic Accounting

Ensuring that you have both the most rewarding and effective learning experience is our greatest concern. Our flexible programmes and fantastic support means that you can study from any location – not only in the UK but also from abroad – and at a pace which allows for fluctuations in your workload and personal life.

Studying at the Institute of Criminal Justice

Induction
We offer a comprehensive induction and re-induction programme at the beginning of the academic year where you are invited, if possible, to attend for two days. We have the opportunity to get to know each other and guide you through the course requirements.

High quality materials delivered to your door
Drawing upon our experience, you will receive well designed, tailor-made and high quality course materials to guide you through each unit of study.

Virtual learning
Our online learning centre will provide you with access to course materials, allow you to communicate with the tutors and other students and discuss and present your work.

Proactive and responsive support and advice
Support for students is essential to the success of our programmes and this is provided through a range of services delivered by ICJS and the wider University. This includes ‘live’ evening online seminars

Student conferences
Held annually at the University, student conferences enable you to attend lectures, seminars and workshops, as well as meet staff and other students on our courses. Lectures are given by staff, other eminent academics and researchers and key figures in criminal justice and security.

Access to our electronic library
You will also receive induction material at the beginning of the course that will guide you through registering and accessing the distance learning facilities offered by the University Library. These include access to online journals. It will also gain you access to services at libraries that may be closer to home.

Contact Us

For further details on courses or making an application
Telephone: + 44 (0)23 9284 3933
Fax: + 44 (0)23 9284 3939
Email: icjsonlinehelp@port.ac.uk
Web: Courses: http://www.port.ac.uk/departments/academic/icjs/courses/
News: http://www.port.ac.uk/update/category/humanities/criminology/

A new report on converged security threats is designed to act as a foundation stone to help businesses ensure their real and virtual assets are protected.

One of the key recommendations is businesses should appoint a single chief of security who can take responsibility for both physical and online assets, as well as the increasingly complex area of compliance security.

The report was co-authored by the University of Portsmouth’s Institute of Criminal Justice Studies, Price Waterhouse Coopers, the National Federation of Fraud Forums, the Information Security Awareness Forum and the Institute of Information Security Professionals.

Azeem Aleem is Director of the Security Institute and Principal lecturer in internet security at the University of Portsmouth.

He said: “Most of the IS disasters exposed these days are result of vulnerabilities present at human level on the social and technical levels. To mitigate these threats, having a converged security approach to identify the risks is an essential element.

“To counter these threats we must keep ahead of those who attack us because the concept of security has now expanded way beyond the traditional remit into areas like brand and IP protection, corporate espionage, social-engineering, and cyber mules linked closely with organised crime.

“The report raises the concerns that while many security departments are so busy fighting day-to-day crises that they tend to miss less obvious threats, especially the overlap of security risk between real and virtual worlds.”

The report seeks to help IT professionals and management better understand the myriad security issues created by the increasing demands placed on physical and information security resources – and explain how to counter threats effectively, he said.

The report argues that those in charge of risk need to challenge the way they think and work in four key areas:

• Ensure wider understanding about all other areas of the company;
• Build in clear and repeatable processes, rather than ad hoc solutions to individual challenges;
• Share information, integrate processes and streamline reporting across the company;
• And have the humility to accept when other risk priorities come above one’s own function for funding or management attention.

The report also includes a survey of business owners on the impact the economic downturn has had on their company’s security. About 7,200 respondents, more than half, say risk has increased, regulations have become more complex and burdensome, and cost cutting has made it harder to achieve a good level of security.

Dr David King, chair of the ISAF, said the report will act as a foundation stone for IT and other professionals to build the innovative security defences needed in a ‘modern connected’ business world.

He said: “The major security problem that all IT managers are now encountering centres on the blended threats that cyber-criminality and hacker attacks now pose most businesses.”

The report also details structural vulnerabilities created by IT-enabled modern offices and their buildings such as access control, air-conditioning, CCTV and fire alarms, and looks at ways to better defend them.

Professor Paul Dorey, chairman of the Institute of Information Security Professionals, said: “Our opponents have no departmental barriers or concerns over responsibilities. Only by working closely with our security and risk colleagues will the protection of our businesses be equally joined-up.”

She is a member of the Academic Board and the Membership Team of the Security Institute and is also a published author with works including ‘The Sage dictionary of Policing’ (2009) and ‘Selling security’ (2003) which was shortlisted for the British Society of Criminology Book Prize.

In a recent interview with online magazine ‘Professional Security’ Alison spoke with enthusiasm about the Security industry:

“It’s amazing how the industry has evolved…I’m very excited about the possibilities for research looking at the strategic areas of the sector, each type of corporation has different security needs and buys different commercial security services. Those services evolve with the changing business environment and more global working: and security plays a big part in business’ strategic development, such as movement into overseas markets”.

The article also mentions how Alison hopes to encourage more people to enter the industry as graduates, rather than via the army or Police and also to improve the quality of careers information, internships, people in the industry helping starters and mentoring. She has started interviewing heads of corporate security and directors of commercial security companies to try and capture, first hand, how the industry is developing and also aims to highlight the scale of the industry’s contribution to crime control globally.

Alison’s tasks will involve teaching and assessment (both via distance learning and on campus), course management and research and external/practitioner links to raise the profile of the university.

Quick Links:

For a review of Alison’s publications:selected publications

MSc Security Management

Published in Policing: An International Journal of Police Strategies and Management in 2007, the author Philip Carlan finds that officers felt that the degree substantially improved their knowledge of criminal justice areas and their abilities with regard to conceptual and managerial skills.  Officers felt that their studies had played a key role in the furtherance of their knowledge of law and criminal justice.  Improvements were also felt in communication skills, critical thinking skills, administration skills and human relations skills.

A recent report from the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development recently highlighted the importance of higher education in these uncertain economic times.  “As we emerge from the global economic crisis, demand for university education will be higher than ever,” OECD Secretary-General Angel Gurría said. “To the extent that institutions are able to respond, investments in human capital will contribute to recovery.”  They go on to say that graduates benefit from higher salaries, better health and less vulnerability to unemployment.

Studying part time and via the medium of distance learning, students can continue with their current job and can at the same time be safe in the knowledge that they are doing what they can to further their professional development.  With a long history of delivering distance learning degrees to the justice sector, theInstitute of Criminal Justice Studies ensures the support is there when it is needed.

Quicklinks:
MSc International Criminal Justice (fully online)
MSc Policing, Policy and Leadership (fully online)