Biography

John is a Senior Lecturer in Police Studies within the ICJS.

He was awarded his MSc (with distinction) in Criminology and Criminal Justice by the University of Surrey, and his PhD in the discipline of Sociology also by University of Surrey with research concerning police investigative techniques and guidance, and homicide investigation in the UK and US.

Before joining the team in ICJS, he was a senior police detective and subsequently was employed for 6 years as an associate tutor by the College of Policing to train senior homicide detectives on the SIO Development Programme.  He is currently a member of the National Policing Childhood Death Working Group and has represented ACPO on various Government working parties and committees concerning child abuse and related issues. From 2001 to 2003 he was Lord Laming’s police advisor and assessor, on the Victoria Climbie Inquiry. He has carried out a number of Serious Case Reviews into child deaths.

As well as teaching at the University of Portsmouth, John has been an adjunct professor with Fairleigh Dickinson University, New Jersey teaching online courses in Comparative Criminal Justice Systems and Criminal Profiling at both undergraduate and graduate levels, and was an associate tutor with the University of Surrey. He has also been employed as a visiting professor at the John Jay College of Criminal Justice in New York City teaching Comparative Criminal Justice.

Research interests

• Police occupational culture
• Child Death Investigation
• Surveillance society
• Discretion in police investigation
• Police training and guidance
• Police oversight