Biography
I am a Lecturer in Criminal Justice and Policing at the University of Portsmouth’s Institute of Criminal Justice Studies (ICJS). Prior to this, I served as a PIP-2 accredited detective in the UK police service.
Throughout my 19 years’ policing career, I have enjoyed a variety of roles, including in front-line response, CID, and within the South-East Regional Organised Crime Unit’s fraud team. I trained as a family liaison officer (FLO), mobile phone examiner (triage) and in Achieving Best Evidence (ABE) investigative interviewing of children and vulnerable adults. As a Police Sector Coach and Assessor, I was also responsible for tutoring new police students and trainee detectives. During my policing career I promoted evidence-based practice as a member of the College of Policing’s Evidence Champions’ Network. I advised on the 2019’s HMICFRS focus-group inspections of police forces on fraud.
I gained my BSc (Honours) in Biochemistry from the University of Sussex and MSc degree in Counter Fraud and Counter Corruption (with distinction) from the University of Portsmouth. I am also an Accredited Counter Fraud Technician (ACFTech), Accredited Counter Fraud Specialist (ACFS), and Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE). I am also an Associate of The Royal Photographic Society.
Research Interests
I am intrigued with money laundering: understanding its criminal characteristics, the methods money launderers use, and how governments and regulatory bodies attempt to control it. My research has advanced insight into illicit offshore finance, global anti-money laundering control and the issues facing governments in tackling money laundering – important considering 2016’s ‘Panama Papers’ scandal. I am furthering research into offshore money laundering to better identify the UK’s response to this emerging problem, and currently exploring the money laundering risks associated with freeports.
- Policing.
- Financial crime.
- Anti-money laundering control.
- Illicit offshore finance and money laundering through offshore jurisdictions.
- Beneficial ownership transparency.
- Fraud investigation.
- Organised crime.
- Wildlife crime.
- Forensic photography and science-imaging techniques and their applications in criminal investigations.
I welcome proposals for research supervision in the above subject areas.
Teaching Responsibilities
I teach and assess the following modules:
- Understanding Criminology.
- Criminal Justice.
- Policing: Communities, Intelligence and Information.
- Policing: Law, Policy and Practice (from 2021).
- Organised Crime.
- Intelligence Analysis.
- Managing Intelligence.
- Management of Criminal Investigations.
- Forensic Imaging (from 2021).
Media Availability
I have made media appearances on radio and for national television, and am available to speak on areas of policing, fraud investigation, money laundering, and forensic imaging.