Sexual Offences - policies, support, and investigation

Student sexual assault victimisations are a major issue within UK higher education institutions (HEI).

Students who experience victimisation may seek support from staff members at the institution they study at. This creates concerns around whether institutions and their staff are adequately prepared to handle sexual assault disclosures. This research used a survey to investigate staff knowledge of their institutions’ sexual assault policies, resources, and safeguarding frameworks, and whether they perceive these to be effective.

Findings indicate that staff lack confidence in their knowledge of these and believe policies, resources, and safeguarding frameworks are not implemented effectively. However, receiving training is shown to be a method of improving staff knowledge in these areas. While limitations of the study are recognised, it underlines the importance of gaining staff perspectives when reflecting on institutional responses to sexual assault.

About the Speaker:
I'm a final-year Criminology with Psychology student, and I am the student representative for my course. Topics I've been interested in throughout university include gender-based violence, trauma, and mental health, which contributed to my chosen topic for my dissertation. Following my undergraduate degree, I plan to do a Masters, with the hope of working for a victim support organisation in the future.

This research project aims to address the mental health needs of individuals who experience sexual attraction to minors, referred to as Minor Attracted Persons (MAPs).

Despite pervasive societal stigmatization and misconceptions, MAPs represent a diverse group, including those who actively seek support to manage their attractions and avoid engaging in harmful or illegal behavior. The project proposes the development of an innovative online platform, providing anonymous forums for MAPs to access mental health professionals and peer-to-peer support networks. Through a series of studies, the project seeks to understand the specific needs of MAPs, explore challenges faced by therapists in supporting this population, and develop a functional prototype of the online platform.

By fostering a supportive and non-judgmental environment, the project aims to empower MAPs to navigate their attractions, address mental health issues, and reduce the risk of harmful behaviors. Ultimately, the research contributes to destigmatizing discussions surrounding MAPs and promotes the provision of empathetic and effective mental health support for this marginalized population.

About the speaker:
I obtained my Bachelor with Honours in Criminology and Criminal Justice from Griffith University in 2018 and my Master in Criminological Research from The University of Cambridge in 2020. My first thesis was focused on exploring prevention mechanisms for child sexual abuse, utilising offenders as a source of expert knowledge, through a situational crime prevention framework. The second involved understanding the types of relationships that sex offenders develop while imprisoned in a vulnerable prisoners unit and the types of support they offer each other as it has a significant impact on their prison experience which influences the reintegration process. Currently, I am a PhD student at the university exploring non offending minor attracted people and looking at mental health preventative measures.

Ever wondered about how forensic investigators use insects at crime scenes?

Aside from working out how long a body has been dead, insects have even more potential in forensic investigations. Complex crimes, like sexually motivated murders, are often difficult to investigate, and typically rely on bodily fluids such as semen to identify the offender.

Come and join us for a pint and find out just how useful insects can be!