Institute of Social Justice and Crime: Case Studies

HUM Place-Based Emerging Leaders Model 

Led by Dr Mirna Guha and Dr Katherine Allen

The Institute for Social Justice and Crime (ISJC) at the University of Suffolk collaborated on a Medical Research Council-funded project to transform outcomes for Black, Asian and minoritised women affected by domestic abuse and sexual violence and promote equal access to much-needed services.

Led by Dr Mirna Guha, from Anglia Ruskin University, and Dr Katherine Allen, of the ISJC, the project addressed stark inequalities in access to specialist services across the East of England, working collaboratively with Black, Asian and minoritised women leaders in the domestic abuse and sexual violence sector to build capacity and community, counter professional isolation and support networking.

In addition to co-producing series of leadership workshops tailored to local needs and issues, the project founded a regionally pioneering community of practice for Black, Asian and minoritised women leaders, promoting long-lasting impact following the close of the project.

Research findings underlined the transformative potential of Black, Asian and minoritised women’s leadership at a regional level, and the scope for amplifying and scaling up this impact by continuing to support emerging leaders with capacity and community-building. 

Building on developing connections and fostering ongoing knowledge exchange opportunities, the project continues to promote regional change via workshops with community of practice members, supported by impact funding from Anglia Ruskin University.

Operation Soteria

Led by Professor Miranda Horvath and Dr Linda Cooper [Institute for Social Justice and Crime (ISJC), University of Suffolk]

Operation Soteria was a UK Home Office-funded programme designed to improve the investigation of rape and serious sexual offences (RASSO) in England and Wales. It took a multi-disciplinary approach, working with policing practitioners and academics applying a six-pillar method to organisational change with police forces.

The research informed the new RASSO National Operating Model which has been implemented in all 43 police forces in England and Wales. Staff from the Institute for Social Justice and Crime (ISJC) were integral to this programme and based on the original work, Professor Miranda Horvath and Dr Linda Cooper were awarded additional funding* from the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) to undertake secondary analysis of Operation Soteria data.

Professor Horvath is the co-lead for suspect focused investigations and disrupting repeat suspects. Analysis focuses on: 1) victims and victim experiences, including how different victim experiences intersect with investigations; 2) investigative and institutional challenges associated with RASSO cases, and; 3) assessing and predicting suspect risk. The findings will provide recommendations to support evidence-based policing and contribute to our understanding of sex offending.

Dr Cooper is co-lead for understanding officer learning, development and wellbeing. Findings from the original report highlighted the lack of capacity and capability in forces to cope with the complexity of RASSO investigations, creating both limited training and development opportunities and an unwell workforce. The secondary analysis aims will provide greater understanding of the symptoms of RASSO officer burnout and provide effective preventative strategies.

* It is essential that we acknowledge in this case study that the funding for Miranda’s is held at Middlesex University and for Linda’s at Anglia Ruskin University and we are co-investigators but we weren’t sure how best to do this hence this footnote.* The additional funding for Dr Horvath is held at Middlesex University and for Dr Cooper is at Anglia Ruskin University.