Welcome to ICCCR

The International Centre for Comparative Criminological Research (ICCCR) is based in the Faculty of Social Sciences at the Open University. It was established in December 2003. In 2010 it was formally partnered with the Centre for Crime and Justice Studies.

ICCCR is a unique multi disciplinary and cross faculty initiative drawing on expertise from Social Sciences (social policy & criminology, psychology and sociology) and Health and Social Care (youth justice); and from the affiliated International Centre for the History of crime, policing and justice, based in the Faculty of Arts; and the affiliated Higher and Distance Education in Prison research interest group, based in the Institute of Educational Technology.

The ICCCR unites contemporary practice-based research and critical policy analysis in crime, policing and criminal justice with an awareness of historical, psychological and social contexts.

ICCCR has developed three substantive (but inter-related) areas of expertise:

• policing
• justice, rights and regulation
• prisons/penology

Coherence between these subject areas is maintained through a shared interest in comparative methodologies (historical and/or cross-cultural) and in a concern for processes of governance and regulation. Its research is aimed at academic, policy and practitioner audiences, and is disseminated via regular conferences, seminars and publications.

On these web pages you will find details about the Centre, about the interests and publications of its members and about upcoming conferences and seminars. Should you require more information, however, please do contact us.

Upcoming events

News

International Conference on leadership and standards in the police service

January 2013

Dr Louise Westmarland, Director of ICCCR, was invited to give a keynote address to the Home Affairs Select Committee International Conference on Leadership and Standards in the Police. Held in the Attlee Suite, Portcullis House, House of Commons, the event was chaired by the Right Honourable Keith Vaz MP. Other speakers included Alex Marshall, Director of the newly minted College of Policing; Sir Bernard Hogan-Howe Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police; Khoo Boon Hui, Ministry of Home Affairs, Singapore; Commissioner Bob Paulson of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police; Sir Hugh Orde, ACPO; Lord Wasserman, House of Lords and Tom Winsor, giving his first public address as newly appointed head of HMIC.

The event was attended by over 150 delegates, and reported in the press by Mail Online and The Telegraph.

Download the ICCCR Police Integrity Report (PDF document, 600 KB)

Last updated: 8 May 2013