Policing our Prisons

This talk will consider whether police decision-making can be improved by using Virtual Reality (VR).
Police decision-making is sometimes about enforcing the law and sometimes about acting for the greater good. But how should officers practice decision-making about police sexual misconduct?
Recent appalling cases of serving officers such as Wayne Couzens who raped and murdered Sarah Everard and serial rapist David Carrick could have been prevented if colleagues challenged their behaviour earlier.
Police culture, decision-making and ethics will be discussed, with the proposal that practising ‘practical wisdom’ in a virtual environment is a plausible use of this developing technology.

Prison is often seen as a solution to crime, but for many women, it’s a revolving door that leads to more harm than rehabilitation. In England and Wales, the majority of incarcerated women serve short sentences for non-violent offences, yet these sentences do little to address the root causes of their offending—such as trauma, domestic abuse, and mental health struggles. The consequences are devastating: high reoffending rates, broken families, and an alarming rise in self-harm and violence behind bars.
So, what works better? Evidence suggests that community-based alternatives—offering tailored support, rehabilitation, and stability—can be far more effective in breaking the cycle of imprisonment. Providi ng women with the right resources, rather than placing them in environments that reinforce disadvantage, leads to better outcomes for individuals and society as a whole. With growing political interest in reform, now is the time to rethink our approach. Should we continue locking women up, or should we invest in solutions that actually work? Join me as we explore the science behind what helps—not harms—women in the justice system.

Prisons is the UK are often squalid. I will show you various photographs to show it! Prisons are often overcrowded, understaffed, loud, violent places, that fail to prepare offenders for a better life outside. Does it have to be that way? Can we do better? This talk will take you to the Nordic countries where prisons are often 'nicer': smaller, better equipped and seemingly more successful. What is the secret of their success? Can we learn from their experience?