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Wolfson Research Institute for Health and Wellbeing

Wolfson Fellow

Dr Nicole Westmarland, BSc, MA, PhD, PGCert

Personal web page

Telephone: +44 (0) 191 33 46833
Senior Lecturer in Criminology in the School of Applied Social Sciences
Telephone: +44 (0) 191 33 46833
Room number: 32 Old Elvet: Room 008

(email at nicole.westmarland@durham.ac.uk)

Biography

My research consists of around thirty research and consultancy projects in the field of male violence against women. I am particularly known for my work on rape, domestic violence and prostitution which has underpinned a number of policy changes and which I have spoken about all over the world. Many of my research reports are available on my personal website (link above). Currently my largest research project is to manage the Durham part of ‘Project Mirabal’ which is a large programme of research (nearly £1.5million in total) multi-university, multi-site, longitudinal study into domestic violence perpetrator programmes.

In the School of Applied Social Sciences I teach on the MSc Criminology and Criminal Justice and convene and teach the Violence and Abuse module. I supervise PhD researchers in a range of topics (listed below) and am very to discuss postgraduate study on any form of gender-based violence.

Alongside Professor Simon Hackett, I am Co-Director of a new research centre – Durham Centre for Research into Violence and Abuse (Durham CRiVA). The CRiVA webpages will be launched in March and a formal CRiVA launch will take place in May. If you are interested in becoming a member and receiving an invite to the launch please email durham.criva@durham.ac.uk. We particularly welcome membership applications from students and from people who work outside academia.

I hold the position of Deputy Director of Research in the School of Applied Social Sciences where I am responsible for research impact. I also work at a faculty and university level on strategies to maximise the impact of research. I strongly believe that academic research should be used to create positive ‘real world’ social change and it is this that drives my personal research agenda.

My academic advisor and consultancy positions, include current ones to the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO), Rape Crisis (England and Wales), and Vera Baird QC, Police and Crime Commissioner for Northumbria Police. I am also a Fellow of Durham Universities Wolfson Research Institute for Health and Well-Being.

Previously, I was Special Advisor to the Government’s Victims of Violence and Abuse Prevention Project and chaired one of its Expert Groups. My research has directly underpinned two major government policy reform processes (HM Government Stern Review into Rape and the Home Office Coordinated Prostitution Strategy). I held the voluntary position of Chair of Rape Crisis (England and Wales) for five years.

Research Groups

School of Applied Social Sciences

Research Projects

School of Applied Social Sciences

  • A detailed Mapping IPV Services in the North East
  • North East Conferences on Sexual Violence
  • The development and piloting of tools to measure the impact of Rape Crisis intervensions on health, mental health and well-being
  • The Outcome of Men's Participation in RESPECT
  • Understanding Rape in West Yorkshire
  • What do perpetrator programmes add to co-ordinated community responses to domestic violence?

Research Interests

  • All forms of violence against women (particularly sexual and domestic violence)
  • Domestic violence perpetrators
  • Women and human rights
  • Activists movements (particularly the feminist movement)

Teaching Areas

  • Discovering Society
  • Issues in Criminal Justice

Selected Publications

Articles: magazine

Books: edited

Books: sections

  • Westmarland, Nicole (2008). Preface. In Rape Crisis: Responding to Sexual Violence. Jones, H. & Cook, K. Dorset: Russell House Publishing.
  • Westmarland, N. & Gangoli, G. (2006). Approaches to Prostitution. In International Approaches to Prostitution: Law and Policy in Europe and Asia. Westmarland, N. & Gangoli, G. Bristol: Policy Press.
  • Westmarland, N. (2006). From the Personal to the Political: Shifting Perspectives on Street Prostitution in England and Wales. In International Approaches to Prostitution: Law and Policy in Europe and Asia. Gangoli, G. & Westmarland, N. Bristol: Policy Press. 21-43.
  • Radford, J. & Westmarland, N. (2005). In memoriam: Sue Lees (1941-- 2002), her life, research and influence. In Researching Gender Violence: Feminist methodology in action. Skinner, T., Hester, M. & Malos, E. Devon: Willan Publishing.

Journal papers: academic

Reports: official

Show all publications

Media Contacts

Available for media contact about:

  • Criminology: Violence against women, in particular rape, domestic violence, prostitution.
  • Sociology: Violence against women, in particular rape, domestic violence, prostitution.
  • Social Policy: Family, youth, race & gender issues: Violence against women, in particular rape, domestic violence, prostitution.
  • Social sciences: Violence against women, in particular rape, domestic violence, prostitution.
  • Gender and law: Violence against women, in particular rape, domestic violence, prostitution.
  • Government: Violence against women, in particular rape, domestic violence, prostitution.
  • Human rights: Violence against women, in particular rape, domestic violence, prostitution.
  • Law & Crime: Violence against women, in particular rape, domestic violence, prostitution.
  • Politics & Society: Violence against women, in particular rape, domestic violence, prostitution.