This week’s blog for the ‘staff in the spotlight series’ needs little introduction to many. Dr Anne Eason is our much loved and respected Associate Director of Policing at UWE, with extensive academic and operational experience within criminal justice, ranging from probation and assessment and management of high risk of harm offenders, to research in police decision making in domestic abuse and violence against women and girls. Anne represents the true essence of a ‘pracademic’ and has just published her second book with co-author Dr Rob Starr, entitled ‘The University Beat: Critical Reflections on the Delivery of Police Education In England and Wales.’ This book explores how the new degree routes draw together the evidence-based approaches of policing practices into a framework for educational study that meet policing needs, celebrating and drawing on the conceptual knowledge gained by UWE. And, for those of you that were wondering, her first book was ‘The Police Officers Guide to Academic Research.’
Anne embodies the perfect balance of practical expertise and academic insight, and since 2019 has been the cornerstone that has united and led so many, in partnership with UWE and Avon and Somerset Police, through the journey of professional policing degrees. We really enjoyed learning more about our Associate Director and we are sure that you will too. Over to you Anne…
Could you tell us a little bit more about your role at UWE and the programmes you are involved with?
I am one of two Associate Directors of Policing and I am responsible for the strategic development of the PCDA and DHEP programmes (and more recently the PCEP) delivered in partnership with Avon and Somerset Police. I joint manage the policing team who teach, are part of the tripartite team and our administrator (who is the backbone of the EPA!) and develop new projects, programmes and research opportunities. Impressive huh?
What previous experience do you bring to the role?
My criminal justice background initially started when working within the drugs and alcohol arena. I used to run the needle exchanges and encountered many different people. Some from the sex industry, some from everyday jobs and homes, some who had been convicted of crimes. The latter really interested me and I soon started doing some voluntary work with the Probation Service. A few years later I did my training and worked with those who had committed a range of offences, but mainly violence and sexual violence.
As a Senior Probation Officer I was able to take a more strategic role public protection and multi-agency working, particularly MAPPA and really enjoyed empowering others to make change. In 2011 I took my first academic role teaching on a Police Foundation degree and an Offender Management degree and have been in academia since.
What do you enjoy about working on the policing programmes?
Let’s face it, crime and criminality is much more sophisticated, the intersectionality of victims is diverse, and the criminal justice sector has to respond to these intelligently and empathically. The policing role demands a better understanding of the issues that underpin crime and victimhood as well as a greater knowledge about crime itself; digital, cyber, domestic abuse, honour-based violence…the list goes on.
The best thing about working in this role is giving police officers the opportunity to develop their skills and knowledge about crime, victims and criminality in the depth that allows them to make informed decisions about complex problems.
Our programmes offer the evidence-base and practical skills needed to tackle these challenges. Being able to accredit all this into a programme of study is a well-deserved award that they can take with them on their professional journey, but more importantly, can use from the outset.
What do you consider to be your areas of specialism and research interest?
Risk and risk management, trauma informed practices and police education. I like to think of myself as a pracademic, someone who can operationalise theory into practice, and see that as all part of my magic power.
What is your funniest or favourite ‘on the job’ experience?
I don’t think I should talk about my funniest experience as this is a family Blog! However, one of my favourite experiences is graduation, seeing the look on some of our graduates’ faces realising what they have achieved.
It is a great privilege to be invited to their in-house ceremony and I always feel quite humbled saying a few words in celebration.
What’s one book or movie that has profoundly changed your perspective on policing and related issues?
Hot Fuzz! I didn’t realise police officers could jump over hedges so well! Haha
Rob Reiner in his book, The Politics of the Police, helped me understand some of the cultural nuances of policing, and how and why the ‘police family’ has to exist (to a certain extent anyway). I also really like Matthew Syed’s Black Box Thinking which is on our students reading list too.
If you had to eat one food for the rest of your life what would it be?
Cheese, definitely cheese. Cheese on toast, macaroni cheese, steak with stilton – just any cheese really…accompanied by a glass of Malbec of course!
Editorial Team
Paul Williamson (Editor-in-Chief); Claudia McCready (Lecturer); Claire Bowers (Senior Lecturer); Eve Smietanko (Joint Programme Leader & Senior Lecturer); Ian Lowe (Senior Lecturer) & Micah Hassell (Senior Lecturer).
If you would like to be a guest blogger, please contact Police.Blog@uwe.
