ONGOING | COMPLETED |
VUB Strategic Research Programme: Crime & Society: New Challenges
Description: The SRP "Crime& Society: New challenges" aims at building on the increasing cooperation between our four lines of research (penality, youth studies, policing and security, crime and the city) to approach cutting-edge areas in criminology and society in an integrated manner. The programme focuses on the experiences of both clients and crime control/public order professionals with human rights, technology and social exclusion, and on how these experiences shape their practices. We also aim at reflecting more in-depth on the methodological, ethical and theoretical implications of our approach.
Outputs: Academic publications in national and international journals, seminars, workshops and conferences; science communication to stakeholders
Coordinator: Sonja Snacken (Programme coordinator), An-Sofie Van Houche (Scientific Coordinator), Mirko Miceli (Project Manager)
Members:
Group leaders: Kristel Beyens, Jenneke Christiaens, Sofie De Kimpe, Els Dumortier, Els Enhus, Lucas Melgaço, Sonja Snacken
Postdoc researchers: Diete Humblet (empirical human rights), Lior Volinz (technology), Yana Jaspers (social exclusion), An Nuytiens (methodological, ethical, theoretical implications)
Funding: VUB
Duration: 5 years
Police Stops
Description: Stop and search’ (S&S) is a worldwide practice carried out by the police which enables police officers to stop a person, prevent him or her from pursuing his or her passage (Bowling & Philips, 2007; Bowling & Weber, 2011) and if necessary, proceed with a search. Two types of S&S approaches can be distinguished: the reactive approach, where the police decide to stop someone as a response to suspicious behaviour or circumstances in order to find proof of criminal activity, and the proactive approach, where the goal is to deter future offences and maintain public order (Murray, 2014). The latter fits well within the current ‘culture of control’ which aims at spotting risky individuals as soon as possible (van der Leun & van der Woude, 2011). In various European countries S&S has been a source of considerable debate. It us argued that S&S principally targets certain population groups and more specifically ethnic minority groups (ethnic profiling) and youngsters (Delsol & Shiner, 2006; Sollund, 2006). Consequently, S&S is a rather controversial practice, which can cause a negative effect on the public and can affect the legitimacy of the police (Bowling & Phillips, 2007; van der Leun et al., 2014; Quinton, 2013). Despite the heavy debates that exist around S&S in Europe, so far no cross-country scientific research has been carried out on the practice. Therefore, the main aim of the Action is to exchange and deepen our knowledge and understanding of police stops in Europe.
Outputs: Academic publications, sho-term scientific missions, presentations in international events, seminars, training schools, blogs, interactive online map with country information on police stop&search practices.
Coordinator: Vrije Universiteit Brussels (VUB) Sofie De Kimpe (Chair), Mirko Miceli (Grant Holder Manager); Kristof Verfaillie (Financial Representative and Working Group 4 Co-Leader)
Parters: 23 different countries
Funding: COST Action 17102
Duration: 4 years (2018-2022)
Website: www.polstops.eu
Voicing Diversity
Description: Today’s police legitimacy seems to be directly related to diversity in our societies. Particularly minorities are more likely to feel represented if the police corps is diverse. This project focuses on the Belgian case and investigates ethnic diversity within a predominantly white police. We will interview officers with a migrant background in order to acquire insight into how they see their role within the organization and how they approach towards migrant minorities. We will also organize focus groups with civil society organizations representing the citizens with a migrant background to discuss how they perceive the work of the police and especially the work of officers with a similar background. This research aims thus at getting insight into the ‘lived experiences’ of police officers with a migration background and how they could strengthen police legitimacy.
Outputs: The research results will be translated into a number of specific HRM policies. For this we will create a ‘toolkit’ for police training and education (including innovative teaching methods) to be used by teachers and trainers of Belgian police schools and a (short) recruiting video for social media. In addition we aim at contributing to create broader awareness about the importance of diversity within the Belgian police by organizing an internal police diversity seminar, the publication of a coffee-table book aiming to voice diversity and publishing at least one scientific article.
Coordinator: Sofie De Kimpe (Administrative promotor), Lucas Melgaço and Jenneke Christiaens (Scientific promotors)
Researchers (from CRiS): Yana Audrey Demeyere
Partners: PZ Mechelen-Willebroek, Belgian Police diversity network, Open Society Foundation
Funding: Open Society Foundations
Duration: November 2018 – March 2020
“Can I see some ID please?” An explorative research of police decision-making and attitudes on stopping and searching citizens
Description: This project explores stop and search practices (S&S) involving citizens in Belgium by observing these police practices and interviewing the involved police officers. There are at least three reasons why this research is important and relevant for the field of police studies and criminological research in general. First, this research will tackle the above-mentioned lack of research (blind spot) in Belgium on S&S police practices. There is a need to gain basic insight in how S&S occurs in the Belgian case, in its heterogeneity, when S&S occurs and how; who is stopped and searched; etc. Second, this research wants to analyze the complexity of the process of police officer’s decision-making during S&S situations and identify elements influencing officers’ use of discretion during this police practice. Third, with this research we aim to contribute to the criminological debate on police legitimacy and procedural justice. Hence, it is necessary to make this police practice intelligible.
Outputs: PhD disseration and academic publications
Coordinator: Sofie De Kimpe & Jenneke Christiaens
Researcher: Inès Saudelli
Funding: Fonds Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek (FWO)
Duration: January 2017 – December 2020
AFFECT Impact Assessment of Belgian De-Radicalisation Policies Upon Social Cohesion and Liberties
Description: This project examines the emerging counterterrorism regime in Belgium, its strategic assumptions and knowledge claims, its programs, techniques and effects. The VUB, as one of the consortium partners, focusses specifically on the role of the local police in a wider regime of counterterrorism practices. Through desk studies of key policy documents and literature review, and the performance of a range of ethnographies in local police forces, the aim is to understand how counterterrorism police strategy is actually shaped, the knowledges and assumptions that underpin such strategies, the challenges they raise and the effects counterterrorism policing has, not only on those subjected to counterterrorism strategies, but on the police and police culture as well. As such the project aims to contribute to the further development of a counterterrorism police practice within a democratic framework.
Outputs: Academic publications and evidence-based, and unbiased impact assessment, taking into account the stakeholders’ views
Coordinator: Prof. Dr. Fabienne Brion (UCL); Prof. Dr. Sofie De Kimpe (administrative promotor) & Dr. Kristof Verfaillie (scientific promotor) (VUB)
Researchers (from CRiS): Dr. Kristof Verfaillie, Estelle Hanard
Other Parters: ULC, VUB; NICC
Funding: Belgian Science Policy (BELSPO)
Duration: 1/01/2017 - 15/04/2021
PROJECT X
Description: Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet,. Donec laoreet tincidunt sollicitudin dui.. Proin sagittis turpis semper purus. Phasellus ut consectetur mauris quam.
Aims: Donec laoreet tincidunt sollicitudin dui.. Proin sagittis turpis semper purus. Phasellus ut consectetur mauris quam.
Coordinator: Prof X
CRiS' role: Coorinator/partner
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COMPLETED
SLIC (Smart Lighting Concepts)
Description: This project aims to reduce carbon emissions caused by public lighting by reducing the amount or intensity of street lighting. The CRiS research group carried out an international literature review concerning the impact of reduced street lighting on crime, fear of crime and road safety. The findings of this literature were used to inform local and regional policy makers when developing recommendations for preparing, installing and evaluating the local lighting reduction projects. The participation of citizens appears to be a crucial element for the public acceptance of the reductions in public lighting. Further, the impact of reduced street lighting on road safety cannot be underestimated and several preventive measures should be undertaken before reducing public street lighting.
Coordinator: Avans University of Applied Sciences
CRiS' role: Literature review
Researchers (from CRiS): Lucas Melgaço (Supervisor), Pia Struyf, Els Enhus, Tom Bauwens
Other Parters: University of Portsmouth Higher Education Corporation, Municipality of Etten-Leur, Suffolk County Council, Metropole of Amiens, City of Bruges, West Flanders Intermunicipal Association, IGEMO, Province of West Flanders
Funding: Interreg 2 Seas 2014-2020, European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and the Province of Noord- Brabant
Duration: 01/01/2018 - 30/06/2021 (CRis' 1/09/2018 – 31/12/2018)
Website: smartlightconcepts.eu
PROJECT X
Description: Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet,. Donec laoreet tincidunt sollicitudin dui.. Proin sagittis turpis semper purus. Phasellus ut consectetur mauris quam.
Aims: Donec laoreet tincidunt sollicitudin dui.. Proin sagittis turpis semper purus. Phasellus ut consectetur mauris quam.
Coordinator: Prof X
CRiS' role: Coorinator/partner
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