Research Interests

A central interest is the current move away from restrictive rules of evidence. I’m interested in the effect of this development on the law of evidence as a discipline, and in the tensions generated in specific areas with the right to a fair trial.  

Specific interests include the use of visual images as evidence in criminal trials, bad character evidence, and witness protection at trial.

I have also published several pieces relating to the role of media material in the criminal justice process.

Recent Publications

Articles

“Identification from CCTV: the Risk of Injustice” [2007] Criminal Law Review 591 – 608

“Protection of Journalists’ Sources” [2007] Public Law 464 - 487

“Determining ‘Functions of a Public Nature’ under the Human Rights Act 1998: A New Approach” (2006) 12 European Public Law 577 – 601

“The Human Rights Act: A View from Below” (2005) 32 Journal of Law and Society 51 – 67 (with Philip Thomas). The article also appears in a special edition of the Journal of Law and Society, published as The Human Rights Act: A Success Story? (Oxford: Blackwell Publishing, 2005)

“Solicitors’ Awareness of the Human Rights Act 1998: A South Wales Study” (2004) 3 Wales Journal of Law and Policy 271 – 282

“The Human Rights Act: A Guide” & “Rights and Duties in Psychotherapy and Counselling” (2004) 15 Counselling and Psychotherapy Journal 42 – 46, 61

Reports

The Human Rights Act 1998: An Impact Study in South Wales (2004) (with Josephine Sheehan and Philip Thomas). Funded by the Nuffield Foundation. 

Relevant Activities

Member of the Society of Legal Scholars

Member of the Socio-Legal Studies Association

Fellow of the Higher Education Academy

PhD Supervision 

Postgraduate research proposals or enquiries in the fields of criminal evidence law or human rights law are welcome. Particular specialisms include visual images as evidence, witness protection at trial, the admission and use of bad character evidence, police seizure of journalists’ material, the use of media material and testimony in criminal trials and public inquiries, source anonymity and media freedom, and the Human Rights Act 1998.