The Centre for Forensic and Criminological Psychology (CFCP) was established from the amalgamation of the Forensic Psychology Group and the Applied Developmental Psychology Group, both of whom have been active in training and research at the University of Birmingham since the early 1990s. From 1998 to 2004, the Centre has attracted over one million pounds sterling in research funding. The Centre takes a public health approach and investigates the causes and consequences of family violence, child maltreatment and serious crime. The Centre also studies the processes involved in child-parent relationships, with emphasis on the assessment of feeding difficulties and attachment formation.
Within this Centre, the group of Forensic Psychologists is currently involved in many projects across Europe and the UK, with the help of UNICEF, the World Health Organisation (WHO) and funding from the World Bank, the European Union, British Government Department of International Development, the Home Office, Department of Health and Youth Justice Board.
At an International level, Professor Kevin Browne has recently completed a 'National Prevalence Study of Child Abuse and Neglect in Romanian Families'. Other projects include a European Union study to map the number and characteristics of children under three years of age residing in institutions at risk of harm. A group of collaborators from eight countries in Europe are carrying out the investigation led by Dr Catherine Hamilton-Giachritsis. At a National level, Dr Anthony Beech is looking into the assessment and treatment of sex offenders for both the prison and probation services. Dr Laurence Alison is collaborating with the police on crime scene analysis and decision making. Louise Dixon is reviewing patterns of family violence, including spousal homicide.
In partnership with Reaside Regional Secure Unit for offenders with mental health disorders (contact Dr. Tanya Garrett Hon. Senior Lecturer) the Centre runs three professionally accredited Masters courses and the firs tDoctorate in Forensic Psychology in England. The Centre also offers the opportunity to undertake research for the qualification of MPhil/PhD.
Forensic Psychology Staff
Professor Anthony Beech, B.Sc., D.Phil., FBPsS, C. Psychol (Forensic)Reader in Criminological Psychology; Course Tutor: Dip/MSc in Criminological Psychology, Professor of Forensic and Family Psychology; Director
Dr Catherine Hamilton-Giachritsis, B.Sc. (Hons), Ph.D., C. Psychol.(Forensic), Senior Lecturer in Forensic Psychology; Course Tutor Dip/MSc, Applied Social Learning Theory and Counselling
Dr Louise Dixon, B.Sc., M.Sc., Ph.D. Lecturer in Forensic Psychology
Dr Alasdair Goodwill, B.Sc., M.Sc., Ph.D. Lecturer in Forensic Psychology
Professor Brian Thomas-Peter, B.Sc.(Hons), M.Sc.(Clin.Psych), Ph.D., C. Psychol. (Clinical and Forensic), (Honorary) Professor of Forensic Psychology.
Dr Tanya Garrett, BA, PhD., MSc (Clin.Psych), MSc (Psychotherapy), C.Psychol (Clinical; Forensic), (Honorary) Lecturer in Forensic Psychology; Course Tutor, Clinical Criminology
Ms Leigh Harkins, School Instructor
Caroline Oliver, MSc. Research Fellow
Mrs Sue Hanson, Centre Manager
Mrs Stella Briggs, Secretary
Postgraduate Research Students
| Shihning Chou |
| Emma Barrett |
| Jennifer Dillane |
| Constanze Gerhold |
| Mark Kells |
| Robert Kidd |
| Melissa McGrath |
| Anya McHayle |
| Takayuki Miyadera |
| Mark Sal |
| tPaul Slobodian |
| Leigh Harkins |
| Tanja Hillberg |
| Philip Williams |
|
Sajdah Zaman |
Current Grants
| Sponsor Name | Principal Investigator |
| Commission of the European Communities | (CHG) |
| Centrex | (LJA) |
Applied Developmental Psychology Group,
We are interested in a number of areas of applied developmental psychology including, feeding problems from infancy to adolescence, appetite regulation, childhood obesity and cognitions about food, parent-child interaction, attachment, the development of food acceptance and rejection, sensitive periods for the introduction of foods, and the significance of the timing of weaning onto solids. We are currently carrying out projects investigating how young children make and overcome neophobic food responses, and the role of parents’ feeding practices, including reward and restriction, in children’s cognitions about food and their BMI. A further current interest is in children’s fruit and vegetable acceptance and consumption, and its relationship with children’s individual differences (such as sensory processing) and parental behaviour (such as modelling or controlling feeding practices). Maternal mental health problems, such as eating and anxiety disorders, and their relationship to parenting behaviour and child outcomes are also broader areas of current research, as are child factors such as the relationship between autistic spectrum disorder and food refusal.
Staff
Jackie Blissett (Senior Lecturer)
Helen Coulthard (School Instructor)
Gill Harris (Senior Lecturer)
Postgraduate Research Students
Amy Barkham
Steven Brown
Meltem Budak
Jegjeet Jutley
Eric Robinson
Samantha Rogers
Current Grants
| Sponsor Name | Principal Investigator |
| Nutricia | (GH) |
| Child Growth Foundation | (GH) |
| Birmingham Children's Hospital Endocrine Fund | (GH) |
