Lancaster University's video: Public Lecture - Talking about crime in the new world

“Talking about… crime in the ‘new world’” is the third lecture of the online Public Lecture Series ‘Talking About…’ which showcases research from Lancaster University staff relating to the pandemic and its impacts. In this lecture, Dr Nicola Harding, lecturer in Criminology - Lancaster University; Tony Sales, Head of Strategic Development - We Fight Fraud; Adam Boome, Communications Director - We Fight Fraud, and Jodie Beck, Co-founder - Our Empty Chair will present two case studies that demonstrate quick, innovative action to two very different issues posed by the covid-19 pandemic within Criminal Justice and the Security sector. We Fight Fraud produced a pivotal online webinar just three weeks into lockdown with key warnings and preventative measures about the ‘criminal opportunity’ for fraud & financial crime offered by the pandemic. Acting so quickly, they helped key financial institutions prevent financial crime and the significant harm faced by its victims. Our Empty Chair is a campaign group formed to draw attention to the risks faced by prisoners during the Covid-19 pandemic from the perspective of the family members left behind at home. As the government failed to honour their pledge to release a significant number of prisoners who did not need to be in prison, Our Empty Chair gave prisoner families a campaigning voice to show that their family member would be safer at home during this pandemic.