Our ‘Spotlight on’ series celebrates the world-leading work of our academics. Just over 20 years after being peer nominated as the most influential forensic psychologist in the UK, Professor Graham Towl has been awarded 2025 British Psychological Society Lifetime Achievement Award.
Graham is a Professor of Forensic Psychology in our Department of Psychology, who has been committed to improving and saving lives throughout his career.
Graham’s work has focused on two distinct areas; suicide prevention in prisons and addressing sexual violence at universities.
Both areas of focus share this common thread that has defined his working life – a motivation to help others.
Graham was drawn to psychology as a way to apply scientific methods to his natural interest in people and human behaviour.
Working as a psychologist in prisons in the 1990s, Graham recognised the disproportionately large number of prisoners dying by suicide. He became determined to do something about this.
He has served as the Head of Psychological Services for prisons and probation in England and Wales, and Chief Psychologist at the Ministry of Justice.
He led innovations in service delivery, expanding psychological services from around 400 to over 1,000 staff and establishing a national infrastructure for these services.
Graham's research has advanced understanding of prison suicide risk factors, helping professionals identify at-risk individuals, even when barriers may prevent them reporting suicidal feelings - saving lives through earlier intervention.
In 2008 Graham joined Durham University, having recognised that his passion for research and writing, suited an academic role.
For him, there was also a personal connection, and he states that having come from the North East, joining Durham University “felt like coming home”.
As a leader in his field, Graham was invited to be part of the Harris Review in 2015, a landmark study examining suicide in prisons. The review looked at over 2,000 suicide cases from 1978-2013 and was the largest and most detailed study of its kind to date.
Whilst continuing his research work, Graham also became Pro-Vice-Chancellor from 2011-2016. In this role, on behalf of the then executive team, Graham led an innovative task force to address sexual misconduct.
Sexual misconduct is a well-recognised issue across higher education. Graham led the Durham University task force which took a sector-leading approach to addressing this issue.
Amongst the achievements led by the task force, Durham University became the first Higher Education institution in the UK to employ a full time specialist in addressing sexual violence.
Graham has authored multiple books and research papers on this subject. He has also evaluated the Office for Students ‘statement of expectations’ for the sector on sexual harassment policies and practices.
Working with colleagues, the independent research evidence undertaken by Professor Towl has led to improved Office for Student regulations which will come into effect from August 2025.
Graham continues to influence policy and practice. He has recently been asked to review deaths by suicide in the Scottish Prison Service, following his expert testimony in two controversial cases last year.
When reflecting on the British Psychological Society Lifetime Achievement Award, Graham sees it as both a deep personal honour, and a recognition for all those he has collaborated with in his work.
However, he remains characteristically focused on outcomes stating his ongoing motivation is to "reduce suffering both for suicidal prisoners and also for students subjected to sexual violence."
The entire Psychology department is incredibly proud of Professor Graham Towl for receiving this well-deserved Lifetime Achievement Award. This is a fitting recognition of a professional life dedicated to furthering the study of Psychology and improving lives through its application.
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