Staff profile

I am the Director of the Durham Centre for Research into Violence and Abuse (CRiVA). My research consists of around thirty research and consultancy projects in the field of male violence against women. I am particularly known for my work on rape, domestic violence and prostitution which has underpinned a number of policy changes and which I have spoken about all over the world.

Many of my research reports are available on my personal website (link above) or on the CRiVA website. My most recent book was published in May 2015 by Routledge - 'Violence Against Women - Criminological Perspectives on Men's Violences.' My most recent research report was Project Mirabal about domestic violence perpetrator programmes https://www.dur.ac.uk/resources/criva/ProjectMirabalfinalreport.pdf.

In the Department of Sociology I teach on the MSc Criminology and Criminal Justice and convene and teach the Violence and Abuse module. I supervise PhD researchers in a range of topics (listed below).

If you are interested in becoming a member of CRiVA and recieve updates on our work and invitations to events please email durham.criva@durham.ac.uk. We particularly welcome membership from students, survivors, and from people who work outside academia.

I strongly believe that academic research should be used to create positive ‘real world’ social change and it is this that drives my personal research agenda. My recent academic advisor and consultancy positions have included Special Advisor to the Joint Committee on Human Rights for their Inquiry into Violence against Women and Girls (2014-15) and the Association of Chief Police Officers (2012-15).

Previously, I have also held the position of Special Advisor to the Government’s Victims of Violence and Abuse Prevention Project and chaired one of its Expert Groups. My research has directly underpinned two major government policy reform processes (HM Government Stern Review into Rape and the Home Office Coordinated Prostitution Strategy). I held the voluntary position of Chair of Rape Crisis (England and Wales) for five years.

• All forms of violence against women (particularly sexual and domestic violence)

• Centre for Research into Violence and Abuse
• Violence and Abuse

• A detailed Mapping IPV Services in the North East
• Innovation and the application of knowledge for more effective policing
• North East Conferences on Sexual Violence
• Policing Domestic Abuse Knowledge Transfer Project
• The development and piloting of tools to measure the impact of Rape Crisis intervensions on health, mental health and well-being
• The Outcome of Men's Participation in RESPECT
• Understanding Rape in West Yorkshire
• What do perpetrator programmes add to co-ordinated community responses to domestic violence?
• Why do some men take a public stance against men's violence against women, and how can more men be encouraged to do so?

• 2015: Special Advisor: Special advisor to the House of Commons and House of Lords Joint Committee on Human Rights for their Inquiry into Violence against Women and Girls.

Available for media contact about:

• Law & Crime: Violence against women, in particular rape, domestic violence, prostitution.
• Human rights: Violence against women, in particular rape, domestic violence, prostitution.
• Social sciences: Violence against women, in particular rape, domestic violence, prostitution.
• Criminology: Violence against women, in particular rape, domestic violence, prostitution.
• Sociology: Violence against women, in particular rape, domestic violence, prostitution.
• Social Policy: Family, youth, race & gender issues: Violence against women, in particular rape, domestic violence, prostitution.
• Gender and law: Violence against women, in particular rape, domestic violence, prostitution.
• Politics & Society: Violence against women, in particular rape, domestic violence, prostitution.
• Government: Violence against women, in particular rape, domestic violence, prostitution.

Authored book

• Westmarland, N., Almqvist, A.-L., Egeberg Holmgren, L., Ruxton, S., Burrell, S.R. & Delgado Valbuena, C. (2021). Men's Activism to End Violence Against Women: Voices from Spain, Sweden and the UK. Bristol: Policy Press.
• Westmarland, N & Bows, H (2018). Researching Gender, Violence and Abuse: Theory, Methods, Action. Routledge.
• Westmarland, N. (2015). Violence against Women. Criminological perspectives on men’s violences. Routledge.

Chapter in book

• Kelly, Liz & Westmarland, Nicole (2015). New approaches to assessing effectiveness and outcomes of domestic violence perpetrator programmes. In Critical Issues on Violence Against Women. Johnson, H., Fisher, B.S. & Jaquier, V. Routledge. 183-194.
• Westmarland, N. & Gangoli, G. (2011). Introduction: Approaches to rape. In International approaches to rape. Westmarland, N. & Gangoli, G. Bristol, England: Policy Press. 1 - 12.
• Westmarland, Nicole (2008). Preface. In Rape Crisis: Responding to Sexual Violence. Jones, H. & Cook, K. Dorset: Russell House Publishing.
• Gangoli, G. (2006). Prostitution in India: Laws, debates and responses. In International approaches to prostitution: Law and policy in Europe and Asia. Gangoli, G. & Westmarland, N. Bristol, England: Policy Press. 114 - 139.
• Westmarland, N. (2006). From the Personal to the Political: Shifting Perspectives on Street Prostitution in England and Wales. In International Approaches to Prostitution: Law and Policy in Europe and Asia. Gangoli, G. & Westmarland, N. Bristol: Policy Press. 21-43.
• Westmarland, N. & Gangoli, G. (2006). Approaches to Prostitution. In International Approaches to Prostitution: Law and Policy in Europe and Asia. Westmarland, N. & Gangoli, G. Bristol: Policy Press.
• Westmarland, N. & Gangoli, G. (2006). Introduction: Approaches to prostitution. In International approaches to prostitution: Law and policy in Europe and Asia. Westmarland, N. & Gangoli, G. Bristol, England: Policy Press. 1-17.
• Radford, J. & Westmarland, N. (2005). In memoriam: Sue Lees (1941-- 2002), her life, research and influence. In Researching Gender Violence: Feminist methodology in action. Skinner, T., Hester, M. & Malos, E. Devon: Willan Publishing.

Edited book

• Westmarland, Nicole & Gangoli, Geetanjali (2011). International Approaches to Rape. Policy Press.
• Gangoli, Geetanjali & Westmarland, Nicole (2006). International Approaches to Prostitution: Law and Policy in Europe and Asia. The Policy Press.

Journal Article

• Bellini, Rosanna & Westmarland, Nicole (2023). “We adapted because we had to.” How domestic violence perpetrator programmes adapted to work under COVID-19 in the UK, the USA and Australia. Journal of Aggression, Conflict and Peace Research
• Rutter, Nikki, Hall, Kirsten & Westmarland, Nicole (2023). Responding to Child and Adolescent to Parent Violence and Abuse from a Distance: Remote Delivery of Interventions during Covid-19. Children & Society 37(3): 705-721.
• Walling-Wefelmeyer, Rosa, Johnson, Kelly, Westmarland, Nicole, Dhir, Alishya & Lyons Sumroy, Asha (2023). Teaching for social change: introducing ‘scrapbooking’ as a pedagogic approach towards ending gender-based violence. Journal of Gender-Based Violence 7(1): 128-145.
• Myhill, Andy, Johnson, Kelly, McNeill, Abigail, Critchfield, Emily & Westmarland, Nicole (2022). ‘A genuine one usually sticks out a mile’ policing coercive control in England and Wales. Policing and Society 33(4): 398-413.
• Bellini, Rosanna & Westmarland, Nicole (2021). A problem solved is a problem created: the opportunities and challenges associated with an online domestic violence perpetrator programme. Journal of Gender-Based Violence 5(3): 499-515.
• Downes, N. Kelly, L. & Westmarland, N. (2019). ‘It’s a work in progress’ men’s accounts of gender and change in their use of coercive control. Journal of Gender-Based Violence 3(3): 267-282.
• McGlynn, Clare & Westmarland, Nicole (2019). Kaleidoscopic Justice: Sexual Violence and Victim-Survivors’ Perceptions of Justice. Social and Legal Studies 28(2): 179-201.
• Westmarland, N., McGlynn, C. & Humphreys, C. (2018). Using restorative justice approaches to police domestic violence and abuse. Journal of Gender-Based Violence 2(2): 339-358.
• Bows, H. & Westmarland, N. (2018). Older sex offenders – managing risk in the community from a policing perspective. Policing and Society 28(1): 62-74.
• McGlynn, Clare, Westmarland, Nicole & Johnson, Kelly (2018). Under the radar: the widespread use of 'Out of Court resolutions' in policing domestic violence and abuse in the United Kingdom. British journal of criminology 58(1): 1-16.
• Wistow, R., Kelly, L. & Westmarland, N. (2017). ‘Time out’ a strategy for reducing men’s violence against women in relationships? Violence Against Women 23(6): 730-748.
• Bows, Hannah & Westmarland, Nicole (2017). Rape of Older People In The United Kingdom: Challenging The ‘Real Rape’ Stereotype. British Journal of Criminology 57(1): 1-17.
• Kelly, L. & Westmarland, N. (2016). Naming and defining ‘Domestic Violence’ lessons from research with violent men. Feminist Review 112(1): 113-127.
• Downes, J., Kelly, L. & Westmarland, N. (2014). Ethics in Violence and Abuse Research - a Positive Empowerment Approach. Sociological Research Online 19(1): 1-23.
• Westmarland, N. & Alderson, S. (2013). The health, mental health and well-being benefits of Rape Crisis counselling. Journal of Interpersonal Violence 28(17): 3265-3282.
• Westmarland, Nicole & Kelly, Liz (2012). Why extending measurements of 'success' in domestic violence perpetrator programmes matters for Social Work. British Journal of Social Work
• McGlynn, Clare, Westmarland, Nicole & Godden, Nikki (2012). "I just wanted him to hear me": sexual violence and the possibilities of restorative justice. Journal of Law and Society 39(2): 213-240.
• Alderson, S., Westmarland, N. & Kelly, L. (2012). The Need for Accountability to, and Support for, Children of Men on Domestic Violence Perpetrator Programmes. Child Abuse Review 22(3): 182-193.
• Easteal, P. & Westmarland, N. (2010). A Virtual Sabbatical: A Pioneering Case Study. Innovative Higher Education 35(5): 297-311.
• Westmarland, N. & Graham, L. (2010). 'The promotion and resistance of rape myths in an internet discussion forum’. Journal of Social Criminology 1(2): 80-104.
• Hester, M. & Westmarland, N. (2006). Domestic Violence Perpetrators. Criminal Justice Matters 66(1): 34-35.
• Westmarland, N. (2001). The quantitative/qualitative debate and feminist research: a subjective view of objectivity. Forum: Qualitative Sozialforschung/Forum: Qualitative Social Research 2(1): 13.
• Westmarland, N. & Anderson, J. (2001). Safe at the Wheel? Security issues for female taxi drivers. Security Journal 14(2): 29-40.

Newspaper/Magazine Article

• Westmarland, Nicole (2008). The Rape Crisis crisis. The New Statesman 18 March 2008.
• Westmarland, Nicole (2008). Rape's a real crime. The New Statesman 10 July 2008.

Other (Print)

• Westmarland, Nicole, Thorlby, Katie, Wistow, Jane & Gadd, David (2014). Domestic Violence: Evidence Review.
• Westmarland, Nicole, Thorlby, Katie, Wistow, Jane & Gadd, David (2014). Domestic Violence: Evidence Review References.
• Westmarland, N., Hardey, M., Bows, H., Branley, D., Chowdhury, M., Wheatley, K. & Wistow, R. (2013). Protecting Women’s Safety? The use of Smartphone ‘apps’ in relation to domestic and sexual violence. Centre for Research into Violence and Abuse, School of Applied Social Sciences Research Briefings (12).
• Phillips, R., Kelly, L. & Westmarland, N. (2013). Domestic Violence Perpetrator Programmes: An Historical Overview. Project Mirabal briefing notes (2).
• Alderson, S., Kelly, L. & Westmarland, N. (2013). Domestic Violence Perpetrator Programmes and Children and Young People. Project Mirabal briefing notes (3).
• McGlynn, C., Westmarland, N. & Godden, N. (2011). Is Restorative justice possible in cases of sexual violence? School of Applied Social Sciences, Research Briefings (5); Durham Law School, Research Briefings (1)
• Westmarland, N., Kelly, L. & Chalder-Mills, J. (2010). Domestic Violence Perpetrator Programmes: What Counts as Success? Project Mirabal briefing notes (1).

Report

• Westmarland, N. & Burrell, S.R. (2019). Perpetrators in the early stages of help-seeking: Views of service users. London, Respect.
• Burrell, S.R. & Westmarland, N. (2019). The voices of male victims: Understanding men's experiences of the Men's Advice Line. London, Respect.
• Bows, H., Jobe, A. & Westmarland, N. (2014). Sexual Violence Preventative Work with Young People. A Feasibility Study. Report for Darlington and Co. Durham Rape and Sexual Abuse Counselling Centre.
• Brown, J., Horvath, M., Kelly, L. & Westmarland, N. (2010). Connections and disconnections: Assessing evidence, knowledge and practice in responses to rape. London.
• Brown, J., Horvath, M., Kelly, L. & Westmarland, N. (2010). Has anything changed? Results of a comprative study (1977-2010) on opinions of rape. London.
• Hester, M., Westmarland, N. Pearce, J. & Williamson, E. (2008). Early Evaluation of the Domestic Violence, Crime and Victims Act 2004. London, Home Office.
• Hester, M. & Westmarland, N. (2005). Tackling Domestic Violence: Effective Interventions and Approaches. London, Home Office.
• Westmarland, N., Hester, M. & Carrozza, A. (2005). Domestic Abuse in Bristol. Findings from a 24-hour snapshot. Bristol, University of Bristol.
• Hester, M. & Westmarland, N. (2004). Tackling Street Prostitution: Towards a Holistic Approach. London, Home Office.