Nawaz Hanif

Lecturer In Policing

School of Justice, Security and Sustainability

I joined the Institute of Policing in July 2022 as a Lecturer after spending almost a decade at West Midlands Police, working within the Professional Standards arena. I specialised as an Investigator in PSD focusing on internal misconduct, public complaints and anti-corruption matters. At WMP, I investigated all manner of issues: from deaths in custody to misuse of systems to sexual harassment in the workplace to allegations of assaults and everything in between.  

Following completion of a BA in International Relations in 2010, I began working at REPRIEVE, a specialist legal action charity based in London. I spent time as an Investigator working on cases in the US, Pakistan and Middle East where police corruption often led to innocent people facing the death penalty. At REPRIEVE, I also undertook specialist investigations as to the presence of torture in police stations in Pakistan as well as complicity in international drug-trafficking by Pakistan’s Anti-Narcotics Forces and Airport Security Forces.

In 2013/2014, I completed an MA in Security Studies. My thesis was on the ontological effects of drones upon the public and media systems and the way drones were conceptually changing how violence and bloodshed was viewed by the public, predominantly using the philosophical framework of the French philosopher Jean Baudrillard.

I currently sit on the College of Policing’s Code of Ethics review committee. At the Institute, I teach PCDA apprentices and I am a member of the Research Cadre, supporting PCDA students complete their final-year projects. 

Academic qualifications

  • MA (Hons) in Security Studies, University of Birmingham
  • BA (Hons) in International Relations and Politics, Coventry University

Research interests

  • Professional Standards
  • Public complaints
  • Police misconduct matters
  • Code of Ethics
  • Police Culture
  • Body-worn video
  • Sexual harassment / abuse of position for sexual purpose
  • The death penalty and police corruption
  • Penal reform in ex-colonial states

Teaching

  • Police Constable Degree Apprenticeship (PCDA)
  • Evidence-Based Policing Research Project
in the UK for Quality Education

Sustainable Development Goal 4, Times Higher Education Impact Rankings 2023

for Career Prospects

Whatuni Student Choice Awards 2023

for Facilities

Whatuni Student Choice Awards 2023

for Social Inclusion

The Times and The Sunday Times Good University Guide 2023

of Research Impact is ‘Outstanding’ or ‘Very Considerable’

Research Excellence Framework 2021

of Research is “Internationally Excellent” or “World Leading”

Research Excellence Framework 2021

Four Star Rating

QS Star Ratings 2021