BA (Hons) Criminology
If you are curious about crime and justice with ambitions to shape society, this degree opens career opportunities in a range of roles across prisons and court services, policing, or investigation.
Nigel Lee
COS, MSc, PGC LTHEA, SFHEA
Senior Lecturer
Department of Social Sciences and Nursing
Room no. RM208
Biography
Nigel commenced as a lecturer in criminology at Solent University in September 2017, after retiring as a detective sergeant with 25 years of police service. He spent the last 15 years of his service investigating the sexual and physical abuse of children and safeguarding the public by managing the risks posed by violent and sexual offenders in the community. He was also a Tier 5 interview manager, which is the highest level of training and accreditation available in the UK for suspect and witness interviewing. In September 2022 he was promoted to senior lecturer in criminology.
In 2010 he completed two years of study focussed on the psychology of child sex abusers’ offending to gain a PGC in Behavioural Forensic Psychology. In 2013, he completed his MSc in Criminology and Criminal Psychology, with his dissertation identifying the usefulness of recognised child sex offending theories and models being adapted for police suspect interviews. In 2016 he gained a PGC in Learning and Teaching in Higher Education and was awarded Fellowship of the Higher Education Academy. He is also a visiting fellow at Portsmouth University where he is a member of the International Centre Of Forensic Interviewing research group.
Since 2013 Nigel has given up his time to work with the Child Protection Unit of Cambodia, delivering advice and training to capacity-build the country’s response to child abuse investigation and prosecution. This work is fully supported by Solent University who now accredit the courses delivered. In June 2019 he received the chivalric honour of Commander of the Royal Order of Sahametrei. The Royal Order is the highest honour a foreign national can receive and is awarded for 'distinguished services to the King and to the people of Cambodia'.
Further information
Nigel spent the first five years of his career as a uniform police officer based in Winchester, before being promoted to sergeant and posted to Basingstoke. During this time, he also successfully trained as a CID detective.
In 2001, he became a detective sergeant in CID before becoming the lead on the first public protection team in Hampshire. During that time, he became involved in Hampshire Police’s response to 'Operation Ore', the first global internet child abuse investigation in the UK. He then moved onto other globally-based internet child abuse investigations before moving to the Child Abuse Investigation Team in 2005 where he spent the next nine years.
His final four years were spent as DS and temporary detective inspector on a team managing the risks posed to the public by violent and sexual offenders in the community. It was during his time on the Child Abuse Unit that he began to study at a higher academic level and developed his interest in criminal psychology.
Taught courses
BSc (Hons) Criminal Investigation with Psychology
Understanding the motives behind criminal behaviour is key in investigating crime to explain criminality and to deliver justice.
BSc (Hons) Criminology and Psychology
Explore the world of crime and get behind the psychology of criminology and social justice, on this BPS-accredited degree.
BA (Hons) Criminology and Sociology
This degree helps you develop critical perspectives on social behaviours, exploring justice, crime and inequality, to prepare you for a successful career and make a meaningful contribution to society.
