Helen Wells

Biography

Biography

As of January 2024, Helen has been working as a UKRI Policy Fellow on a project entitled ‘The impact of Connected and Automated Vehicles on Policing service delivery’.

As well as delivering a number of other funded projects on the theme of policing and technology, Helen is Director of the Roads Policing Academic Network (@RoadsPolicingRN) – an interdisciplinary network of over 260 academics and research-engaged practitioners interested in researching roads policing in its broadest sense – which she established in 2018.

Helen graduated from Keele with a BA in Criminology and History (1st class) in 1998, before spending two years working in a Magistrates' Court. She returned to Keele in 2000, and graduated with a Masters in Criminology (with distinction) in 2001. After a period as a Community Safety Officer, Helen once again returned to Keele and was awarded her Ph.D in January 2007. She was appointed as a temporary, part-time lecturer in Criminology in January 2007, became a permanent lecturer in June 2007, and a senior lecturer in 2014.

Research and scholarship

Research and scholarship

Teaching

Teaching

Publications

Publications

Supervision

Supervision

Helen currently supervises PhD and Professional Doctorate students funded by a range of external partners as well as the ESRC.

Current topics include: the police use of data in roads policing; risk terrain modelling in rural crime contexts; driver diversionary courses and their place in a criminal justice landscape.

Previous supervisions include: roads policing; fixed penalties; the effectiveness educational for drivers caught using their mobile phone while driving; police/public encounters; everyday policing in Victorian England.

Helen is happy to be approached in relation to supervision of projects in the areas of roads policing, policing and technology, procedural justice and criminal justice policy, amongst others.