In this second conversation, May-Britt Rinaldo Rondebro interviews Tina Wallace from Thames Valley Police, focusing on her academic journey and the innovative policing strategy known as Project Vigilant. Tina shares her unexpected path to obtaining a master’s degree in Applied Criminology from Cambridge University, detailing the challenges she faced and the support she received.

The discussion then shifts to Project Vigilant, which aims to connect low-level street harassment to serious sexual violence, emphasizing proactive crime prevention. Tina concludes by advocating for legal reforms to better address evolving crime types.

Takeaways

• Tina’s journey to education was unexpected and transformative.
• Support from mentors can change the course of one’s career.
• Academic feedback can be harsh but is essential for growth.
• Project Vigilant connects low-level behaviors to serious crimes.
• Proactive policing strategies can effectively reduce crime rates.
• Understanding victimology is crucial in crime prevention.
• Data-driven approaches can inform policing strategies.
• Legal frameworks need to evolve with changing crime patterns.
• Innovative thinking is vital in law enforcement.
• Tina’s research has implications for future policing policies.

Sound Bites

• “I never thought I would ever get to go to university.”
• “It was the best experience I’ve had.”
• “I spent most days googling specific academic terms.”

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