16 April 2013

Novelists and academics join together to explore the representation of crime

A two-day conference looking at how crime and policing are represented in the media and culture will begin at the University of Dundee today.

The event on Tuesday 16th and Wednesday 17th April is being jointly organised by the University's School of Humanities and the Scottish Institute for Policing Research as part of their 'Crime and Policing in Scotland: Past and Present' project.

'Cultural Representations of Crime and Policing: Past and Present' takes place at West Park Conference Centre, and will see some of the findings of the research project disseminated.

Professor Sue Black, Director of Dundee's Centre for Anatomy and Human Identification (CAHID) will bring the conference to a close by leading an 'in-conversation' event with crime writers Stuart MacBride and Linda Stratmann.

The novelists will discuss their work, as well as the representation of crime in literature and drama generally from 4.30pm on Wednesday. A Drinks reception will follow the event.

Dr Murray Frame, of the 'Crime and Policing' project, said, "Crime is a topic that is of huge significance to the population, and so how it is represented is obviously a very important issue to consider when researching policing in Scotland.

"How does the cultural representation of crime and policing differ from a reality, which may be more prosaic, and does this influence public perception of the situation? These are important issues to consider."

The project has also resulted in an exhibition exploring the history of law enforcement in Scotland, which will remain on display at the University's Lamb Gallery until 31st May.

For media enquiries contact:
Grant Hill
Press Officer
University of Dundee
Nethergate, Dundee, DD1 4HN
TEL: 01382 384768
E-MAIL: g.hill@dundee.ac.uk
MOBILE: 07854 953277