We invite applications from colleagues who wish to join the Steering Group of the British Crime Historians conference.
The British Crime Historians (BCH) conference is a biennial academic conference on crime and criminal justice history. It began in 2008 and has become the leading UK-based conference in the field, showcasing the best research in crime and criminal justice history irrespective of period, geographic focus or disciplinary orientation. The latest, highly successful conference took place last year in Manchester; previously, the conference was held at Leeds Beckett University, University of Sheffield, The Open University, University of Liverpool, University of Edinburgh, Edge Hill University, and University of Leeds.
The Steering Group’s role is to identify and select host institutions for future conferences, and to advise the local organising committees (which deliver the practical arrangements for each conference) as required. We are currently looking to reconstitute the Steering Group, to ensure the continued success of the BCH; as such, we are looking to appoint new members of the Steering Group. This is an opportunity to help shape the future of the BCH conference, and so to play a part in supporting the development of research in crime and criminal justice history on a national scale. To be clear, the Steering Group does not undertake the practical arrangements for delivering conferences, and there will be no obligation on new members of the Group to host a future conference (though members of the Steering Group are eligible and welcome to apply to host the BCH).
We encourage individuals who wish to join the Steering Group to apply for membership. While there are no eligibility criteria for membership, we are looking for individuals who are well acquainted with the landscape of crime and criminal justice history in UK higher education, and who are well placed to help identify host institutions for – and advise local organisers of – future BCH conferences. To apply to join the Steering Group, please send a short statement (up to 300 words), summarising what you would bring to the role, to Prof. Louise Jackson (Louise.Jackson@ed.ac.uk) by Friday 5 September 2025. After that date, members of the existing Group will review applications received and invite successful applicants to join the reconstituted Steering Group.
If you have any queries relating to this opportunity, please contact Louise Jackson (Louise.Jackson@ed.ac.uk) in the first instance. We very much look forward to hearing from those who wish to be part of this exciting new phase in the development of the British Crime Historians conference.
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