Janet Foster

Janet Foster is an Associate Professor in the Department of Sociology at the London School of Economics (LSE). Her career includes directing the Applied Criminology programs at Cambridge University in the 1990s and co-leading evaluations of the Stephen Lawrence Inquiry's impact on policing. She served at The Police Foundation (2006–2009), collaborating with UK police forces on action research to improve policing practices. Her work spans criminology, policing, urban sociology, and social exclusion.

Research Interests: Foster focuses on police cultures, neighborhood policing, diversity in policing, and homicide investigation. She has also explored community crime prevention, social exclusion, and the intersection of urban change and crime. Her recent work emphasizes applying academic insights to practical policing challenges.

Policy Engagement: She has advised the HM Treasury, Home Office, and HM Inspectorate of Constabularies. Notable contributions include submissions to the Home Affairs Select Committee on police training and advisory roles in Sir Ronnie Flanagan’s Policing Review (2007) and the HMIC Thematic on Frontline Supervision (2008). She has also contributed to EU initiatives on community policing in France and the Netherlands.

Labs/Teams: Janet is part of the Social Inequalities research cluster at LSE and convenes courses on The Sociology of Homicide and Crime, Control and the City.