Laura Farrugia

Dr Laura Farrugia is an Assistant Professor at Northumbria University and a Registered Intermediary specializing in forensic interviewing practices. Her work focuses on improving interactions with vulnerable individuals within the Criminal Justice System (CJS), particularly in police custodial settings. She holds a PhD in Psychology (2018) and is a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (2019). Her research examines false confessions, mental health considerations during interviews, and the role of appropriate adults.

Dr Farrugia’s professional activities include delivering training to law enforcement agencies worldwide and developing the Forensic Interview Trace (FIT), an evaluation tool funded by Northumbria University’s RIS Internal Funding (£5,500, 2023-2024). She has supervised postgraduate research on jury bias (Georgia Grady) and juror selection criteria (Lauren Arnison).

Her publications emphasize practical applications of research in policing contexts, such as optimizing interview techniques for mentally disordered suspects and addressing officer perceptions of vulnerable individuals. She regularly presents at international conferences, advocating for evidence-based practices in investigative interviewing.