Tiggey May

Tiggey May is a Senior Research Fellow at the Institute for Crime and Justice Policy Research, Birkbeck, School of Law, University of London. She is a qualitative criminologist whose research focuses extensively on policing practices, evidence-based approaches, and criminal justice systems.

Tiggey holds a BA in Sociology and Social Anthropology from Hull University and a Masters in Criminal Justice Policy from the London School of Economics. She is currently pursuing her PhD at Canterbury Christ Church University, examining 'The Investigation of Homicide in a Digital Era.'

Her research spans multiple critical areas including the use of evidence within policing, police educational qualifications framework, policing of organised fraud, drug markets, police complaints system, misconduct by senior police officers, neighbourhood policing across Europe, police informants, and the differential treatment of young people in the criminal justice system. She is currently researching 'Digital Forensics and Social Media: Challenges and Opportunities for Law Enforcement.'

Analysis of her publication record reveals a consistent focus on evidence-based policing implementation and the challenges of integrating research evidence into police practice. Her work frequently examines the gap between academic research and practical implementation within police organizations, particularly in the context of UK police professionalization initiatives and the What Works Centre for Crime Reduction.

Tiggey currently teaches undergraduate courses in Policing and Society and Research Methods and Critical Skills. She supervises both undergraduate and postgraduate student dissertations, contributing to the development of future criminology researchers and practitioners.

Her work is primarily conducted through the Institute for Crime and Justice Policy Research, where she collaborates with a core research team examining various aspects of crime, policing, and criminal justice policy. Her current research on digital forensics reflects the evolving nature of crime and policing in the digital age, demonstrating her ability to address emerging challenges in law enforcement.