Email: meera.darji@stmarys.ac.uk
Biography
Neena is Programme Director for Criminology and Sociology at St. Mary’s University. Before joining St Mary’s in January 2017 she was a visiting lecturer at Westminster University teaching Criminology since 2014. She has worked in criminal justice research, evaluation and policy development for 15 years. As Policy and Research Manager at Nacro (the crime reduction charity), Neena monitored ethnic disproportionality in the criminal justice process.
Neena maintains extensive engagement with the voluntary sector through research, governance and campaigning work. She is Chair of Voice4Change England (V4CE), a national infrastructure body supporting the black and minority ethnic voluntary and community sector. She has been a member of StopWatch since it was formed in 2010 to campaign for effective, accountable and fair policing. Neena is also a steering group member of the Reclaim Justice Network which campaigns to promote alternatives to criminal justice.
She actively contributes to policy development and sits on a number of advisory groups including the Lola Young Review, HMIC’s PEEL Effectiveness and Legitimacy Advisory Group and the Crown Prosecution Service Scrutiny Panel. She also sat on the Home Secretary’s Policing and Diversity Panel that worked to increase employment of ethnic minorities in the police. Her teaching is research and policy informed to ensure students critically evaluate crime and justice related issues in their current context.
Profile within the voluntary sector
Neena's engagement with the voluntary sector is largely through research, governance and campaigns. She is Chair of Voice4Change England (V4CE) and trustee of the Coalition for Racial Justice (UK); she contributes to governance and helps fulfil the vision and mission of these organisations. Neena has served as Chair of the London Transformative Justice Forum which had a role in promoting restorative approaches in criminal justice. She is an active member of StopWatch which campaigns to promote effective, accountable and fair policing. As part of the steering group for the Reclaim Justice
She is an active member of StopWatch which campaigns to promote effective, accountable and fair policing. As part of the steering group for the Reclaim Justice Network Neena has helped create and organise a network that campaigns to promote alternatives to criminal justice. Through the above, Neena remains committed to promoting and strengthening the voluntary sector because of its ability to make positive and practical contributions to civil society.