Researchers secure prestigious funding to investigate transnational crime

National recognition and funding has been awarded to two Coventry research teams investigating transnationally organised crime.

Dr Adam Baird and Dr Math Noortmann from Coventry University are both leading teams that have secured research funding from two of the country’s leading research councils.

The two, from the University’s Centre for Trust, Peace and Social Relations (CTPSR), have each been awarded a grant from the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) and Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRS) as part of the transnational organised crime funding scheme.

Research Fellow Dr Adam Baird’s team will look at the impact that global drug trafficking has on levels of violence in communities in Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago. Professor of Transnational Law and Non-State Actors Math Noortmann’s project will focus on the effects of maritime crime on coastal communities in Indonesia.

Both studies involve work with other universities and international agencies: Dr Baird with renowned anthropologists from the University of the West-Indies and the United Nations’ Development Programme. Professor Nootmann with Oxford Brookes University and the Organisation for Migration.

The transnational organised crime funding scheme has awarded grants to a limited number of applicants from across the country. Applications were sought from projects keen to investigate the impact of organised crime across the globe.

The two teams of researchers from Coventry University will look at the effects of crime on communities, how and why crime crosses borders and ways that the impacts can be reduced or prevented.

The double award for the University comes as the CTPSR continues to grow and demonstrates the centre’s commitment to high-end and impactful research and academic rigor.

Adam and Math’s projects each support the centre’s work to engage with communities and spark lasting and positive change. Both proposals were commended for their different methods of giving a voice to youngsters and local fishing communities and for the involvement of local people in designing the areas of study.

Math’s ‘Indonesian’ project was considered to constitute “a new approach” with a “clear potential to produce new insights”, whereas the ‘Caribbean’ project was acclaimed for its potential for “wider impact”.

Professor Mike Hardy, Executive Director Coventry University’s Centre for Trust, Peace and Social Relations, said:

There is no better recognition of our strength and seriousness as a research centre than funding from two of the country’s research councils. To win two significant grants from the same call for projects is very special for us.

We are serious about our research, but also about the opportunities presented to young people and of the security of vulnerable communities. We were delighted to hear the confidence in our plans for impact from the reviewers.”