Latest reports and achievements
Dean Dr. Eric Hickey giving Professor Canter the Life Time Achievement Award on behalf of Alliant University, California
Report relating to appeal of Al Megrahi
The International Research Centre of Investigative Psychology compiled a report on the eyewitness testimony that was crucial in convicting Al Megrahi as the Lockerbie Bomber. Professor Canter and his team carried out a detailed analysis of all aspects of the testimony of the main witness, a Maltese shop-keeper Mr Gauci. They also carried out an experiment to test key aspects of his identification evidence. The full report here was to be used in Al Megrahi's appeal, which was dropped when he was allowed back home on medical grounds.
For a full copy of the report click here.
A Very Short Introduction to Forensic Society
Professor David Canter has written the latest edition in the popular Oxford University Press series entitled Forensic Psychology: A Very Short Introduction.
The book covers lie detection, offender profiling, jury selection, insanity in the law, predicting the risk of re offending , the minds of serial killers and many other topics that are all aspects of the rapidly developing area of scientific psychology broadly known as Forensic Psychology. The book discusses all the aspects of psychology that are relevant to the legal and criminal process as a whole.
To view the book or order a copy click here.
Terrorism book now on sale
The Faces of Terrorism - Multidisciplinary Perspectives, edited by David Canter is now available to buy online. The text unravels the different facets of terrorism, investigating what it means to be a terrorist and what terrorism means for society. It also looks at the perspectives and views of terrorists.
To view the book or order a copy click here.
Book description:
In The Faces of Terrorism, an international selection of experts, from a variety of disciplines, provide professional perspectives on a range of issues surrounding terrorism today. While focusing on current concerns with terrorism that has its roots in Islam, the book also explores links between organized crime and radical violence, and examines a variety of terrorist acts beyond bombing, such as kidnapping for ransom and cyberterrorism. The contributors also examine the dynamics of social networks, which have come to play an essential role for terrorist groups. The subtleties of all these processes are illustrated with fascinating case studies of terrorists around the globe.
This book offers a much needed account of a growing consensus across different disciplines about the variegated nature of terrorism. Bringing together state-of-the-field perspectives on this increasingly important topic, it shows that counter-insurgency activities need to embrace the public rhetoric that castigates terrorism, as well as engage with processes that could potentially place people on pathways to violent political action.
British Psychological Society honour Professor David Canter
Professor David Canter, director of the International Research Centre for Investigative Psychology, has been honoured by his professional body, The British Psychological Society by being made an Honorary Fellow of the Society. This award, currently held by just 25 people, is reserved for psychologists whose work in the application of the disciple of psychology to the practical problems of our society is outstanding.
Professor Canter studied psychology at Liverpool University where he obtained his BA and his PhD in 1969, subsequently holding research posts at Liverpool, Strathclyde and Tokyo Universities, before being appointed as one of the first psychology lecturers at the University of Surrey.
During his time at Surrey he made notable contributions in a number of fields of applied psychology. His early work was in the application of psychology to architecture and the built environment, as well as behaviour in fires and other emergencies, teaching and researching on these topic not only in its broader aspects, but focusing on particular problems in such publications as The Psychology of Place (1977), Designing for Therapeutic Environments (with his wife Sandra Canter), (1979), Fires and Human Behaviour, (1980), and Football in its Place, (1989). He also published on the theoretical and methodological aspects of Applied Psychology.
In the late 1980s he began his innovative work on Forensic Psychology and identified and named the new sub-discipline of Investigative Psychology, establishing the first Masters course in this new area. In 1994, he was appointed Professor of Psychology at the University of Liverpool, where he directs the Centre for Investigative Psychology. Here he also established an MSc in Investigative Psychology, which covers psychological theories, methods and processes as applied to the legal, criminal and civil justice systems and which attracts psychologists and non-psychologists such police officers and social scientists from all over the world.
Professor Canter has since been a major player in the development of offender profiling. In 1986, he was involved in providing guidance to a major police investigation that resulted in the arrest and conviction of John Duffy, the Railway Murderer, applying his skills as an environmental and social psychologist to a practical problem. As a result he was called on to provide profiles for over 150 police investigations and this enabled him to develop the new area of applied psychology of Investigative Psychology, described in his award winning Criminal Shadows. He was recently commissioned by the Metropolitan Police Service at Scotland Yard to develop the first Interactive Offender Profiling System for use in all forms of criminal investigation.
Professor Canter has published over 20 books and over 300 articles in technical and academic journals as well as contributing to newspapers and many television documentaries most notably the six-part documentary series for Channel 5 which he wrote and presented called Mapping Murder.