Head of School of Social Sciences
I have 16 years experience of teaching, research, and leadership in higher education. I returned to the University of Sunderland to take up the role of Head of School of Social Sciences in 2023, following a role at Glasgow Caledonian University, where I led a multidisciplinary department across Economics and Law. Prior to that, I was Head of Department for Criminology, Law and Policing at Teesside University, where I set up the Professional Policing degree and worked alongside the College of Policing to provide training for senior officers.
I completed my PhD at Sunderland in 2012 and have spent 11 years teaching and then leading the law provision. My PhD examines the way in which terrorism suspects can be dealt with in the UK and the USA. I am research active and have published in the UK and USA. My principal research interests are in terrorism, human rights, and public law. I have also spent three years working in business.
I am excited to be leading the multi-disciplinary school of Social Sciences and having joined such an outstanding team. Sunderland's values, professions-facing approach, and commitment to students were all a big draw for me, and I'm delighted with our international recognition in the Times Higher Education World University rankings.
Teaching and supervision
I have extensive teaching experience across a range of undergraduate and postgraduate subjects, including terrorism, organised crime, human rights, and police powers.
Research interests for potential research students
I regularly supervise postgraduate students and have supervised PhD and DProf students to completion. I currently have three doctoral students.
I am interested in hearing from students who are looking to engage in research on any area of policing and/or terrorism studies.
Publications
Article
Middleton, Ben, Antonopoulos, Georgios A and Papanicolaou, Georgios (2019) The Financial Investigation of Human Trafficking in the UK: Legal and Practical Perspectives. The Journal of Criminal Law, 83 (4). pp. 284-293. ISSN 0022-0183
Middleton, Ben (2013) Deporting Terrorist Suspects with Assurances: Lessons from the United Kingdom. Connecticut Public Interest Law Journal, 12 (1). pp. 129-194. ISSN 1932-2046
Middleton, Ben (2011) Rebalancing, Reviewing or Rebranding the Treatment of Terrorist Suspects: the Counter-Terrorism Review 2011. Journal of Criminal Law, 75 (3). pp. 225-248. ISSN 0022 0183
Newman, Christopher and Middleton, Ben (2010) Any Excuse for Certainty: English Perspectives on Defence of 'Reasonable Excuse'. The Journal of Criminal Law, 74 (5). pp. 472-486. ISSN 0022-0183
Middleton, Ben (2010) Re)Freezing Terrorist Assets, A v HM Treasury; R.(on the application of Youssef) v HM Treasury ; HM Treasury v Al-Ghabra. Journal of Criminal Law, 74 (3). ISSN 0022-0183
Middleton, Ben (2010) Possession of terrorist information: role of intention, R. v Muhammed (Sultan). The Journal of Criminal Law, 74 (5). pp. 397-400. ISSN 0022-0183
Middleton, Ben (2009) Secret Control Order Hearings: a Qualified Victory for the Right to a Fair Trial. The Journal of Criminal Law, 73 (5). pp. 389-393. ISSN 0022-0183
Middleton, Ben (2009) Revocation of Control Orders under the Prevention of Terrorism Act 2005. The Journal of Criminal Law, 73 (4). pp. 291-294. ISSN 0022-0183
Middleton, Ben (2009) Sections 57 and 58 of the Terrorism Act 2000: interpretation update. The Journal of Criminal Law, 73 (3). pp. 203-206. ISSN 0022-0183
Middleton, Ben (2009) Failure to disclose and assisting a terrorist. The Journal of Criminal Law, 73 (2). pp. 132-136. ISSN 0022-0183
Middleton, Ben (2009) Stopping Searching under Control Orders, Secretary of State for the Home Department v GG; Secretary of State for the Home Department v N. The Journal of Criminal Law, 786. pp. 471-474. ISSN 0022-0183
Middleton, Ben (2008) Control order hearings: compliance with Article 6 ECHR. The Journal of Criminal Law, 73 (1). pp. 21-25. ISSN 0022-0183
Middleton, Ben (2008) Jury directions: interpreting s.57 and s.58 of the Terrorism Act 2000. The Journal of Criminal Law, 72 (5). pp. 349-353. ISSN 0022-0183
Middleton, Ben (2008) Terrorism-related documents: defining the ambit of s.58 of the Terrorism Act 2000. The Journal of Criminal Law, 72 (2). pp. 102-105. ISSN 0022-0183
Middleton, Ben (2008) Modifying control orders: illuminating the borderline, Secretary of State for the Home Department v AP. Criminal Law and Justice Weekly, 72 (6). pp. 476-481.
Middleton, Ben (2008) Terrorism Act 2000: seeking deproscription. Secretary of State for the Home Department v Lord Alton of Liverpool and Others. Terrorism Act 2000: seeking deproscription. Secretary of State for the Home Department v Lord Alton of Liverpool and Others, 72 (4). pp. 270-274.
Thesis
Middleton, Ben (2012) Constitutional Optimization across Executive Terrorist Treatment Strategies. Doctoral thesis, University of Sunderland.
- Human Rights (International and Domestic)
- Counter-Terrorism
- Policing
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