AN EXPERT in cyber crime is helping to make the criminology department at a North-East university among the best in the country.

Dr Sheila Brown has been appointed senior lecturer in criminology at the University of Sunderland - and her expertise is expected to add to the university's growing reputation in this increasingly popular field.

Dr Brown has worked at Teesside and Sheffield universities, in research management and as a consultant for crime reduction partnerships.

As well as cyberspace criminology, writing on topics such as young people and the Internet and virtual victimisation, Dr Brown's other main area of expertise is youth crime and justice, looking at both how society treats young people in conflict with the law, and young people as victims of crime. She has also published in the area of crime and the media, and has regularly commented on national and regional television and radio.

Dr Brown said: "We want to offer a contemporary criminology curriculum for students, including topics in diversity and social justice, youth justice, and violence and abuse, through to 21st Century issues such as forensic criminology, identity theft and cyberstalking.

"I am also looking at potential research into current questions of risk, crime and safety, working with policy makers and communities in the region and reflecting the partnership ethos of the university as a whole.

"We want to help create a safe and sustainable society, and criminologists are a great asset to this aim."

Graduates of the BA (Hons) in Criminology at the university go on to careers in the courts, probation and prison services, police, national and local government and work in the community.

For details, call the Student Helpline 0191-515 3000.