Fergus McNeill
@fergusmcneill.bsky.social
Criminologist interested mainly in punishment, rehabilitation and reintegration… increasingly explored via creative methods. Also a singer-songwriter, when I can find the time.
Reposted by Fergus McNeill
A must read for the Home Secretary:
Guess what: safe, legal routes save lives but U.K. has barely any and keeps closing them because it now favours necropolitics on steroids
reliefweb.int/report/world...
Guess what: safe, legal routes save lives but U.K. has barely any and keeps closing them because it now favours necropolitics on steroids
reliefweb.int/report/world...
Technical Brief 1: The Prevention of Migrant Deaths and Disappearances - Insights from the Missing Migrants Project in the MENA Region - World
Analysis in English on World about Protection and Human Rights; published on 7 Nov 2025 by IOM
reliefweb.int
November 10, 2025 at 5:48 AM
A must read for the Home Secretary:
Guess what: safe, legal routes save lives but U.K. has barely any and keeps closing them because it now favours necropolitics on steroids
reliefweb.int/report/world...
Guess what: safe, legal routes save lives but U.K. has barely any and keeps closing them because it now favours necropolitics on steroids
reliefweb.int/report/world...
Reposted by Fergus McNeill
Gaza Genocide:
October 24, 2025 at 7:35 AM
Gaza Genocide:
Reposted by Fergus McNeill
As always from @foreigncorr1.bsky.social this is spot on and well worth a read.
www.thenational.scot/politics/255...
www.thenational.scot/politics/255...
David Pratt: Tommy Robinson’s red carpet welcome speaks volumes about today’s Israel
IT was the great 10th-century Arab author and geographer, Mohammed ibn Ahmad al-Muqaddasi, who once described the city of Jerusalem as “a golden…
www.thenational.scot
October 23, 2025 at 4:21 PM
As always from @foreigncorr1.bsky.social this is spot on and well worth a read.
www.thenational.scot/politics/255...
www.thenational.scot/politics/255...
Reposted by Fergus McNeill
Astonishing when you see it like this.
October 21, 2025 at 7:00 AM
Astonishing when you see it like this.
Reposted by Fergus McNeill
There is no such thing as cultural coherence. It’s an invented phrase with no intellectual legs to stand on. It presumes ‘cultures’ are discrete with firm boundaries and they simply are not. Porosity is what makes cultures cultures. Openness to difference is what makes for coherence.
October 20, 2025 at 6:03 PM
There is no such thing as cultural coherence. It’s an invented phrase with no intellectual legs to stand on. It presumes ‘cultures’ are discrete with firm boundaries and they simply are not. Porosity is what makes cultures cultures. Openness to difference is what makes for coherence.
Reposted by Fergus McNeill
New journal article 📝 👟🏃♂️
'A running start: Endurance training, Zatopekian pain, and desistance from crime'
by Thomas Ugelvik, Pernille Nyvoll, and Tore Rokkan from Norway.
#Running #Desistance #Criminology #Health
journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/...
'A running start: Endurance training, Zatopekian pain, and desistance from crime'
by Thomas Ugelvik, Pernille Nyvoll, and Tore Rokkan from Norway.
#Running #Desistance #Criminology #Health
journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/...
A running start: Endurance training, Zatopekian pain, and desistance from crime - Thomas Ugelvik, Pernille Nyvoll, Tore Rokkan, 2025
In this exploratory article, we investigate the impact long-distance running may have on desistance from crime. Based on qualitative interviews with 12 individu...
journals.sagepub.com
May 6, 2025 at 7:58 AM
New journal article 📝 👟🏃♂️
'A running start: Endurance training, Zatopekian pain, and desistance from crime'
by Thomas Ugelvik, Pernille Nyvoll, and Tore Rokkan from Norway.
#Running #Desistance #Criminology #Health
journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/...
'A running start: Endurance training, Zatopekian pain, and desistance from crime'
by Thomas Ugelvik, Pernille Nyvoll, and Tore Rokkan from Norway.
#Running #Desistance #Criminology #Health
journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/...
Reposted by Fergus McNeill
This is a lie.
There are many criticisms you might sensibly and truthfully make of the Sentencing Council and the Sentencing Guidelines. I’ve been making them for years.
But this is an outright lie. Pure fabrication. A fraud on the public.
There are many criticisms you might sensibly and truthfully make of the Sentencing Council and the Sentencing Guidelines. I’ve been making them for years.
But this is an outright lie. Pure fabrication. A fraud on the public.
October 7, 2025 at 8:03 AM
This is a lie.
There are many criticisms you might sensibly and truthfully make of the Sentencing Council and the Sentencing Guidelines. I’ve been making them for years.
But this is an outright lie. Pure fabrication. A fraud on the public.
There are many criticisms you might sensibly and truthfully make of the Sentencing Council and the Sentencing Guidelines. I’ve been making them for years.
But this is an outright lie. Pure fabrication. A fraud on the public.
Date for your diaries
September 27, 2025 at 2:26 PM
Date for your diaries
Reposted by Fergus McNeill
Speaking from Gaza, Manar Al Houbi told the BBC's Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg show she was informed just days before her evacuation from Gaza that her family would not be allowed to come with her – despite the Labour Government allowing other students' families to enter the UK.
Gaza student hoping for Glasgow PhD in urgent plea as family blocked from entering UK
A student from Gaza hoping to study in Scotland has issued a plea to the UK Government urging them not to "make her choose" between her…
www.thenational.scot
September 21, 2025 at 12:30 PM
Speaking from Gaza, Manar Al Houbi told the BBC's Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg show she was informed just days before her evacuation from Gaza that her family would not be allowed to come with her – despite the Labour Government allowing other students' families to enter the UK.
Reposted by Fergus McNeill
In her recent report, Dame Anne Owers wrote that the prison capacity crisis stems from the “irresistible pressure for more and longer prison sentences.”
Read our explainer article to understand how longer sentences have fuelled this crisis:
Read our explainer article to understand how longer sentences have fuelled this crisis:
The Howard League | What is sentence inflation?
What is sentence inflation? An expert summary by the Howard League for Penal Reform.
howardleague.org
August 25, 2025 at 10:00 AM
In her recent report, Dame Anne Owers wrote that the prison capacity crisis stems from the “irresistible pressure for more and longer prison sentences.”
Read our explainer article to understand how longer sentences have fuelled this crisis:
Read our explainer article to understand how longer sentences have fuelled this crisis:
Reposted by Fergus McNeill
Children in prisons in England are typically being kept in their cells for about 20 hours per day and receiving less than 15 hours of education per week.
Our updated guide with IPSEA highlights an urgent need to improve education for children with special educational needs:
Our updated guide with IPSEA highlights an urgent need to improve education for children with special educational needs:
The Howard League | Updated legal guide highlights urgent need to improve education for children with special educational needs in custody
An updated version of the joint guide, ‘Education inside penal detention for children in England’
howardleague.org
August 20, 2025 at 10:45 AM
Children in prisons in England are typically being kept in their cells for about 20 hours per day and receiving less than 15 hours of education per week.
Our updated guide with IPSEA highlights an urgent need to improve education for children with special educational needs:
Our updated guide with IPSEA highlights an urgent need to improve education for children with special educational needs:
From the President of the International Association of Genocide Scholars.
opiniojuris.org/2025/08/04/i...
opiniojuris.org/2025/08/04/i...
Is Genocide Happening in Gaza?
[Melanie O’Brien is Associate Professor of International Law at the University of Western Australia, President of the International Association of Genocide Scholars, and Visiting Scholar with the H…
opiniojuris.org
August 4, 2025 at 5:55 PM
From the President of the International Association of Genocide Scholars.
opiniojuris.org/2025/08/04/i...
opiniojuris.org/2025/08/04/i...
Reposted by Fergus McNeill
“Prisons cannot go on like this. It is unconscionable to see the huge rise in deaths in custody, as well as continued spikes in self-harm and in assaults."
A staggering 401 people died in prison in the last year.
Read our response to MoJ's safety in custody stats: howardleague.org/news/shockin...
A staggering 401 people died in prison in the last year.
Read our response to MoJ's safety in custody stats: howardleague.org/news/shockin...
The Howard League | Shocking safety and prison performance figures reveal crisis behind bars
The number of people dying in prison rose by 30% in the past year, official data seen by the Howard League for Penal Reform reveal today (Thursday 31 July).
howardleague.org
July 31, 2025 at 5:23 PM
“Prisons cannot go on like this. It is unconscionable to see the huge rise in deaths in custody, as well as continued spikes in self-harm and in assaults."
A staggering 401 people died in prison in the last year.
Read our response to MoJ's safety in custody stats: howardleague.org/news/shockin...
A staggering 401 people died in prison in the last year.
Read our response to MoJ's safety in custody stats: howardleague.org/news/shockin...
Reposted by Fergus McNeill
We have an opening for a one-year Sociology Lectureship in Glasgow focused on teaching the sociology of class. Please share it with anyone interested. www.jobs.gla.ac.uk/job/lecturer...
Lecturer in Sociology (LTS)
College of Social SciencesSchool of Social & Political Sciences Lecturer in Sociology (LTS)Vacancy Reference: 178793Salary, Grade 7, £40,497 - £45,413 per annum pro rata. The School of Social a...
www.jobs.gla.ac.uk
July 30, 2025 at 10:31 AM
We have an opening for a one-year Sociology Lectureship in Glasgow focused on teaching the sociology of class. Please share it with anyone interested. www.jobs.gla.ac.uk/job/lecturer...
This is what I was doing, exactly 4 years ago… youtu.be/iqAKuQBF5Qg?...
Bloodrush [OFFICIAL VIDEO]
YouTube video by Fergus McNeill
youtu.be
July 30, 2025 at 6:50 AM
This is what I was doing, exactly 4 years ago… youtu.be/iqAKuQBF5Qg?...
Reposted by Fergus McNeill
Congratulations Satnam www.thebritishacademy.ac.uk/fellows/satn... @uofgsociology.bsky.social @uofglasgow.bsky.social
Professor Satnam Virdee FBA
Satnam Virdee is Professor of Sociology, School of Social and Political Sciences at University of Glasgow. He has held the position since 2005. He is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh and of ...
www.thebritishacademy.ac.uk
July 20, 2025 at 6:32 PM
Congratulations Satnam www.thebritishacademy.ac.uk/fellows/satn... @uofgsociology.bsky.social @uofglasgow.bsky.social
Reposted by Fergus McNeill
"Observations from Howard League members in Lowdham Grange prison"
A new blogpost on letters we have received from members living in one of the most troubled jails in the country: howardleague.org/blog/observa...
A new blogpost on letters we have received from members living in one of the most troubled jails in the country: howardleague.org/blog/observa...
The Howard League | Observations from Howard League members in Lowdham Grange prison
Tim Kerr blogs about comments received from Howard League members in Lowdham Grange prison.
howardleague.org
July 7, 2025 at 11:41 AM
"Observations from Howard League members in Lowdham Grange prison"
A new blogpost on letters we have received from members living in one of the most troubled jails in the country: howardleague.org/blog/observa...
A new blogpost on letters we have received from members living in one of the most troubled jails in the country: howardleague.org/blog/observa...
Reposted by Fergus McNeill
NEW: SCOTUS shoots down a federal judge’s effort to protect eight men from being expelled—without due process—to South Sudan, where they face torture and death.
Dissenting, Sotomayor says the court’s “indefensible” decision makes it complicit in “lawlessness.” www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/24p...
Dissenting, Sotomayor says the court’s “indefensible” decision makes it complicit in “lawlessness.” www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/24p...
July 3, 2025 at 8:39 PM
NEW: SCOTUS shoots down a federal judge’s effort to protect eight men from being expelled—without due process—to South Sudan, where they face torture and death.
Dissenting, Sotomayor says the court’s “indefensible” decision makes it complicit in “lawlessness.” www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/24p...
Dissenting, Sotomayor says the court’s “indefensible” decision makes it complicit in “lawlessness.” www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/24p...
Reposted by Fergus McNeill
📖 Book Talk: 'Desistance, Resistance, & Normalcy' with Tea Fredriksson & Robin Gålnander is now on our YouTube page.
@spookademic.bsky.social @robingalnander.bsky.social @stockholm-uni.bsky.social @fergusmcneill.bsky.social @margueritesch.bsky.social
youtu.be/UYT-YytzY-c?...
@spookademic.bsky.social @robingalnander.bsky.social @stockholm-uni.bsky.social @fergusmcneill.bsky.social @margueritesch.bsky.social
youtu.be/UYT-YytzY-c?...
Book Talk: Desistance, Resistance, and Normalcy
YouTube video by The Scottish Centre for Crime and Justice Research
youtu.be
July 1, 2025 at 11:38 AM
📖 Book Talk: 'Desistance, Resistance, & Normalcy' with Tea Fredriksson & Robin Gålnander is now on our YouTube page.
@spookademic.bsky.social @robingalnander.bsky.social @stockholm-uni.bsky.social @fergusmcneill.bsky.social @margueritesch.bsky.social
youtu.be/UYT-YytzY-c?...
@spookademic.bsky.social @robingalnander.bsky.social @stockholm-uni.bsky.social @fergusmcneill.bsky.social @margueritesch.bsky.social
youtu.be/UYT-YytzY-c?...
Reposted by Fergus McNeill
How will the sentencing review recommendations be turned into operational reality?
With new legislation expected any day now, this blogpost from our Director of Campaigns, @andrewjamesneilson.bsky.social, looks at what the future may hold: howardleague.org/blog/how-wil...
With new legislation expected any day now, this blogpost from our Director of Campaigns, @andrewjamesneilson.bsky.social, looks at what the future may hold: howardleague.org/blog/how-wil...
The Howard League | How will the sentencing review recommendations be turned into operational reality?
Andrew Neilson blogs about new sentencing legislation, which is expected to be introduced soon.
howardleague.org
June 30, 2025 at 1:16 PM
How will the sentencing review recommendations be turned into operational reality?
With new legislation expected any day now, this blogpost from our Director of Campaigns, @andrewjamesneilson.bsky.social, looks at what the future may hold: howardleague.org/blog/how-wil...
With new legislation expected any day now, this blogpost from our Director of Campaigns, @andrewjamesneilson.bsky.social, looks at what the future may hold: howardleague.org/blog/how-wil...
Reposted by Fergus McNeill
Critical piece of research on sexual violence in the Scottish folk music scene, please share. www.sccjr.ac.uk/news_item/se...
Sexual violence and harassment in Scottish folk music: Opportunity to participate in research. - SCCJR
We are seeking the views and experiences of women musicians on sexual violence and harassment in the Scottish folk music […]
www.sccjr.ac.uk
June 25, 2025 at 9:23 AM
Critical piece of research on sexual violence in the Scottish folk music scene, please share. www.sccjr.ac.uk/news_item/se...
Reposted by Fergus McNeill
Here are some of the members of a working group we convened to explore ways to end the IPP scandal. Have you read their recommendations yet?
The report was launched last night in the House of Lords, and you can read it here: howardleague.org/publications...
📸 @andyaitchison.bsky.social
The report was launched last night in the House of Lords, and you can read it here: howardleague.org/publications...
📸 @andyaitchison.bsky.social
June 24, 2025 at 10:42 AM
Here are some of the members of a working group we convened to explore ways to end the IPP scandal. Have you read their recommendations yet?
The report was launched last night in the House of Lords, and you can read it here: howardleague.org/publications...
📸 @andyaitchison.bsky.social
The report was launched last night in the House of Lords, and you can read it here: howardleague.org/publications...
📸 @andyaitchison.bsky.social
Reposted by Fergus McNeill
"James Timpson, the prisons minister and Labour peer, should accept this workable and detailed plan and seek to close this shameful chapter in the history of British criminal justice."
www.independent.co.uk/voices/edito...
www.independent.co.uk/voices/edito...
Keir Starmer must end the injustice of indefinite sentences today
Editorial: There are thousands of people in prison in Britain with no release date, serving sentences that were abolished in 2012
www.independent.co.uk
June 22, 2025 at 7:30 AM
"James Timpson, the prisons minister and Labour peer, should accept this workable and detailed plan and seek to close this shameful chapter in the history of British criminal justice."
www.independent.co.uk/voices/edito...
www.independent.co.uk/voices/edito...
Please share this far and wide… esp if you are part of the Scottish folk music scene.
🗣️ Please share/take part in our survey on: Women musicians' experiences of sexual violence & harassment in the Scottish folk scene.
We've heard many conversations about ongoing challenges and hope to help develop better understanding and awareness, and pathways to change.
✍️ bit.ly/UofG-Survey
We've heard many conversations about ongoing challenges and hope to help develop better understanding and awareness, and pathways to change.
✍️ bit.ly/UofG-Survey
June 19, 2025 at 1:10 PM
Please share this far and wide… esp if you are part of the Scottish folk music scene.