‘International’ Law and Order Expert Unknown within Criminal Justice Profession

David Fraser, author of newly released book, ‘Badlands NZ: A Land Fit for Criminals’, who describes himself as an ‘international law and order expert’, is unknown within the criminal justice community, says Kim Workman, Director of Rethinking Crime and Punishment.

“He published one earlier book in 2006, and came to New Zealand in June 2008, under the umbrella of the Sensible Sentencing Trust to promote a ‘get tough’ law and order policy. At that time he described himself as an expert on the inner workings of that country’s Criminal Justice system, having worked for 26 years in the British Probation Service, Courts and Prisons.”

“In an interview with the NZ Herald (14 June 2008) , he acknowledges sending the manuscript for his first book to 60 publishers before it was finally accepted by Book Guild Publishing in Surrey. After reading it, I understood why. His lectures and debates disregarded the contemporary academic literature, and were bereft of logic.”

“At that time I became suspicious of his claim of expertise. When I mentioned his name among those criminal justice experts and academics no one had heard of him.”

“One of the people I spoke to was Phil Wheatley who until last June was the Director General of the National Offender Management Service In England and Wales. Phil has over 40 years experience. He joined as a prison officer in 1969 and worked his way up to become Director General in charge of Prisons in 2003 and both Prison and Probation Services in 2008. He knows and is known by all the UK experts and yet he had never heard of David Fraser nor ever come across any example of his knowledge or expertise. Nor has he been published in any reputable academic journal.”

“It worries me that someone should write a book about the New Zealand law and order scene, and claim to be an ‘international expert’, when after 26 years in the UK Probation Service, he left making absolutely no impression.”

“His book on New Zealand should be read on the basis that he has worked as a UK probation officer, and has a personal view of the UK criminal justice system. The ‘international expert’ claim should be disregarded.

ends

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