Transforming Justice Access for Sex Workers: Dr Larissa Sandy’s Innovation Fellowships research
Supported by the British Academy, Dr Larissa Sandy partnered with a local organisation to create a trauma-informed crime reporting system for sex workers centred on trust, dignity and real change.
Case study
Programme: Innovation Fellowships 2022
Project title: 'Developing an adaptive response to sexual and serious violent crime reporting in Nottingham'
Award amount: £97,229.76
Name of institution: University of Nottingham
As an Associate Professor in Criminology, Dr Larissa Sandy’s research focuses on sex work and critical trafficking studies, addressing the barriers sex workers face in accessing justice.
Driven by the aim of creating safer, more inclusive systems for marginalised communities, and with the support of a British Academy Innovation Fellowships, Dr Sandy collaborated with a local sex worker support organisation in Nottingham, working closely with sex workers to design a trauma-informed, sex worker-centred crime reporting system. Uniquely, this system was housed within the support organisation rather than the police, ensuring that it was accessible, non-judgemental, and built on trust.
The system introduced a police liaison officer who operated independently of the police force structure, embedded within the community organisation to help sex workers safely report crimes. Throughout the development process, Dr Sandy’s team worked not only with sex workers but also with service providers and police departments, challenging deeply held myths and stereotypes about sex work. By confronting stigma and discrimination, the project contributed to changing attitudes both within support services and the policing system itself.
The collaboration also extended to working directly with the police, aiming to shift policing practices towards more trauma-informed, respectful engagement with sex workers. This multi-faceted approach sought not only to improve immediate reporting systems, but also to lay the foundations for long-term cultural change within institutions.
Finding funding for projects that involve collaboration between charities and academics is often difficult. The British Academy’s focus on real-world outcomes and community impact made it a natural fit for Larissa’s ambitions, and it was the Academy’s emphasis on meaningful change that attracted her to the fellowship.
The British Academy’s support allowed me to develop a project that goes beyond academia and has a tangible impact on policy and practice. This research also opened doors for international collaborations and policy discussions.
Moving forward, our goal is to expand this crime reporting system across the UK and ensure sex workers have access to justice. - Dr Larissa Sandy
Reflecting on the work, Dr Sandy expresses immense pride in the results. Seeing sex workers actively engaged, respected, and empowered by the project reaffirmed the importance of community-centred research and advocacy. The fellowship provided the support needed to not just imagine a better system, but to build one.
Dr Larissa Sandy’s work exemplifies the transformative power of collaboration, research, and respect in creating safer societies. Through the support of the British Academy, her project stands as a model for how knowledge, empathy and action can work together to drive lasting change.
Find out more about the British Academy’s Innovation Fellowships scheme in the funding section of the website.