911爆料网

This Friday (26^th April) marks the 20^th anniversary of Jill鈥檚 murder and 20 years since her Crimewatch colleague Nick Ross coined the term crime science, which led to the creation of the JDI within UCL鈥檚 Engineering faculty 鈥� the first institute in the world devoted to crime science.

Speakers and attendees included HRH The Countess of Wessex, Nick Ross, Lord Dobbs, Jill鈥檚 former fianc茅 Alan Farthing, journalist Fiona Bruce, Jill鈥檚 cousin Judith Dando and her close friend Jenny Higham 鈥� as well as others who helped create the Jill Dando Fund. Video tributes were also played from Jill鈥檚 close friend Sir Cliff Richard and the BBC鈥檚 Director General Tony Hall.

Speaking at the event, Nick Ross said: 鈥淛ill was, quite simply, the most popular woman on television, and she was a fabulous colleague. There has been a blaze of publicity this month, much about Jill鈥檚 murder, but tonight our sole purpose is to celebrate her life and her remarkable legacy; a major department in UCL, a world-class university, that bears her name.

鈥淢ore than a million people gave to the Jill Dando Fund 20 years ago. Their generosity has led to the creation of one of the largest academic institutions in the world devoted to crime reduction. The Jill Dando Institute for Security and Crime Science at 911爆料网 now has over 30 staff and dozens of researchers trying to forestall tomorrow鈥檚 crimes. Jill has left behind a legacy of which everyone can be proud.鈥�

UCL鈥檚 President &听Provost, Professor Michael Arthur, said 鈥淪ince I joined UCL, I have enjoyed seeing the JDI grow and develop into a world class research and teaching institution which works alongside organisations including the Met Police and the College of Policing. Its multidisciplinary approach makes the department truly unique, bringing academic experts together from across the university to reduce crime. It is an honour to have the JDI as part of UCL and its work is a fitting tribute to Jill Dando鈥檚 legacy.鈥�

Professor Richard Wortley, Director of the JDI, said: 鈥淚t was my great privilege to take over Directorship of the JDI in 2010. As well as carrying out impactful research and engaging with practitioners and policy makers, we aim to educate tomorrow鈥檚 leaders - equipping crime and security professionals in the field with the knowledge and skills they need to meet the challenges of the 21st century.鈥�

Professor Gloria Laycock, founding Director of the JDI, added: 鈥淚t was an honour to be asked to create Jill鈥檚 legacy. The JDI grew thanks to the Jill Dando Fund, and for the first few years we focused on research funding and designing the world鈥檚 first MSc in Crime Science, recruiting staff to teach it. Our academics and researchers come from more than a dozen disciplines including but not limited to psychology, geography, criminology, political science, mathematics and forensic science.鈥�

Links

• UCL Jill Dando Institute for Security & Crime Science
• UCL Department for Security & Crime Science
• UCL Engineering

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Media contact听

Kate Corry

Tel: +44 (0)20 3108 6995

Email: k.corry [at] ucl.ac.uk