Sam Duggan

Graduating Criminology and Policing student Sam Duggan has gone from a job documenting fraud cases to working to rehabilitate domestic violence perpetrators. 

Now she is celebrating getting a first class degree alongside her new career. 

“I feel amazing,” said the mother-of-two. “I’m the first one in my family to get a degree so it’s just a great achievement and I’m really proud of myself to be able to do it alongside working and family life.”

Sam has taken up a role as a case manager for the DRIVE programme. Operated by the charity Cranstoun, DRIVE is a programme run for West Mercia Police that aims to reduce the number of children and adults becoming victims of domestic abuse, by deterring and challenging abusive behaviours.

“I’m over the moon that I’ve managed to secure a job in the sector doing something I’m really passionate about,” she said. “It’s just the fact that you get the chance to work with offenders and make a difference.”

Sam came across the opportunity when looking for work placements to support her future plan to complete a Master’s at the University. The programme looks at promoting behavioural change and gives support to try to address any issues. Prior to her studies, Sam was working as a Civil Servant in Counter Fraud and Compliance when she realised she wanted to be the one investigating and working with the criminals on the police side of things. Having thought she would go into fraud investigation, Sam found she was particularly interested in a module looking at domestic abuse. Having spoken to lecturers she started looking at careers options and for opportunities to work in this area.

“I don’t think I would have got this job without the degree,” she said. “Without that this door wouldn’t have been open. The skills and knowledge I have got through each module in doing the degree has enabled me to open the door to begin a career working alongside those involved within the criminal justice system."

“It’s an understanding of criminology as a whole, looking at how and why individuals offend, and delving into how theories can be linked to a criminal’s behaviour. The policing side of my degree enabled me to gain an insight into how the police work to tackle crimes. Also the process from the arrest, to questioning, investigation, and the court proceedings. The whole three years have given me the grounding I needed to be able to start opening that door to work in that sector.”

She said in her current role certain aspects of the course were proving key. “It’s the background and understanding of why they might be going down that route and not just taking them at face value. My wider understanding and confidence enables me to challenge perpetrators. Particularly the policing modules which teach you the skills on how to ask open questions, to use in policing interviews.”

Having spent over 14 years working in various roles in the Civil Service, a visit on an Open Day convinced Sam to come to the University of Worcester. As a mature student she felt that the lecturers understood her position.

“It was the course and lecturers,” she said. “I was interested in looking at how I would fit in being a mature student. They made me feel really at home and comfortable. It was very friendly, they understood that I have got the children and understood my circumstances. I did worry about how I would find going back to study, but with the support of the lecturers and everyone at the University they made it possible for me to achieve my degree.”