Black Box Research & Consultancy

Commissioned Research

What is commissioned research in the Criminal Justice System?

Our research enables professionals to approach issues pertaining to the Criminal Justice System with an informed understanding, facilitating evidence-based action to prevent injustice within every aspect of the Criminal Justice System. Our research empowers victim care and provides a comprehensive understanding of the United Kingdom’s efforts to combat modern slavery .

Black Box’s research serves as a vital tool in the fight against deviance and crimes such as Anti-Social Behaviour (ASB), illicit drug use and supply, youth violence and crimes often found in cases of modern slavery (forced labour,  criminal exploitation/county lines), as it provides a more detailed and nuanced understanding of these issues. By developing further evidence and support, we aim to create actionable change to address the broader issues within the Criminal Justice System, allowing us to make a wider impact as a nation.

"During a three-year period, Dr. Robinson helped me to understand the lives of vulnerable and at-risk children and their families. Her research methods and empathetic approach guided my intervention processes.

This then impacted on the responses, firstly as an intervention coach and then as a conduit, to inform local authorities of the difficulties these young people face.

Working with gang-related issues, drug misuse, violent behaviour, historic family issues, community anti-social behaviour and county lines, Dr. Robinson was a huge component in my processes."

Paul Walmsley, Director, Lewis Dunne Foundation

"Black Box Research and Consultancy Ltd is a trusted organisation who have extensive experience of ensuring professionals are equipped with the knowledge and skills that they need to support children and vulnerable adults.

I have collaborated with Dr Grace Robinson, Daniel Robinson and Black Box Research and Consultancy Ltd over many years as part of various research, knowledge-exchange projects and best-practice initiatives. 

We have published peer-reviewed collaborative papers in the Safer Communities journal (Emerald) and the British Journal of Community Justice on youth interventions, crime prevention and evidence-based practice.

Dr Robinson is a Visiting Practitioner in Criminology and an active member of Edge Hill University’s Criminal Justice Advisory panel. She contributes extensively to discussions around matters of mutual interest between academic criminologists and practitioners.

Dr Robinson always brings a fresh perspective to the projects that she is involved in and inspires those who she works alongside with her enthusiasm and creativity. I was able to witness this first-hand when we worked together on a project aimed at educating young people on various forms of harms in society.

Black Box Research and Consultancy Ltd has extensive expertise and knowledge around criminal exploitation, supporting victims – and increasing awareness – of modern slavery."

Dr Sean Creaney, Criminologist and Senior Lecturer, Edge Hill University

"On a personal level working with Dr Grace Robinson & Black Box made me feel more connected to the material and broadened my own horizons in investigating this complex subject.

It was reassuring and also very sad to realise that it was not only me trying to explore this epidemic of exploitation. 

On a practical level Grace & her team introduced me to more resources than I knew were available and showed me how to contextualise those resources within the endeavour that I was working on.  

So it was really helpful to be told about other books and other films and other people working around the same material, broadened my horizons. 

Practically, it gave me a confidence and the expertise in an increased way to speak to other Theatres about the project I’m working on.

So to be able to reference the work of Black Box meant that I had more confident in the way I was communicating. 

Much of what happens in the Theatre is instinctive and exploratory. The support of Black Box meant that I was able to apply structure to my own instincts and explorations. It was invaluable from beginning to end." 

Paul Rattray, Actor and Producer

Founded by Dr Grace Robinson in 2019.

OUR PRIMARY AIM IS TO SUPPORT VICTIMS AND INCREASE AWARENESS OF MODERN SLAVERY.

Contact Us