Alex Stevens
@profalexstevens.bsky.social
Professor of Criminology, University of Sheffield. Trustee at Criminal Justice Alliance. Volunteer for Visually Impaired Sailing Association and Sheffield Jazz. Peak District walker. Drug policy geek.
Pinned
Great news for very many families.
Scrapping the two-child limit in full is a monumental decision. Well done to all involved in the Child Poverty Strategy, and everyone who has made the case against the policy.
OBR says scrapping costs £3 billion in 2029-30 and will lift 450,000 out of poverty
OBR says scrapping costs £3 billion in 2029-30 and will lift 450,000 out of poverty
November 26, 2025 at 2:02 PM
Great news for very many families.
Reposted by Alex Stevens
Great news - The deadline for the 2026 Conference of the International Society for the Study of #DrugPolicy in Perth Australia has been extended to 15 December. 🦘
To submit you abstracts go to issdp.org
To submit you abstracts go to issdp.org
November 25, 2025 at 3:05 PM
Great news - The deadline for the 2026 Conference of the International Society for the Study of #DrugPolicy in Perth Australia has been extended to 15 December. 🦘
To submit you abstracts go to issdp.org
To submit you abstracts go to issdp.org
Reposted by Alex Stevens
New: Three new ex-pupils come forward, on the record, to say Farage's racism as a teenager was targeted, persistent and nasty. Farage has denied targeting any individuals - but two of the men tell us they recall Farage abusing Peter Ettedgui.
w/ Dan Boffey, @drblacklock.bsky.social
w/ Dan Boffey, @drblacklock.bsky.social
Three more ex-pupils at school with Nigel Farage reject ‘banter’ claims
Exclusive: Dulwich college contemporaries ‘rubbish’ Reform UK leader’s suggestion alleged racist taunts not intended to hurt
www.theguardian.com
November 25, 2025 at 9:17 PM
New: Three new ex-pupils come forward, on the record, to say Farage's racism as a teenager was targeted, persistent and nasty. Farage has denied targeting any individuals - but two of the men tell us they recall Farage abusing Peter Ettedgui.
w/ Dan Boffey, @drblacklock.bsky.social
w/ Dan Boffey, @drblacklock.bsky.social
I was at Nigel Farage's sister school in the 1980s, with several Jewish pupils. Taunting them about the holocaust was not part of our 'banter'.
November 25, 2025 at 6:25 PM
I was at Nigel Farage's sister school in the 1980s, with several Jewish pupils. Taunting them about the holocaust was not part of our 'banter'.
Farage is, and always was, a racist.
"You will recall that at the recent lengthy, meeting about the selection of prefects, the remark by a colleague that Farage was "a fascist but that was no reason why he would not make a good prefect" invoked considerable reaction
- 1981 letter from Dulwich English teacher to the headteacher
- 1981 letter from Dulwich English teacher to the headteacher
November 24, 2025 at 10:51 PM
Farage is, and always was, a racist.
Reposted by Alex Stevens
The SSA is now accepting applications for full-time PhD studentships. Funding will include a stipend (living allowance), tuition fees, and research and training costs. Find out how to apply: tinyurl.com/y3n5dvk2
November 20, 2025 at 10:27 AM
The SSA is now accepting applications for full-time PhD studentships. Funding will include a stipend (living allowance), tuition fees, and research and training costs. Find out how to apply: tinyurl.com/y3n5dvk2
Reposted by Alex Stevens
ISSDP is running a panel at the #OC24 Conference on Global Organized Crime on “Advancing global drug market analysis.” Chaired by Professor Peter Reuter and featuring leading #DrugMarket and #DrugPolicy scholars. Please join us: oc24.heysummit.com/talks/advanc...
24-hour Conference on Global Organized Crime
A Talk by Professor Laura Atuesta, Phillip Screen, Hamid Azizi, Rafaella Lipschitz & Dr Peter Reuter PhD
oc24.heysummit.com
November 22, 2025 at 5:18 AM
ISSDP is running a panel at the #OC24 Conference on Global Organized Crime on “Advancing global drug market analysis.” Chaired by Professor Peter Reuter and featuring leading #DrugMarket and #DrugPolicy scholars. Please join us: oc24.heysummit.com/talks/advanc...
Idea for the next King's Speech: a law that forces rail operators to accept each other's tickets in cases of delays.
November 21, 2025 at 6:58 PM
Idea for the next King's Speech: a law that forces rail operators to accept each other's tickets in cases of delays.
I blame the people who voted for Johnson, especially the Tory MPs who elected him as their leader, despite knowing he was an incompetent liar.
UK Covid inquiry:
Chairwoman of the inquiry, former judge Baroness Hallett, said the UK's response could be summarised as "too little, too late"
Lockdown could have been avoided - but action came too late
'Chaotic' government with key figures criticised including Dominic Cummings & Boris Johnson
Chairwoman of the inquiry, former judge Baroness Hallett, said the UK's response could be summarised as "too little, too late"
Lockdown could have been avoided - but action came too late
'Chaotic' government with key figures criticised including Dominic Cummings & Boris Johnson
November 20, 2025 at 10:05 PM
I blame the people who voted for Johnson, especially the Tory MPs who elected him as their leader, despite knowing he was an incompetent liar.
Fall in opioid deaths in BC is more likely down to a shift from injection to inhalation than policing.
Thank you @isabella zavarise for bringing attention to this. The public deserves credible reports about public investments. Real lives are at stake. The vancouver mayor’s comments are shameful given the crisis we are in. www.ctvnews.ca/vancouver/ar...
Vancouver mayor credits DTES task force with reducing overdoses. Here’s what public health experts say
Vancouver Mayor Ken Sim continues to laud the impacts of a police-led task force focused on crime on Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside, claiming it led to a reduction in overdoses.
www.ctvnews.ca
November 20, 2025 at 7:00 AM
Fall in opioid deaths in BC is more likely down to a shift from injection to inhalation than policing.
Reposted by Alex Stevens
NEW DATA: This briefing provides updates to key data from our flagship report, The Global State of Harm Reduction. The update also summarises funding and policy developments since the 2024 report.
Global State of Harm Reduction: 2025 Update to Key Data - Harm Reduction International %
Global State of Harm Reduction 2025: key data updates on harm reduction services, funding and drug policy worldwide amid major 2025 US funding cuts.
hri.global
November 19, 2025 at 11:03 AM
NEW DATA: This briefing provides updates to key data from our flagship report, The Global State of Harm Reduction. The update also summarises funding and policy developments since the 2024 report.
Joined the running picked today with @ucu.org.uk @sheffielduni.bsky.social. Oldest (and slowest) there. It takes real #solidarity to run up Sheffield hills to the management school.
November 18, 2025 at 2:35 PM
Joined the running picked today with @ucu.org.uk @sheffielduni.bsky.social. Oldest (and slowest) there. It takes real #solidarity to run up Sheffield hills to the management school.
Whatever the charge, the death penalty is wrong. #Bangladesh
November 17, 2025 at 2:22 PM
Whatever the charge, the death penalty is wrong. #Bangladesh
Solidarity on the @ucu.org.uk picked line @sheffielduni.bsky.social School of Law. No to compulsory redundancies!
November 17, 2025 at 12:04 PM
Solidarity on the @ucu.org.uk picked line @sheffielduni.bsky.social School of Law. No to compulsory redundancies!
Reposted by Alex Stevens
📣 Trinity College Dublin is hiring 2 #tenuretrack Assistant Professors in Sociology.
👉 Environmental Sociology. Closing Dec 1
www.jobs.ac.uk/job/DPH703/a...
👉 Gender and Sexuality. Closing Dec 2
www.jobs.ac.uk/job/DPI055/a...
@tcdsociology.bsky.social
@isa-rc28.bsky.social @eaps.bsky.social
👉 Environmental Sociology. Closing Dec 1
www.jobs.ac.uk/job/DPH703/a...
👉 Gender and Sexuality. Closing Dec 2
www.jobs.ac.uk/job/DPI055/a...
@tcdsociology.bsky.social
@isa-rc28.bsky.social @eaps.bsky.social
Assistant Professor in Sociology at Trinity College Dublin, The University of Dublin
An opportunity for an academic position as a Assistant Professor in Sociology is available, as advertised on jobs.ac.uk. Apply now and explore other academic job openings.
www.jobs.ac.uk
November 12, 2025 at 2:19 PM
📣 Trinity College Dublin is hiring 2 #tenuretrack Assistant Professors in Sociology.
👉 Environmental Sociology. Closing Dec 1
www.jobs.ac.uk/job/DPH703/a...
👉 Gender and Sexuality. Closing Dec 2
www.jobs.ac.uk/job/DPI055/a...
@tcdsociology.bsky.social
@isa-rc28.bsky.social @eaps.bsky.social
👉 Environmental Sociology. Closing Dec 1
www.jobs.ac.uk/job/DPH703/a...
👉 Gender and Sexuality. Closing Dec 2
www.jobs.ac.uk/job/DPI055/a...
@tcdsociology.bsky.social
@isa-rc28.bsky.social @eaps.bsky.social
Reposted by Alex Stevens
I am hiring a 2-year post-doc, starting Sep 1 2026
econjobmarket.org/positions/12...
If you are interested in culture, gender and masculinity, please apply and join me in Sydney!
econjobmarket.org/positions/12...
If you are interested in culture, gender and masculinity, please apply and join me in Sydney!
EJM - Econ Job Market
econjobmarket.org
November 15, 2025 at 8:11 PM
I am hiring a 2-year post-doc, starting Sep 1 2026
econjobmarket.org/positions/12...
If you are interested in culture, gender and masculinity, please apply and join me in Sydney!
econjobmarket.org/positions/12...
If you are interested in culture, gender and masculinity, please apply and join me in Sydney!
Reposted by Alex Stevens
My favorite conference is accepting abstracts!
The annual meeting of the International Society for the Study of Drug Policy (@issdrugpolicy.bsky.social) will be in Perth 🦘 June 30-July 2, 2026
Abstracts due Nov 30. Submit here: www.issdp.org
Please spread the word. Thx!
The annual meeting of the International Society for the Study of Drug Policy (@issdrugpolicy.bsky.social) will be in Perth 🦘 June 30-July 2, 2026
Abstracts due Nov 30. Submit here: www.issdp.org
Please spread the word. Thx!
November 4, 2025 at 9:26 PM
My favorite conference is accepting abstracts!
The annual meeting of the International Society for the Study of Drug Policy (@issdrugpolicy.bsky.social) will be in Perth 🦘 June 30-July 2, 2026
Abstracts due Nov 30. Submit here: www.issdp.org
Please spread the word. Thx!
The annual meeting of the International Society for the Study of Drug Policy (@issdrugpolicy.bsky.social) will be in Perth 🦘 June 30-July 2, 2026
Abstracts due Nov 30. Submit here: www.issdp.org
Please spread the word. Thx!
Will anyone miss PCCs?
Police and crime commissioners to be abolished, government to announce
Police and crime commissioners to be abolished, government to announce
System introduced in 2012 across England and Wales has faced criticism from police chiefs
*
UK politics live – latest updates
The controversial system of police and crime commissioners is to be abolished by the government, the Guardian has learned.
Under the system, introduced under the Conservatives, all 43 police forces covering local areas across England and Wales had to answer to an elected official. Continue reading...
www.theguardian.com
November 13, 2025 at 6:54 PM
Will anyone miss PCCs?
Reposted by Alex Stevens
It takes an obscene amount of hubris to lecture the BBC when you have The Telegraph’s record on truth-telling.
Some of the paper’s errors this year are so bad they’re almost laughable 👇🏻
Some of the paper’s errors this year are so bad they’re almost laughable 👇🏻
The Telegraph’s BBC hypocrisy
A paper that knows a thing or two about editorial f*ck-ups...
writesbright.substack.com
November 10, 2025 at 7:48 PM
It takes an obscene amount of hubris to lecture the BBC when you have The Telegraph’s record on truth-telling.
Some of the paper’s errors this year are so bad they’re almost laughable 👇🏻
Some of the paper’s errors this year are so bad they’re almost laughable 👇🏻
The BBC scandal inhabits a parallel universe in which it is not absolutely standard practice to edit political speeches to show just the most newsworthy bits.
November 10, 2025 at 7:55 PM
The BBC scandal inhabits a parallel universe in which it is not absolutely standard practice to edit political speeches to show just the most newsworthy bits.
What an absolute shower...
ANOTHER Reform councillor gone in Kent.
I contacted her early this morning to see why she was now described as an "Independent" on the KCC website.
Turns out this is why...
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
I contacted her early this morning to see why she was now described as an "Independent" on the KCC website.
Turns out this is why...
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Reform UK suspends another Kent councillor after video leak
Isabella Kemp is the latest Kent member to be suspended after the leak of a heated virtual meeting.
www.bbc.co.uk
November 6, 2025 at 3:19 PM
What an absolute shower...
Reposted by Alex Stevens
How "earned progression" could backfire
@thehowardleague.bsky.social explains how the Government's earned progression plan could inadvertently result in increasing the numbers of people in prison.
www.russellwebster.com/how-earned-p...
@thehowardleague.bsky.social explains how the Government's earned progression plan could inadvertently result in increasing the numbers of people in prison.
www.russellwebster.com/how-earned-p...
How “earned progression” could backfire
The Howard League explains how the Government's earned progression plan could inadvertently result in increasing the numbers of people in prison.
www.russellwebster.com
November 5, 2025 at 6:36 AM
How "earned progression" could backfire
@thehowardleague.bsky.social explains how the Government's earned progression plan could inadvertently result in increasing the numbers of people in prison.
www.russellwebster.com/how-earned-p...
@thehowardleague.bsky.social explains how the Government's earned progression plan could inadvertently result in increasing the numbers of people in prison.
www.russellwebster.com/how-earned-p...
UK's stupid immigration policy doing as badly as Trump in attracting income and skills from international students.
NEW from me:
Political hostility, high visa fees and (in the case of the UK) stagnant incomes are making the UK and US less attractive destinations for top international talent.
That steep decline in the appeal of moving to the US after 2016 is 👀
Political hostility, high visa fees and (in the case of the UK) stagnant incomes are making the UK and US less attractive destinations for top international talent.
That steep decline in the appeal of moving to the US after 2016 is 👀
November 1, 2025 at 9:25 AM
UK's stupid immigration policy doing as badly as Trump in attracting income and skills from international students.
Greens and Lib Dems must continue working together to beat the far right threat of Reform.
Bromsgrove South (Worcestershire) Council By-Election Result:
🔶 LDM: 51.9% (+20.3)
➡️ RFM: 33.4% (-1.5)
🌳 CON: 11.3% (-5.8)
🌹 LAB: 3.4% (-4.1)
No GRN (-5.5) or Ind (-3.4) as previous.
Liberal Democrat GAIN from Reform.
Changes w/ 2025.
🔶 LDM: 51.9% (+20.3)
➡️ RFM: 33.4% (-1.5)
🌳 CON: 11.3% (-5.8)
🌹 LAB: 3.4% (-4.1)
No GRN (-5.5) or Ind (-3.4) as previous.
Liberal Democrat GAIN from Reform.
Changes w/ 2025.
November 1, 2025 at 9:16 AM
Greens and Lib Dems must continue working together to beat the far right threat of Reform.
NEU: “It is beyond belief that this government’s response to students disengaging in secondary isn’t to consider the impacts on curriculum caused by the tests that already exist in primary but rather is to suggest an additional test in year 8." www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
Bridget Phillipson ‘ready to take on unions’ over year 8 reading tests
Education secretary says mandatory test needed to tackle ‘shocking outcomes’ for many working-class children
www.theguardian.com
November 1, 2025 at 9:13 AM
NEU: “It is beyond belief that this government’s response to students disengaging in secondary isn’t to consider the impacts on curriculum caused by the tests that already exist in primary but rather is to suggest an additional test in year 8." www.theguardian.com/politics/202...