Harriet Pierpoint is a part-time Professor of Criminology at the University of South Wales, Honorary Professor at the University of Birmingham, and a self-employed Consultant with advisory roles spanning academia, government, and the criminal justice sector. Her work focuses on vulnerability, with particular attention to children, individuals experiencing homelessness, those with speech, language and communication needs, and consumers of legal services.
She has led or contributed to funded research projects for organisations including the Welsh Government, Home Office, Solicitors Regulation Authority, and third-sector bodies, with a cumulative value exceeding £500,000 over the past five years. Her socio-legal and criminological research is grounded in both qualitative and quantitative methodologies, including participatory and trauma-informed approaches. She is experienced in ethical oversight and regularly presents findings in accessible formats to policymakers, practitioners, academic audiences, and the public.
Harriet developed the ‘Universal Practice Approach’, which is gaining traction within the legal sector and beyond for its potential to reshape how vulnerability is understood and addressed. She co-founded and co-chairs the Vulnerability Research Network. Her publication record includes government reports, peer-reviewed articles, and leading handbooks.
She is an award-winning, research-informed teacher who has led undergraduate and MSc modules on research methods, youth justice, and criminal justice. She has supervised BSc, MSc, and PhD projects, and served as external examiner across seven universities, supporting sector-wide quality assurance.
She holds an LLB in Law with French from the University of Birmingham, a Postgraduate Diploma in Social Research and a PhD in Criminology from the University of Plymouth, and is a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy. Harriet’s academic and consultancy work continues to influence policy, practice, and pedagogy.