Dr Hannah Bows is an Associate Professor of Criminal Law and Deputy Dean of Durham Law School, with responsibility for research.

She has been researching violence and abuse – with a particular focus on sexual offences, domestic abuse and homicide – for the last ten years. All of her research is underpinned by a commitment to conduct research with real-world, practical implications and ensuring her research has ‘impact’ is a priority.

She is Specialist Advisor to the Women and Equalities Committee on their Preventing VAWG Inquiry (2022 – present) and in 2019 was seconded to the Scottish Parliament between 2019-2022 to examine potential legal solutions to addressing ‘elder abuse’.

Her current research is examining criminal justice responses, decision making and outcomes in criminal cases involving complainants aged 60 or over (funded by the British Academy).

Outside of academia, Hannah is a magistrate on the Durham and County Darlington bench and was recently (July 2022) appointed a Non-Executive Director of the NHS North East and North Cumbria ICB.