Dr Stephen Colman

Stephen in the module leader for Criminal Law, Criminal Procedure, Criminal Evidence and Administrative Law on the undergraduate programme.  He is also the module leader for the Contemporary Criminal Law and Criminal Evidence & Psychology modules on the LLM Criminal Law and Justice.  At the University of Suffolk Staff Awards 2022, he was nominated for the Outstanding Contribution to Learning Award.

Stephen’s current research concerns the exercise of prosecutorial discretion and the rights of victims to challenge prosecution decision-making. This includes elements of administrative law and victimology. He is also interested in all aspects of the criminal law, evidence and procedure. 

Recent Publications

Journal Articles:

• ‘Evaluating Private Prosecutions:  Reform or Abolition?’ [2023] Crim LR 689
• ‘A comparison of the implementation of the victims' right to review in England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland’ [2018] Criminal Law Review 365
• ‘Application for judicial review of the CPS Victims' Right to Review Scheme:  R. (Chaudhry) v DPP’ (2017) 81(1) The Journal of Criminal Law 5
• ‘The admissibility of 999 calls and out-of-court statements to police officers as res gestae evidence:  Lee Stewart Barnaby v The Director of Public Prosecutions [2015] EWHC 232 (Admin).’  (2015) 79(5) The Journal of Criminal Law 314
• ‘Voice Recognition Evidence:  R v Kapikanya [2015] EWCA Crim 1507’ (2016) 80(1) The Journal of Criminal Law 5

Blogs:

• ‘Rights of Review and Vulnerable Defendants’ on the ‘Defending Vulnerability’ Blog (October 2023)

Chapters in Books: 

• ‘Crown Prosecution Service Decision-Making’ in Paul Andell & John Pitts (eds) ‘The Palgrave Handbook of Youth Gangs in the UK’ (Palgrave 2023)

Conference Presentations:

• ‘CPS Evidence and Gangs’ at the UK Gang Studies and Criminal Exploitation Conference, University of Suffolk, Monday 4 September 2023
• ‘Rights of Review and Vulnerable Defendants’ at the Vulnerable Accused in the Criminal Justice System Conference, University of Birmingham, 13-14 September 2023

Stephen has developed the relationship between the law programme and the local legal community and has established legal placements with a number of law firms. Stephen has also delivered training to external organisations on aspects of criminal evidence and procedure, such as statement writing and giving evidence at court.

Stephen is the University of Suffolk Representative on the Executive Committee of the Suffolk and North Essex Law Society.