Last night (15 May 2003) Professor Andrew von Hirsch delivered the first annual Nigel Walker Lecture with a discussion of the criminalisation of ‘anti-social’ behaviour. The Lecture is funded by a bequest from the late Sir Leon Radzinowicz. The bequest will significantly enhance the work of the Institute of Criminology, funding a student prize and visiting fellowship as well as the lecture series.
Last night (15 May 2003) Professor Andrew von Hirsch delivered the first annual Nigel Walker Lecture with a discussion of the criminalisation of ‘anti-social’ behaviour. The Lecture is funded by a bequest from the late Sir Leon Radzinowicz. The bequest will significantly enhance the work of the Institute of Criminology, funding a student prize and visiting fellowship as well as the lecture series.
Leon Radzinowicz was the founding father of criminology in Cambridge. Arriving here as a refugee from Poland in the late 1930s, he established a small Department of Criminal Science in the Faculty of Law during the Second World War. Later, he became the first Wolfson Professor of Criminology (1959-1973) and the first Director of the University's interdisciplinary Institute of Criminology (1960-1972).
Sir Leon remained deeply interested in the work of the Institute until his death in December 1999. In 2001, the Institute held a symposium to commemorate his achievements, and the proceedings of this Symposium were subsequently published.
By his will, Sir Leon has established a fund to be used by the University for two purposes. Firstly, a Prize has been established, named after Sir Leon's successor as Wolfson Professor and Director, Professor Nigel Walker. The Nigel Walker Prize will be awarded annually for an outstanding piece of criminological writing by a Cambridge student: its main purpose is to recognise excellent work by PhD candidates. Secondly, the bequest will establish the Sir Leon Radzinowicz Visiting Fellowship, to be held every alternate year by a leading public figure, especially for the purpose of delivering the Radzinowicz Lectures. These lectures will be on a topic within the field of 'public policy in relation to crime and criminal justice', a focus that reflects Sir Leon's strong and longstanding commitment to the close interrelationship between criminology and criminal policy.
"The Institute is most grateful to its founding Director for this benefaction, which will honour his memory in a lasting and truly suitable way," said Professor Sir Anthony Bottoms, current Wolfson Professor of Criminology.
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