Torturing Terrorists: Exploring the limits of law, human rights and academic freedom

Phillip NS Rumney is professor of criminal justice at Bristol Law School, UWE. He has written a number of articles on the debate over the legalisation of interrogational torture, including a detailed analysis of the effectiveness (or otherwise) of torture as a means of producing accurate and timely intelligence disclosures. He has also authored work that examines the way in which interrogational torture can serve to undermine counter-terrorism strategies by provoking retaliation or hardening the resolve of terrorist groups and their supporters.

Amongst his various research interests Phil engages in research concerning rape and freedom of expression. This work has been cited in various government reports, reviews and Parliamentary debates. He is actively engaged in several empirical and developmental projects concerning sexual violence, including a school-based sexual violence myth busting project; a domestic and sexual violence bystander intervention project; an evaluation of a specialist police rape investigation unit and a study of attitudes towards people charged with serious criminal offences. Outside of work, Phil is a passionate fan of boxing.