The University of Law has awarded Honorary Doctorates to Narinder Singh Sekhon and Laura Richards during its November graduation ceremonies, in recognition of their service to law and policing.
Laura is a renowned criminal behavioural analyst and international expert on domestic violence, coercive control, stalking, sexual violence, homicide and risk assessment. After a decade of analysing violent crime at New Scotland Yard Laura became the violence adviser to the National Police Chiefs Council (NPCC).
Trained by world leaders at the Behavioural Analysis Unit, National Centre for the Analysis of Violent Crime at the FBI and New Scotland Yard, Laura has applied her psychology degrees to analyse violent crime from a behavioural and preventative perspective.
As Founder of Paladin, the world’s first National Stalking Advocacy Service, Laura spearheaded the Domestic Violence Law Reform Campaign to criminalise coercive control in England and Wales. Laura also helped draft the new law and the statutory guidance on coercive control and developed and delivered the first training on the new law in the UK.
Now, her work sees Laura leading campaigns in the US and Australia to criminalise coercive control, and a UK campaign for serial domestic violence perpetrators and stalkers to be proactively identified, assessed and managed by police, prison and probation services.
Beyond her extensive work in criminal justice and policing, Laura has established a name for herself in the media, with credits including executive producer of The First Wife: John Meehan’s Reign of Terror on Audible, consulting producer and on-screen expert for the two-hour documentary special “Dirty John, The Dirty Truth.” Laura was also executive producer of the CBS show The Case of: JonBenét Ramsey and The Case of: Caylee Anthony on Oxygen, and host of the Netflix series Killer in the Family.
Commenting on her Honorary Doctorate, Laura said: “I am deeply honoured and humbled to receive this honorary doctorate from The University of Law. Having changed laws 10 times to better protect women and children, this award is dedicated to all the victims I have spoken with and in their name to create real change.”
Mr. Narinder Singh Sekhon is a criminal barrister of over 25 years’ call, specialising in serious crime. A member of the Judiciary and former Parliamentary Candidate for Bradford South, he has appeared in some of the UK’s most high-profile cases. Holding an LLB (Hons), he combines legal excellence with public service and philanthropy through his family business, reflecting integrity, leadership, and a deep commitment to the community.
Commenting on his recognition, Narinder said: ““To be recognised in this way by the university of law is both humbling and motivating, and I accept this honour with immense gratitude”
Professor Andrea Nollent, ULaw’s Vice-Chancellor & CEO, added: “Narinder and Laura share a commitment to excellence in their respective fields. Both have carried out groundbreaking work, affecting genuine change for the better in UK law. We are proud to present them both with Honorary Doctorates in recognition of their dedication to upholding the highest standards in law and criminal justice.”