Nikki Carthy

Nikki is a Chartered Psychologist and Honorary Secretary for the northeast branch of the British Psychological Society. Nikki is a trained Triangle Intermediary; this work includes conducting communication assessments with vulnerable people to ensure they are questioned appropriately within the Criminal Justice System. Nikki was previously a director at EVA Women’s Aid and Rape Crisis Centre. Nikki played a key role in the strategic leadership of the organisation and in her role as Chair of the Board of Directors she supported the development of the 45+ project which was launched in 2014 to provide more awareness and service provision for mid-life and older women who have fallen victim to domestic abuse. In 2015 EVAs 45+ project opened the UKs first safe house for older women.

Before moving to Teesside University in 2014, Nikki conducted her PhD research at the International Research Centre for Investigative Psychology under the supervision of Professor David Canter and Dr Donna Youngs. Nikki’s PhD research focused on deconstructing offenders’ narratives using the LAAF methodological approach. During her time at the research centre she coordinated the ICON (international comparison of offenders’ narratives) project. Nikki was also a research assistant on the ASBO (analysis of spatial behaviours of offenders) project, the SPEL (suspect prioritisation, elicitation and linkage) project, and a project exploring the impact of attrition on the investigation of rape offences.

Nikki is currently leading the Ask The Question project, which aims to raise awareness and empower professional curiosity to ask questions about difficult topics such as domestic violence and sexual violence and exploitation.

Nikki is currently involved in several other research projects. They include:

• Survivors stories which explores the narratives of domestic and sexual violence victims
• Psycho-educational approaches to sexual consent among young people
• Examining the role of rapport building in investigative interviews with suspected internet sex offenders
• Deconstructing offenders’ narratives using the LAAF (life as a film) approach

• Chartered Psychologist - British Psychological Society (BPS)
• Honorary Secretary - North East of England Branch of British Psychological Society
• Fellow of Higher Education Academy
• Member of International Academy of Investigative Psychology (AI-IP)
• Member of International Investigative Interviewing Research Group (iIIRG)

• International research centre for investigative psychology, University of Huddersfield, UK
• Bishop Grosseteste University, UK
• EVA Women's Aid and Rape Crisis Centre, UK
• Unviersity of Cumbria, UK
• Northumbria University, UK

Course Leader for BSc Forensic Psychology

Module leader for Applied Forensic Psychology and Psychopathologies, Psychometrics and Individual Differences