School of Social and Political Science

Research interests

Based on the data gathered from observing participants for 6 months and semi-structured interviews, my qualitative study looks at the drug policing in China under the legal reform and police professionalisation in three dimensions. First, it examines and evaluates the impacts of police professionalisation in drug policing, and how this process is challenged by pedagogical and administrative factors, police culture and guanxi (networks). Second, it argues that police professionalisation may become 'McDonaldisation' that leads to ‘irrationality’ (Heslop, 2011, p.312) when quotas are involved. Finally, as ‘power is a significant factor in the ability of an occupation to move toward the professional end of the continuum’ (Ritzer, 1975, p. 631), my thesis illustrates the redistribution of anti-drug police culture on the path towards police professionalism through the lens of power dynamics.

Research Experience

• Research project on The Impacts of Economic, Institutional Uncertainties and Structural Violence on the Lives of Illegal Chinese Immigrants in London
• Research project on Value Reconstruction of Legal System Education
• Nanchang Prison Survey Programme
• Organised the research project named ‘Factors Affecting the Effects of Ideological and Political Education’

Publications

Shi, H. (2013). Guanyu jianyu jian zhu dui gaizao zuifan de sikao (The Impact of Prison Building on the Offender’s Rehabilitation). Xingsixuekan (Criminal Justice Journal), 9, pp. 43

Shi, Haitao. 2018. ‘Book Review: Measuring Police Subcultural Perceptions: A Study of Frontline Police Officers in China’. Criminology & Criminal Justice 18(1):132–34.