Sherwood sparks surge in criminology applications

Students Holly Newcombe, Leah Dunne and Liv Bassford are all looking to start a career in criminology

The popularity of crime drama Sherwood appears to have sparked a surge in young people looking at a career in criminology.

Nottingham College said it had seen applications for its criminology courses rise by more than 300% while the Nottinghamshire-set show aired on BBC One.

The college's Basford campus has its own crime scene house, in which students can develop their skills as budding crime investigators.

Sherwood is currently in its second season and has just been commissioned for a third.

The crime scene house is used by the students to simulate crime scene investigations as part of their course.

Criminology lecturer LeiIlah Madhau, 27, said she had been delighted by the increased interest.

She said: "I think it’s really good that we have crime-based TV shows like Sherwood because it inspires the next generation and gives them the belief that they can do these roles.

"We teach the students about teamwork and problem solving, because that is effectively what this role is. It's solving a crime.

"We also highlight the different roles within the criminology spectrum, from crime scene managers to photographers."

As part of the course, students examine simulated crime scenes in a purpose-built two-storey facility, designed to look like a real house.

They wear personal protective equipment, learn to take photos of the crime scene and gather evidence for examination.

Student Liv Bassford, 18, said she felt lucky to receive "hands-on experience".

“I’ve always been fascinated by the crime scene and the work that the police do. So I thought I’ll enrol, go for it and see if I can develop a career out of something that I’m passionate about”, she said.

The crime scene house is used specifically to simulate crime scenes

Fellow student, 17-year old Leah Dunne, said: “I’ve been interested in criminology from a young age. I grew up watching a lot of crime-related documentaries.

"As I got older it became such an interesting field for me and inspired me to want to help people and give them the peace they deserve."

Holly Newcombe, 18, said she wanted to help victims get justice.

“I feel very lucky to be here and have these resources and facilities to be able to advance on what I want to do in the future”, she said.