Lenneke van Lith

lennekeI am a PhD candidate at the Netherlands Institute for the Study of Crime and Law Enforcement (NSCR) and the University of Amsterdam (UvA).
I hold a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology and a Master’s degree in Legal Psychology.

My PhD project focuses on violence by and against police officers in interactions with citizens. I want to analyze footage from body-worn cameras to unravel violent situations from second to second. Specifically, I want to look into both violent and non-violent encounters. In this way, it is possible to determine to what extent differences in actions determine whether violence occurs. For example, how does the first moment of contact between an officer and citizen influence the interaction? What different de-escalation techniques do officers use in interactions, and how effective are they? The project aims to determine how police officers can minimize the risk of conflict in interactions with citizens.