How is crime reported — and who gets to shape the narrative? In this episode, Dr. Omar Phoenix Khan speaks with Vikram Dodd, Police and Crime Correspondent for The Guardian, about the challenges and responsibilities of covering crime, policing, and justice in the UK.
With a career spanning some of the most significant moments in recent British criminal justice history — from the racist murder of Stephen Lawrence and the landmark Macpherson Report, to reporting on terrorist attacks and the state’s security responses — Vikram reflects on how journalism can hold institutions to account, and rthe unique pressures that come with reporting on the police.
The conversation takes a close look at the Metropolitan Police, a force at the centre of much of his recent reporting, and explores broader questions about the role of media today. How much freedom does a journalist have to express their perspective when covering sensitive topics? What does impartiality mean when evidence points to systemic failures? And how has the rise of social media both complicated and enriched crime reporting — simultaneously driving clicks and amplifying public scrutiny of police misconduct?
Finally, Vikram shares what keeps him motivated in a beat that often involves deeply troubling subject matter, and why independent journalism on crime and justice is more vital than ever.
This episode will resonate with students of criminology, sociology, and media studies, as well as anyone interested in the power of journalism to expose, challenge, and make sense of how justice is pursued in the UK.
