Dhwani Malhotra

Thesis: Understanding Homicide in London: Data, Institutions and Violence Prevention

This project aims to examine how knowledge about homicide in London is socially and institutionally produced, interpreted and used. It draws on the LVRU Homicide Coding Framework as its primary analytical foundation alongside the Home Office Homicide Index and linked administrative datasets.

The research is initially structured around three broad, interconnected research questions, which will be refined in collaboration with my supervisors once a detailed literature review has have been conducted. First, how is the Homicide Coding Framework constructed as an administrative dataset, and how to strengthen it to more comprehensively capture the complex, real-world contexts of homicide in London? Second, how do institutional, social and situational factors shape the way homicide data is recorded and interpreted across agencies? A deeper account of those processes is essential to building a more comprehensive understanding of homicide and strengthening the steps for its prevention. Third, how can the Framework be developed into a more effective prevention tool? For example, can computational methods such as predictive modelling identify patterns of escalation before fatal violence occurs.

The project adopts a mixed methods design including, but not limited to quantitative analysis of the homicide data and qualitative interviews with police and partnership practitioners. The study also incorporates an intersectional lens to explore how socio-cultural factors shape institutional recording practices. Findings may identify systematic recording issues and areas for more robust administrative data collection, shedding light on indicators of escalation and patterns of service contact preceding homicide, delivering practical recommendations for improving multi-agency coordination and violence prevention across London.

Biography:

I work at the intersection of evidence-based research and impact-driven initiatives that address social inequalities. Presently, my doctoral research examines how knowledge about homicide in London is produced, interpreted and used across institutional settings, with a particular focus on administrative data, institutional practices and violence prevention. Previously, I have developed experience across research, policy and practice. I was selected as a member of the London Violence Reduction Unit’s Young People’s Action Group, where I co-designed and co-developed projects addressing inequalities affecting young people, including a research on housing inequalities undertaken in collaboration with University College London. I have also worked as a freelance Child Safety Researcher for a global trust and safety technology company, analysing patterns of online child exploitation to support platform safety and moderation efforts. I have further led impact-focused initiatives addressing social and structural inequalities. As a Project Lead at My Life, I worked on a programme delivering mental health education across more than 15 prisons in England, gaining experience in community-led initiatives and working directly with diverse communities. This experience was built on my earlier work in India with Purple Space and Girl Up Seher (a chapter of the UN Foundation), as well as my placements with the Delhi Commission for Protection of Child Rights. Through my PhD, I look forward to strengthening my skills in translating research and data into practical interventions and using evidence to inform institutional responses to complex social problems.

Sociology

University of Warwick

2026 Cohort

Supervisors:

Dr. Emily Gray

Dr. Ulf Liebe