Prof Zoë James, PhD, is Professor of Criminology and a Fellow of the Academy of Social Sciences. Her key research interests lie in examining hate from a critical perspective with a particular focus on the harms of hate experienced by Gypsies, Travellers and Roma. Zoë’s research has explored how mobility, accommodation, policing and planning have impacted the lived experience of Gypsies, Travellers and Roma. Zoë sits on the Advisory Board of the International Network for Hate Studies and has published and presented her work nationally and internationally, most recently authoring a monograph The Harms of Hate against Gypsies and Travellers: A critical hate studies perspective. Zoë teaches criminology theory and methodology, as well as hate studies, to students on the undergraduate and postgraduate Criminology programmes.

• Member, British Society of Criminology 
• Chair, British Society of Criminology South West Branch
• Advisory Board Member, International Network for Hate Studies
• Member, ESRC Peer Review College
• Fellow, Academy of Social Sciences

• Siggi Auerbach, 'Transient Lives: Trans & Non-Binary People’s Encounters with the Harms of Work', 2025
• Brendan Brookshaw, 'Police Corruption and The Criminal Justice And Courts Act 2015'. 2023 
• Grace Gallacher, 'Sporting Success? A Study into Children's Leisure'. 2021
• Katie McBride, 'Trans* Communities Lived Experiences of Harm'. 2019
• Lisa Deblasio, 'A socio-legal study of birth mothers' experience of adoption law'. 2018
• Gareth Addidle, 'Community Planning in Scotland'. 2016
• Sharon Beckett, 'Women and the Violent Workplace'. 2014
• Magdalini Pipini, ‘Public attitudes towards crime and punishment and the factors underlying their construction’. 2013
• Patsy Staddon, 'Women's Alcohol Use: Perceptions and 'Treatment''. 2009

Zoë James teaches on the Criminology undergraduate and postgraduate degrees at Plymouth. She teaches modules on Criminology Theory and Criminology Research as well as Critical Hate Studies. Zoë is a research supervisor and personal tutor for undergraduate and postgraduate students and supervises a number of PhD students who are exploring issues in criminology. Applications for PhD study are welcomed.

Zoë works alongside Dr Katie McBride at Plymouth to run Loaftin Research and Consultancy which bridges the gap between academia and practice. The work of Loaftin provides strategic expert guidance and evaluation that informs evidence based practice, specialising in justice and inclusion.