18.02.20

Student social workers put their questions to former Chief Crown Prosecutor

Categories: School of Health and Society

Social work students had the opportunity to hear from Nazir Afzal OBE, former Chief Crown Prosecutor for North West England, as he visited the University of Salford today.

Dr Allister Butler, Dr Suryia Nayak and Nazir Afzal OBE

Nazir spoke to the group of 60 students about his career and the cases he has worked on. He also took questions from the students on a range of topics, from how to maintain your own wellbeing when working on difficult cases, to how to become more strategic in order to influence change in the profession.

During his 24-year career, Nazir prosecuted some of the most high profile cases in the country and advised on many others. He led nationally on several legal topics including violence against women and girls, child sexual abuse, and honour based violence. 

His prosecutions of the so-called Rochdale grooming gang, BBC presenter Stuart Hall and hundreds of others were ground-breaking and drove the work that has changed the landscape of child protection.

Nazir also highlighted to our students the importance of their role as social workers to make a difference to people who may be extremely vulnerable or have become victims of abuse or exploitation. 

Dr Allister Butler, Head of Social Work and Integrated Practice at the University of Salford said: “It is fantastic to have Nazir here today, hearing his incredible story has been both challenging and inspirational. Hopefully as our students come to the end of their time with us at the University of Salford they will feel confident that they, like Nazir, can go on to make real and lasting change for our local communities.”

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