New crime institute in memory of Jill Dando

(Photograph) - An institute of crime science is planned at University College London in memory of Jill Dando (below), the BBC presenter who was murdered on her doorstep 11 months ago. Combining subjects such as criminology, psychology and architecture, crime science was described by Ken Pearce, adviser to the Home Office, as the "ethical pursuit of crime reduction".

The institute will be funded by an estimated Pounds 5 million from the Jill Dando Fund and will offer undergraduate and PhD courses, as well as short courses and modules. Subject to Higher Education Funding Council for England funding, the centre will be operational by the end of the year, with a first intake of students in 2001. The fund also plans a Jill Dando chair in Crime Science.