People

Professor Anna Sergi

Professor
Department of Sociology and Criminology
Professor Anna Sergi
  • Email

  • Telephone

    +44 (0) 1206 873046

  • Location

    5A.312, Colchester Campus

  • Academic support hours

    by email

Profile

Biography

Professor of Criminology (Critical studies on organised crime & mafia) Ethics Officer - Department of Sociology Anna Sergi holds a PhD in Sociology (2014), with specialisation in Criminology, from the Department of Sociology at the University of Essex. Her research specialism is in organised crime studies and comparative criminal justice. She has published extensively in renowned peer-review journals in criminology on topics related to Italian mafias both in Italy and abroad as well as on policing strategies against organised crime across states. She has authored 7 books. Since September 2015 she lectures in criminology at the University of Essex. In Autumn 2015 she worked as a consultant for the Australian Institute of Criminology, in Canberra and as a Research Fellow at Flinders Law School, in Adelaide. in 2017 she has visited the University of Montreal in Canada as Visiting Scholar and she is an Internaitonal Fellow at the University of Melbourne.In 2019 she was awarded an International Scholar Visiting Fellowship at the University of Turin. In 2021 she is Visiting Professor at the University of Pisa, in Italy and in 2023 at the Australian National University. Before joining Essex, she was a lecturer in Policing and Crime Sciences at the University of West London. In early 2014 she has contributed as a Research Assistant, seconded to the National Crime Agency in London, to a project of the University of Cambridge, within the RCUK Global Uncertainties Programme in early 2014. In this position Anna was looking at the requirements of the NCA for social and behaviorual sciences research in the fight against serious and organised crime. In Autumn 2013, Anna has visited the New York School of Law, Center for Research in Crime and Justice, as Program Affiliate Scholar, to work on a comparative project on criminal law and justice against organised crime groups in the USA and in England and Wales. Prior to starting her doctorate, Anna has completed her five-years degree in law in Italy, at the University of Bologna in 2009, majoring with honours (cum laude) in International and European Criminal Procedure, followed by a Master of Law (LL.M.) in Criminal Law, Criminology and Criminal Justice with merit at Kings College, in London. After completing her LL.M, Anna has worked in the private sector for one year, first as an Intern in the Forensics and Anti-Money Laundering Department of Pricewaterhouse Coopers in Milan, Italy and afterwards as Staigiare Paralegal in the Italian Desk and Litigation Department for Withers LLP in London. Since she has joined Essex in 2011 Anna has also been very committed to teaching. She has conducted lectures and seminars in various fields of criminology (among which Organised Crime modules at both UG and PG levels) at the University of Essex, University of West London, University of Roehampton, London Metropolitan University and abroad, University of Rotterdam, University of Bari and many others. Last but not least, Anna is Co-Chair of the Southern Branch Network of the British Society of Criminology, She joined the BSC Executive Committee in April 2013 as Co-Chair of the Post-graduate Committee. Between November 2012 and December 2015 she was Newsletter Editor, sitting in the Executive Committee of the ECPR Standing Group on Organised Crime. Anna is also the recipient of the 2017 Award Italy Made me for the Social Sciences category for Early Career Researchers of Italian nationality in the UK promoted by the Italian Embassy.She was also awarded the Talented Italian Award by the Italian Chamber of Commerce in London in 2018 and also in 2018 she won the ESRC Impact Award for Early Career Researchers at the University of Essex. In 2021 she has been awarded the Excellent Educator Award at the University of Essex. Laurea Magistrale in Giurisprudenza, Università di Bologna, Italy, 2009 LL.M in Criminal Law, Criminology and Criminal Justice, King's College, London, UK 2009 Visiting Scholar, Center for Crime and Justice, New York University School of Law, USA, 2013 Ph.D. Sociology (Criminology) University of Essex, 2014 PG Cert - Associate Fellowship Higher Education Academy, 2014 Visiting Research Fellow Australian Institute of Criminology, Canberra, Australia, 2015 Visiting Research Fellow Flinders University, Adelaide, Australia, 2015 Visiting International Fellow, University of Montreal, Canada, 2017 Visiting International Fellow, University of Melbourne, Australia, 2017 Visiting Scholar University of Turin, 2019 Visiting Professor University of Pisa 2021 Visiting Professor Australian National University 2023

Qualifications

  • Laurea Magistrale in Giurisprudenza, Università di Bologna, Italy, 2009

  • LL.M in Criminal Law, Criminology and Criminal Justice, King's College, London, UK 2009

  • Ph.D. Sociology (Criminology) University of Essex, 2014

  • PG Cert - Fellowship Higher Education Academy, 2014 University of Essex,

Research and professional activities

Current research

Cultural differences or Cultural Bias? Policing the Calabrian 'ndrangheta across borders - British Academy/Leverhulme Trust Small Research Grant 2017/2018

Corruption and Organised Crime in Public Sector

SECUR.PORT

Opportunities and Vulnerabilities for Organised Crime in Seaports

Teaching and supervision

Current teaching responsibilities

  • Globalisation and Crime (SC304)

  • Organised Crime: Global and Local (SC556)

  • Formative Debates in Criminology (SC555)

  • Postgraduate Taught Project and Academic Skills (SC981)

Previous supervision

Iulia-Alexandra Neag
Iulia-Alexandra Neag
Thesis title: The Socio-Legal Construction of Organised Crime in Romania
Degree subject: Criminology
Degree type: Doctor of Philosophy
Awarded date: 28/6/2022
Alice Rizzuti
Alice Rizzuti
Thesis title: Organised Food Crime? Analysing Harmful and Criminal Activities in the Food Supply Chain in England and in Italy
Degree subject: Criminology
Degree type: Doctor of Philosophy
Awarded date: 3/3/2021

Publications

Journal articles (35)

Sergi, A., Mafia behaviours in "the world in between". Exploring criminological and legal constructions of the ‘Mafia Capitale’ case in Rome. European Journal of Criminal Policy and Research

Sergi, A. and Rizzuti, A., (2023). Antimafia cross-border: conceptual and procedural asymmetries in the fight against Italian mafias in Europe. Policing. 17

Sergi, A., (2023). To become ‘ndrangheta in Calabria: organisational narrative criminology and the constitution of mafia organisations. Trends in Organized Crime

Sergi, A. and Vannucci, A., (2023). Protection and Obedience Deviant Masonry, Corruption, and Mafia in Italy. Deviant Behavior. 44 (9), 1349-1367

Eski, Y. and Sergi, A., (2023). Ethnic profiling of organised crime? A tendency of mafia-cation in the Netherlands. Trends in Organized Crime

Sergi, A., (2023). Cocaine and the port: Utopias of security, urban relations, and displacement of policing efforts in the port of Piraeus. European Journal of Criminology. 21 (3), 329-349

Sergi, A., (2022). Playing Pac-Man in Portville: Policing the dilution and fragmentation of drug importations through major seaports. European Journal of Criminology. 19 (4), 674-691

Sergi, A., (2022). Mafia Borderland: Narratives, Traits, and Expectations of Italian-American Mafias in Ontario and the Niagara Region. Journal of Borderlands Studies, 1-23

Sergi, A. and Vannucci, A., (2022). The Secret Nexus. A case study of deviant masons, mafia, and corruption in Italy. The British Journal of Criminology. 63 (5), 1165-1183

Sergi, A., (2021). Policing the port, watching the city. Manifestations of organised crime in the port of Genoa. Policing and Society. 31 (6), 639-655

Sergi, A. and Storti, L., (2021). Shaping space. A conceptual framework on the connections between organised crime groups and territories. Trends in Organized Crime. 24 (2), 137-151

Sergi, A., (2021). ‘ndrangheta e “ricerca del potere”: riflessioni su mafia e potere politico in Australia. Rivista di studi e ricerche sulla criminalità organizzata. 6 (4), 110-136

Sergi, A., (2021). ‘Ndrangheta Dynasties: A Conceptual and Operational Framework for the Cross-Border Policing of the Calabrian Mafia. Policing: A Journal of Policy and Practice. 15 (2), 1522-1536

Sergi, A., (2021). Stumbling upon places and cultures: an involuntary ethnography in researching the Australian ‘ndrangheta. Journal of Criminology. 54 (4), 448-465

Sergi, A., (2021). Lo Stato illegale. Mafia e politica da Portella della Ginestra a oggi, by Gian Carlo Caselli and Guido Lo Forte, Rome-Bari, Laterza, 2020, 208pp., €18.00 (paperback), ISBN 9788858136898. Modern Italy. 26 (4), 457-458

Sergi, A. and Storti, L., (2020). Survive or perish: Organised crime in the port of Montreal and the port of New York/New Jersey. International Journal of Law, Crime and Justice. 63, 100424-100424

Sergi, A., (2020). Mafia organizations: the visible hand of criminal enterprise by Maurizio Catino. Trends in Organized Crime. 23 (2), 183-185

Sergi, A., (2019). Polycephalous ‘ndrangheta: Crimes, behaviours and organisation of the Calabrian mafia in Australia. Australian and New Zealand Journal of Criminology. 52 (1), 3-22

Sergi, A., (2019). Constructing the mafia concept on the bench. The legal battles in the ‘Mafia Capitale’ case in Rome. International Journal of Law, Crime and Justice. 58, 100-112

Sergi, A., (2019). The 'Ndrangheta Down Under: Constructing the Italian Mafia in Australia. European Review of Organised Crime. 5 (1), 60-84

Sergi, A., (2018). Widening the Antimafia Net. Mafia Behaviour, Cultural Transmission and Children Protection in Calabrian mafia families. Youth Justice. 18 (2), 149-168

Sergi, A., (2018). What's in a Name? Shifting Identities of Traditional Organized Crime in Canada in the Transnational Fight against the Calabrian ‘Ndrangheta. Canadian Journal of Criminology and Criminal Justice. 60 (4), 427-454

Sergi, A., (2017). Countering the Australian 'ndrangheta: The criminalisation of mafia behaviour in Australia between national and comparative criminal law. Australian and New Zealand Journal of Criminology. 50 (3), 321-340

Sergi, A., (2016). National Security vs Criminal law. Perspectives, Doubts and Concerns on the Criminalisation of Organised Crime in England and Wales. European Journal on Criminal Policy and Research. 22 (4), 713-729

Lavorgna, A. and Sergi, A., (2016). Serious, therefore organised? A critique of the emerging "cyber-organised crime" rhetoric in the United Kingdom. International Journal of Cyber Criminology. 10 (2), 170-187

Sergi, A., (2016). The Italian Anti-Mafia System between Practice and Symbolism: Evaluating Contemporary Views on the Italian Structure Model against Organized Crime. Policing. 10 (3), 194-205

Sergi, A., (2016). A qualitative reading of the ecological (dis)organisation of criminal associations. The case of the ?Famiglia Basilischi? in Italy. Trends in Organized Crime. 19 (2), 149-174

Sergi, A., (2016). A proposito di Mafia Capitale. Spunti per tipizzare il fenomeno mafioso nei sistemi di common law. Rivista di Studi e Ricerche sulla criminalità organizzata. 2 (i), 96-116

Sergi, A., (2015). Organised crime in English criminal law: Lessons from the United States on conspiracy and criminal enterprise. Journal of Money Laundering Control. 18 (2), 182-201

Sergi, A., (2015). The evolution of the Australian ‘ndrangheta. An historical perspective. Australian and New Zealand Journal of Criminology. 48 (2), 155-174

Sergi, A., (2015). Divergent mind-sets, convergent policies: Policing models against organized crime in Italy and in England within international frameworks. European Journal of Criminology. 12 (6), 658-680

Lavorgna, A. and Sergi, A., (2014). Types of organised crime in Italy. The multifaceted spectrum of Italian criminal associations and their different attitudes in the financial crisis and in the use of Internet technologies. International Journal of Law, Crime and Justice. 42 (1), 16-32

Sergi, A., (2014). Structure versus Activity. Policing Organized Crime in Italy and in the UK, Distance and Convergence. Policing. 8 (1), 69-78

Sergi, A., (2014). Organised Crime in Criminal Law: Conspiracy and Membership Offences in Italian, English and International Frameworks. King's Law Journal. 25 (2), 185-200

Lavorgna, A., Lombardo, R. and Sergi, A., (2013). Organized crime in three regions: comparing the Veneto, Liverpool, and Chicago. Trends in Organized Crime. 16 (3), 265-285

Books (11)

ALBERTO, AVS. and Vannucci, A., (2023). Mafia, Deviant Masons and Corruption Shifty Brotherhoods in Italy. Routledge. 1032117877. 9781032117874

Sergi, A., (2022). Chasing the Mafia 'Ndrangheta, Memories and Journeys. Policy Press. 152922246X. 9781529222463

Sergi, A., Reid, A., Storti, L. and Easton, M., (2021). Ports, Crime and Security Governing and Policing Seaports in a Changing World. Bristol University Press. 1529217717. 9781529217711

Sergi, A. and Sergi, P., (2021). La Santa 'ndrangheta. Da 'Violenta' a 'Contesa'. Pellegrini Editore. 978-88-6822-985-6

Carrabine, E., Cox, P., Cox, A., Crowhurst, I., Di Ronco, A., Fussey, P., Sergi, A., South, N., Thiel, D. and Turton, J., (2020). Criminology. A Sociological Introduction (Fourth edition). Routledge

Sergi, A., (2020). The Port-Crime Interface A Report on Organised Crime and Corruption in Seaports. University of Essex. 9798645606084

Testa, A. and Sergi, A., (2018). Corruption, Mafia Power and Italian Soccer. Routledge. 1138289930. 9781138289932

Sergi, A., (2017). From Mafia to Organised Crime: a comparative analysis of policing models. Palgrave Macmillan. 9783319535678

Sergi, A., (2017). From Mafia to Organised Crime. Springer International Publishing. 9783319535678

Sergi, A. and Lavorgna, A., (2016). 'Ndrangheta. The Glocal Dimension of the most powerful Italian mafia. Palgrave Macmillan. 978-3-319-32584-2

Sergi, A. and Lavorgna, A., (2016). 'Ndrangheta. Springer International Publishing. 9783319325842

Book chapters (27)

Sergi, A. and Orsini, G., The emergency business. Informality and Grey Area in a EU Borderland. Migrant detentions, mafia interests and glocal governance in Lampedusa. In: The Janus-faces of cross-border crime in Europe.Comparative Perspectives of Europe’s Human Rights Deficit. Editors: Van Duyne, P., Von Lampe, K. and Stremy, T., . Eleven International Publishing

Sergi, A., (2023). Organised crime and power in the modern world. In: A Research Agenda for Organised Crime. 57- 75. 9781802201352

Storti, L., Sergi, A. and Zabyelina, Y., (2022). Private Port Authorities and Organized Crime. In: The Private Sector and Organized Crime. Routledge. 55- 69. 9781032056609

Sergi, A., (2020). Cultural differences or cultural bias? Reflections on the policing of the Calabrian ‘ndrangheta abroad. In: Policing Transnational Crime Law Enforcement of Criminal Flows. Editors: Hufnagel, S. and Moiseienko, A., . Routledge. 114- 132. 9781351132251

Sergi, A., (2019). Meet the Inbetweeners : Exploring the Quality and Stregth in the Mafia Capitale network in Rome. In: Criminal Networks and Law Enforcement: Global Perspectives On Illegal Enterprise. Editors: Hufnagel, S. and Moiseienko, A., . Routledge. 139- 161. 9780815386001

Sergi, A., (2019). The Calabrian ‘Ndrangheta: Between Tradition and Mobility. In: Organized Crime: Causes and Consequences. Editors: Lombardo, R.,

Sergi, A., (2019). Traditional Organised Crime on the Move: Exploring the Globalisation of the Calabrian ‘ndrangheta’. In: International Political Economy Series. Editors: Talani, L. and Roccu, R., . Palgrave Macmillan. 123- 145. 9783030051167

Di Ronco, A. and Sergi, A., (2019). From harmless incivilities to not-so serious organised crime activities: The expanded realm of European crime prevention and some suggestions on how to limit it. In: Constructing and Organising Crime in Europe. Editors: van Duyne, P., Serdyuk, A., Antonopoulos, G., Harvey, J. and von Lampe, K., . Eleven International Publishing. 149- 178. 978-94-6236-955-9

Sergi, A., (2017). Case Study 2: United States of America and the Enterprise Model. In: From Mafia to Organised Crime. Springer International Publishing. 101- 140. 9783319535678

Sergi, A., (2017). Conclusion: A Socio-behavioural Approach in Policing the Mafia–Organised Crime Spectrum. In: From Mafia to Organised Crime. Springer International Publishing. 289- 307. 9783319535678

Sergi, A., (2017). National Models and International Frameworks. In: From Mafia to Organised Crime. Springer International Publishing. 265- 288. 9783319535678

Sergi, A., (2017). Case Study 1: Italy and the Structure Model. In: From Mafia to Organised Crime. Springer International Publishing. 61- 100. 9783319535678

Sergi, A., (2017). Case Study 3: Australia and the Visibility Model. In: From Mafia to Organised Crime. Springer International Publishing. 141- 176. 9783319535678

Sergi, A., (2017). Convergences and Divergences Across the Four Models. In: From Mafia to Organised Crime. Springer International Publishing. 215- 263. 9783319535678

Sergi, A., (2017). Introduction: The aims of this comparative research. In: From Mafia to Organised Crime. Springer International Publishing. 1- 20. 9783319535678

Sergi, A., (2017). Case Study 4: United Kingdom and the Activity Model. In: From Mafia to Organised Crime. Springer International Publishing. 177- 213. 9783319535678

Sergi, A., (2017). Mafia and Organised Crime: The Spectrum and the Models. In: From Mafia to Organised Crime. Springer International Publishing. 21- 59. 9783319535678

Sergi, A. and South, N., (2016). 'Earth, Water, Air, and Fire': Environmental Crimes, Mafia Power and Political Negligence in Calabria. In: Illegal Entrepreneurship, Organized Crime and Social Control Essays in Honor of Professor Dick Hobbs. Editors: Antonopoulos, GA., . Springer. 85- 100. 9783319316062

Sergi, A., (2016). "Three Tales / Two Threats". Prosecutors in Italy, England and the United States narrate national and transnational organised crime. In: Narratives on Organised Crime in Europe: Criminals, Corrupters & Policy. Editors: Van Duyne, PC., Sheinost, M., Antonopoulos, GA., Harvey, J. and Von Lampe, K., . Wolf Legal Publishers. 978-9462403161

Sergi, A. and Lavorgna, A., (2016). ‘Ndrangheta Movements in the Centre and North of Italy. In: 'Ndrangheta. Springer International Publishing. 33- 52. 9783319325842

Sergi, A. and Lavorgna, A., (2016). Calabria and the ‘Ndrangheta. In: 'Ndrangheta. Springer International Publishing. 13- 32. 9783319325842

Sergi, A. and Lavorgna, A., (2016). Drug Trafficking and Investments. In: 'Ndrangheta. Springer International Publishing. 73- 89. 9783319325842

Sergi, A. and Lavorgna, A., (2016). ‘Ndrangheta Movements Around the World. In: 'Ndrangheta. Springer International Publishing. 53- 70. 9783319325842

Sergi, A. and Lavorgna, A., (2016). Poly-crime ‘Ndrangheta. In: 'Ndrangheta. Springer International Publishing. 91- 109. 9783319325842

Sergi, A. and Lavorgna, A., (2016). Conclusion. In: 'Ndrangheta. Springer International Publishing. 111- 118. 9783319325842

Sergi, A., (2015). Mafia and politics as concurrent governance actors. Revisiting political power and crime in Southern Italy. In: The relativity of wrongdoing: Corruption, organised crime, fraud and money laundering in perspective,. Editors: van Duyne, PC., Maljevi?, A., Antonopoulos, GA., Harvey, J. and von Lampe, K., . Wolf Legal Publishers. 43- 70

Lavorgna, A. and Sergi, A., (2014). Different manifestations of organised crime and corruption in Italy: a socio-legal analysis. In: Corruption, Greed and Crime Money: Sleaze and shady economy in Europe and beyond. Editors: van Duyne, PC., Harvey, J., Antonopoulos, GA., von Lampe, K., Maljevic, A. and Markovska, A., . Wolf Legal Publishers. 978-9462401280

Other (2)

Sergi, A., (2021).Georgios A. Antonopolous and Georgios Papanicolaou (2018). Organized Crime: A Very Short Introduction. Policing: A Journal of Policy and Practice. 14(4),Oxford University Press (OUP)

Sergi, A., (2020).Neil Boister, Introduction To Transnational Criminal Law (2nd edition). Policing: A Journal of Policy and Practice. 14(3),Oxford University Press (OUP)

Grants and funding

2023

HONOUR DYNASTIES (HO.ST.): intergenerational changes, recognition, and reputation in cross-border organised crime families.

British Academy

2020

C.R.I.M.E: Countering Regional Italian Mafia Expansion

University of Essex (ESRC IAA)

2019

SECURPORTS: Opportunities for Organised Crime in Seaports between Vulnerabilities and Informality

British Academy

2018

MAFIAROUND

University of Essex

2017

Cultural differences or cultural bias? Policing the Calabrian 'ndrangheta around the world

The British Academy

Contact

asergi@essex.ac.uk
+44 (0) 1206 873046

Location:

5A.312, Colchester Campus

Academic support hours:

by email

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