Dr Benjamin Archer LLB (Hons)
Senior Lecturer in Law
Summary
I am a Senior Lecturer within the School of Law, where I teach on the LLB Law and LLB Law with Criminology courses. I am also an early-career researcher studying the use of anti-social behaviour powers.
About
I joined the university in 2015 as an undergraduate student and began teaching in 2019. I have been on the module team for two Level 5 mandatory modules, Land Law and The Law of Trusts, for the past several years, but also have previous experience teaching in other areas. For my teaching, I have been nominated by students for an Inspirational Teaching Award.
I am also an early-career researcher. My PhD, which was jointly funded by the Sheffield Institute for Policy Studies and Doctoral Training Alliance, empirically examined how local authorities and police forces navigate the legal framework when implementing Public Spaces Protection Orders, a tool for addressing anti-social behaviour. I have shared my findings at academic conferences, given keynote speeches, co-authored academic publications, and submitted written evidence to governmental bodies. To support the development of my emerging research profile, I am the recipient of an Early-Career Research and Innovation Fellowship.
I also serve as a co-convenor of the High Streets Research Network, a cross-institutional, multi-disciplinary network that brings together academics, practitioners, and policymakers focused on the future of high streets. Through this role, I have helped organise events and contribute to collaborative research bids aimed at addressing the evolving challenges of high street regeneration.
Teaching
Sheffield Institute of Law and Justice
College of Social Sciences and Arts
Courses
LLB (Hons) Law
LLB (Hons) Law with Criminology
Modules
Land Law (Level 5)
The Law of Trusts (Level 5)
Research
- Social and Economic Research Institute
- Examining public perceptions on greenspaces before and after Covid-19 – in collaboration with Sheffield City Council.
- Creating thriving highstreets following Covid-19 - in collaboration with colleagues from CRESR and NBE
- Examining the introduction and implementation of Public Spaces Protection Orders – advised by Liberty.
Selected projects
Publications
Journal articles
Archer, B. (2025). Public spaces protection orders and the policing of sub-criminal behaviour. Punishment & Society. http://doi.org/10.1177/14624745251378635
Archer, B., & Anton, R. (2022). Co-productive approaches to homelessness in England and Wales beyond the vagrancy act 1824 and public spaces protection orders. British Journal of Community Justice, 18 (1), 4-20. http://doi.org/10.48411/jp74-nn80
Archer, B. (2021). Book review: Urban regeneration in the UK. Urban Studies, 58 (9), 1959-1961. http://doi.org/10.1177/00420980211014415
Reports
Archer, B. (2025). Implementing a Public Spaces Protection Order:A Good Practice Guide. Sheffield: Sheffield Hallam University.
Theses / Dissertations
Archer, B. (2024). Investigating the Implementation of Public Spaces Protection Orders. (Doctoral thesis). Supervised by Heap, V., Dickinson, J., & Hickman, P. http://doi.org/10.7190/shu-thesis-00619
Internet Publications
Archer, B. (2025). Repealing the Vagrancy Act won’t end the criminalisation of street homelessness. https://www.bigissue.com/opinion/vagrancy-act-criminalisation-rough-sleeping-benjamin-archer/
Archer, B. (2025). Sheffield Council’s PSPO will be a hard blow for the homeless. https://manifestoclub.info/sheffield-councils-pspo-will-be-a-hard-blow-for-the-homeless/
Archer, B. (2023). Sheffield Institute for Policy Studies postgraduate research poster showcase celebrates its return to an in-person event! https://sheffieldinstituteforpolicystudies.com/2023/02/07/sheffield-institute-for-policy-studies-postgraduate-research-poster-showcase-celebrates-its-return-to-an-in-person-event/
Archer, B., & Dickinson, J. (2021). How poster competitions can support postgraduates. https://srheblog.com/2021/12/01/how-poster-competitions-can-support-postgraduates/
Archer, B., Walton, S., Sconce, E., Haid, D., & Cross, C. (2021). SIPS postgraduate research poster showcase celebrates its 5th year! https://sheffieldinstituteforpolicystudies.com/2021/06/07/sips-postgraduate-research-poster-showcase-celebrates-its-5th-year/
Archer, B. (2021). Developing a LGBTQ+ network for Postgraduate Researchers in higher education. https://www.unialliance.ac.uk/2021/02/15/developing-a-lgbtq-network-for-postgraduate-researchers-in-higher-education/
Archer, B. (2020). Exploring the effect of Covid-19 on the future of Sheffield’s greenspaces. https://sheffieldinstituteforpolicystudies.com/2020/11/09/exploring-the-effect-of-covid-19-on-the-future-of-sheffields-greenspaces/
Archer, B., Dickinson, J., Cross, C., & Haid, D. (2020). SIPS Postgraduate Research Poster Competition now in its fourth year! https://sheffieldinstituteforpolicystudies.com/2020/07/03/sips-postgraduate-research-poster-competition-now-in-its-fourth-year/
Archer, B., Dickinson, J., Heap, V., & Black, A. (2020). Covid-19: Blurred Spatial Boundaries. https://sheffieldinstituteforpolicystudies.com/2020/05/07/covid-19-blurred-spatial-boundaries/
Archer, B. (2018). Employing students as researchers: A student’s perspective. https://blog.shu.ac.uk/steer/2018/06/28/employing-students-as-researchers-a-students-perspective/?doing_wp_cron=1555815429.8116109371185302734375
Presentations
Archer, B. (2025). Implementing a Public Spaces Protection Order: A good practice guide. Presented at: The 2025 #ASB11 Conference: Celebrating Partnerships
Archer, B. (2025). Public Spaces Protection Orders, anti-social behaviour, and contemporary criminal justice. Presented at: Society of Legal Scholars, University of Leeds
Archer, B. (2025). “I do think people aren’t treated equally across the board”. Public Spaces Protection Orders and people experiencing street homelessness. Presented at: People, Place & Policy, Sheffield Hallam University
Archer, B. (2025). Public Spaces Protection Orders, spatial inequality, and the exclusion of vulnerability from urban spaces. Presented at: Emerging Urban Inequalities, University of Sheffield
Archer, B. (2025). Tackling anti-social behaviour: Findings from research on Public Spaces Protection Orders. Presented at: Tackling Anti-Social Behaviour: Turning the page on ASB, holding perpetrators to account, and improving support for victims
Archer, B. (2024). 10 years of Public Spaces Protection Orders: What have we learnt? Presented at: British Society of Criminology conference, University of Strathclyde
Archer, B. (2023). Anti-social behaviour action plan: Reflections from research. Presented at: Westminster Legal Policy Forum
Archer, B., & Archer, B. (2023). Partnership working in the enforcement of Public Spaces Protection Orders. Presented at: South Yorkshire Police ASB symposium
Archer, B., & Roberts, A. (2023). Beyond the Vagrancy Act: Co-productive approaches to engaging with people experiencing homelessness. Presented at: Cymorth Cymru homelessness symposium
Archer, B. (2022). Public Spaces Protection Orders: Enforcement practices against street-sleeping homeless people. Presented at: British Society of Criminology conference, University of Surrey
Archer, B. (2022). Public Spaces Protection Orders: Consultations with marginalised groups and recommendations for greater inclusivity. Presented at: People, Place & Policy conference, Sheffield Hallam University
Archer, B., & Ferrazzi, D. (2022). Park Hill: Narratives of regeneration. Presented at: Socio-Legal Studies Association conference, University of York
Archer, B. (2021). Exploring methods used to enforce PSPOs. Presented at: British Society of Criminology Conference, Open University
Archer, B. (2021). Examining the impact of geographical locations on the enforcement of PSPOs. Presented at: People, Place and Policy Conference, Sheffield Hallam University
Archer, B., Cross, C., & Haid, D. (2021). Adapting the SIPS poster showcase to the virtual environment. Presented at: Connecting with Professional Practice symposium, Sheffield Hallam University
Archer, B., & Dobson, J. (2021). Exploring the outdoor city. Presented at: Sheffield Festival of Innovation
Archer, B. (2021). Exploring the hybrid nature of prohibitions and requirements under PSPOs. Presented at: Socio-Legal Studies Association conference
Archer, B. (2020). Investigating the introduction of PSPOs. Presented at: CrimCon
Archer, B. (2020). Investigating the introduction of PSPOs. Presented at: Socio-Legal Studies Association conference
Other publications
Archer, B. (2025). Scrapping the Vagrancy Act won’t end the criminalisation of rough sleeping. Big Issue: https://www.bigissue.com/opinion/vagrancy-act-criminalisation-rough-sleeping-benjamin-archer/
Heap, V., Black, A., Archer, B., Sargin, A., & Whitworth, J. (2025). Written evidence submitted by Dr Vicky Heap, Dr Alex Black, Dr Benjamin Archer, Dr Ayse Sargin, and Joshua Whitworth (all Sheffield Hallam University) (CPB50). UK Parliament: https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm5901/cmpublic/CrimePolicing/memo/CPB50.htm
Dobson, J., Udall, J., Archer, B., & Cerulli, C. (2024). A sustainable future for local high streets. UK Parliament: https://committees.parliament.uk/writtenevidence/128930/pdf/
Heap, V., Black, A., Archer, B., Ferrazzi, D., & Lynch, R. (2024). Written evidence submitted by Dr Vicky Heap, Dr Alex Black, Benjamin Archer, Dr Dario Ferrazzi and Richard Lynch to the Criminal Justice Bill Public Bill Committee (CJB45). UK Parliament
Heap, V., Black, A., Archer, B., Ferrazzi, D., & Lynch, R. (2024). Written evidence submitted by Dr Vicky Heap, Dr Alex Black, Benjamin Archer, Dr Dario Ferrazzi and Richard Lynch to the Criminal Justice Bill Public Bill Committee (CJB45). UK Parliament
Heap, V., Grace, J., Black, A., Dickinson, J., & Archer, B. (2020). Is there a need to review the wording and application of guidance and legislation on Public Spaces Protection Orders (PSPO's)? Joint Committee on Human Rights: https://committees.parliament.uk/writtenevidence/19144/pdf
Other activities
Editorial Board Member at the British Journal of Community Justice at Manchester Metropolitan University