More than five years after the murder of George Floyd forced institutions to confront racial injustice, it is worth asking what has actually changed. As an associate professor of forensic psychology, I’ve been considering this question in relation to research – in particular, how universities produce knowledge about the communities that are affected by racial disparities in the UK.

Racially minoritised communities continue to experience consistently poorer mental health outcomes. They are more likely to be detained under the Mental Health Act, less likely to access talking therapies early, and more likely to disengage from services that do not feel safe or culturally responsive.

And while universities across the UK have made visible efforts to decolonise knowledge production, diversify research samples and recruit more researchers from minoritised backgrounds, many of the core questions that shape psychological research remain largely unchanged.

Who defines what counts as distress? Is anger framed as pathology rather than a response to racism? Who decides which communities are “hard to reach”? Who determines what meaningful impact looks like? And what importance do we place on the lived experience of researchers?

Whose reality is believed?

Lived experience of a mental health issue can be devalued in favour of clinical, academic and professional knowledge, so that when people describe their distress, these accounts tend to be reframed through clinical interpretation rather than recognised as valid experiences in their own right.

Philospher Miranda Fricker coined the term “epistemic injustice” to describe how certain groups are systematically discredited as knowers.

In psychology, this can mean lived experience being dismissed as anecdotal, while clinical or academic interpretations are treated as objective. When such bias goes unchecked, research questions recycle eurocentric ideas that once pathologised racialised people as “mad”.

Research hierarchies do not just shape evidence; they decide whose realities are believed. Quantitative designs that reduce people to numbers are often positioned as more rigorous, while narrative or participatory approaches are treated as secondary by the research establishment. These hierarchies do not simply reflect preference; they drive funding, shape policy and determine whose realities are treated as credible.

In this context, service users may be invited to contribute to a study or help answer a research question. But if that question has already been defined within institutional and governmental priorities, it probably won’t make any difference. The power that shapes research agendas operates long before anyone is asked to take a seat at the table.

The same dynamics shape the expectations of researchers. Trainees in the Beyond Academia initiative I was recently involved in described tension between bringing their lived experience into their work and conforming to norms of neutrality and detachment. This reflects a broader assumption within psychology that objectivity requires distance, which quietly preserves existing hierarchies.

From the margins to the centre

Beyond Academia was designed to move underrepresented voices from the margins of research to its centre, and to challenge how future practitioners from the global majority approach mental health research in racially minoritised communities – including how to navigate their own lived experiences.

We encouraged them to question dominant psychological frameworks which can, for example, interpret distress as individual dysfunction, rather than as a response to racism, inequality or experience. The aim was to create space to question and rethink whose knowledge is treated as authoritative.

One trainee researching black men in prison described rethinking their approach. Instead of asking why services were not being accessed, they began to question how those services were experienced, and how their research could increase access.

Confronting this legacy means examining how privilege and historical ideas still shape what psychology recognises as legitimate knowledge, and whether researchers reproduce existing hierarchies or challenge them.

This kind of approach sits within a broader shift in mental health research, which aims to incorporate the lived experience of service users – so-called co-production models, where researchers and communities are expected to work together more collaboratively.

But while research that surfaces previously unheard voices of racially marginalised people is welcome, it does not necessarily translate into shared power over setting agendas, building theories or deciding what counts as impact.

All research is shaped by perspective, and theories are developed within cultural contexts. Far from undermining rigour of the trainees in our initiative, acknowledging the political and emotional dimensions of their work strengthened their ethical practice in systems defined by surveillance, coercion and harm.

Community-rooted knowledge

There is now a clear need for psychological research to move beyond representation toward power. One starting point is to rethink what counts as legitimate evidence. This means collective first-hand narratives of distress and experiential knowledge should shape mainstream psychological research, not sit at its edges.

This is not secondary science – it is rigorous science. When researchers are honest about their perspective and work with people who see the world differently, the research is stronger and more useful.

If psychology is to remain relevant in diverse societies, it must move beyond viewing certain communities primarily as subjects of study, to being partners in knowledge creation.

Diversifying who enters academic spaces matters. So does diversifying who participates in studies. But unless the discipline confronts who shapes research agendas and whose knowledge is treated as authoritative, inequality will simply be reproduced in subtler forms.

Psychology already has the tools to examine power, bias and social context. The question is whether it is willing to use them.

A joint inquest into the deaths of ‘besotted’ couple John and Marilyn Saxon was held this week

The ‘baffling’ case of an elderly couple who died after their car inexplicably ended up in a reservoir may never be solved. John and Marilyn Saxon, both 78, were pulled from the Crook Gate Reservoir in Denshaw, Oldham, last March.

A joint inquest into their deaths was held this week. Rochdale Coroners’ Court heard the ‘besotted’ couple – ‘childhood sweethearts’, married for 58 years – drove the short distance from The Junction Inn pub to their home off Ripponden Road on March 14.

Their Land Rover, driven by Mr Saxon, briefly stopped outside the electric gates at the couple’s home. The car then accelerated through the gates before hitting a water feature and driving over a small wall. The vehicle, the court heard, then went through an adjacent field and into the reservoir.

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Recording an open conclusion, deputy chief coroner Joanne Kearsley said: “Having heard all of the evidence today, I can say it is nothing short of baffling.”

The inquest earlier heard former property manager Mrs Saxon, known as Mal, was diagnosed with dementia in 2021. Her mobility and ability to hold a conversation gradually became increasingly impaired.

Mr Saxon, who earlier worked as a chartered surveyor, discussed moving his wife into a care home with their daughter Joelle Hardman, though he was concerned about her being alone. The couple were supported by three carers, the court heard.

A week before the tragedy they went on holiday to Cornwall with carer and friend Tracey McCabe. Daughter Mrs Hardman said spoke to her parents on their return and said they were in good spirits. A family meal had been arranged for Sunday, March 16, she added.

Ms McCabe visited the couple on the morning of March 14, the court heard. She said: “I helped [Mrs Saxon] have a shower; get her breakfast; and get dressed. She was going to have her hair done that afternoon. John would take her for her appointment.”

Ms McCabe said she had heard of occasional incidents of dementia-related aggression, though had not witnessed any herself. Mr Saxon, she said, called her for additional assistance when required and would help calm his wife down. Ms McCabe said there were no issues on the morning of March 14.

The court heard the couple went to The Junction Inn at around 5.30pm, as they usually did. Friend Ben Briscall said: “John bought a round. They were drinking wine at the bar and chatting about their holiday. They were in a good mood, he wanted to get a round for everybody.”

The couple were seen on CCTV getting in their car at 7.23pm. Mr Saxon appeared to help his wife into the back seat. Mrs Hardman said her mum sometimes got in the back if she was agitated or thought she was getting into a taxi.

Around nine minutes later they arrived at the gates of their home. Forensic collision investigator Jonathan McColl said tyre tracks and scratches to the car and gates indicated the Land Rover forced the gates open. The motor arms of the gates were dislodged, Mr McColl said.

Driving data revealed the accelerator was pushed from 20 per cent to 100pc around five seconds before the vehicle hit a water feature. “The brake was not pressed,” Mr McColl added.

The car, he said, then went over wall before going into a field and into the reservoir. Mr McColl said the car travelled 180m into the reservoir having hit the water feature. The couple’s bodies and the Land Rover were recovered from the water the next day.

Detective Sergeant Phillip Collingwood told the court police worked through a number of lines of enquiry – including that it was deliberate; that the car had a mechanical fault; that there was a medical episode; that there was confusion over pedals; and that there was an incident involving Mrs Saxon in the car.

He said police were only able to rule out that the vehicle did not suffer a mechanical fault. DS Collingwood said neither Mr or Mrs Saxon were wearing a seatbelt.

Police were unable to gain access to Mr Saxon’s phone. A financial investigator was tasked with looking into Mr Saxon’s accounts, the court heard. A missing payment on a loan in June 2024 was discovered, it was said.

Forensic pathologist Charles Wilson recorded cause of death in both cases as drowning. He said Mr Saxon had cuts and bruising to his nose and mouth and that he was one-and-a-half time the drink drive limit. As he was a regular drinker, it was not possible to determine the level of impairment at the time of the incident, the court heard.

‘Baffling’

Coroner Ms Kearsley said: “It is unusual for family members to lose both parents at the same time in the same incident.

“Having heard all of the evidence, I can say it is nothing short of baffling – the fact they stopped the Land Rover; the fact it accelerated through two swinging electric gates to cause damage to the property. It continues forward, accelerating forward into the water feature and stuck a wall, it continues with no attempt to brake until it goes into the reservoir, resulting in their deaths.”

Ms Kearsley said the injuries to Mr Saxon’s face were ‘in keeping with contact with the steering wheel’. She said a medical episode could not be ruled out. Evidence neither were wearing a seatbelt did not help determine what happened, she added.

“There is no evidence to support that it was deliberate on the balance of probabilities and I cannot find it is appropriate to return a conclusion of ‘accidental’,” Ms Kearsley added.

Recording an open conclusion, she told the court: “On March 14, 2025, the deceased were driver and rear passenger in a Land Rover/ Range Rover. On arrival at their home address, and captured on CCTV, they accelerated through the gates, over a small wall and continued 180 metres into Crook Gate reservoir. Despite a police investigation, it cannot be ascertained why the vehicle proceeded in this manner.”

‘Besotted’

The couple’s daughter Mrs Hardman, giving evidence, earlier paid tribute to her parents, saying they had ‘hearts of gold. “Dad was a real gentleman,” she added.

“They were always holding hands. He would buy her flowers every week. They had been married for 58 years, but had been together since they were 16. They were a perfect match and a brilliant team.

“They were besotted with each other. They worked tirelessly to make sure me and my brother had everything. They worked incredibly hard to give us the upbringing we had.”

Describing them as ‘doting grandparents’, she added: “I can’t remember a family Christmas without them. Sunday dinner was a highlight of our week. They valued our time with them and we valued their time with us.”

Following the hearing, Mrs Hardman added: “We are totally devastated about the loss of both Mum and Dad in such a tragic accident. Mum and Dad were both loving, generous, thoughtful, kind and hardworking.

“They were married for nearly 58 years and were childhood sweethearts. They were the perfect match for each other and made a great team.

“Mum and Dad came from humble beginnings, worked tirelessly all of their lives and were very family orientated. Their resilience and determination was inspirational.

“They were supportive parents and doting grandparents and they are sorely missed every day. The world is not the same without them. They’ve left a huge hole behind.

“They had lived in Saddleworth for 45 years. They were loved by many and were charitable and supported many local causes. They would help anyone and touched countless people with their warmth and kindness. We thank everyone for their support and shared memories of them. We’ve been incredibly comforted by how admired, respected and deeply loved they were.

“We miss them beyond words but their love, kindness and generosity will live on in our family and among all those who knew and loved them. We would like to express our thanks to the police and coroners’ office for their investigations, professionalism and support. The family ask for privacy at this time.”

These are the places readers turn to when they are stocking a holiday cottage, sorting a family barbecue or just looking for an excuse to get out for a drive while the sun is shining.

Brocksbushes Farm Shop, near Corbridge

Brocksbushes is one of those farm shops that feels like a day out in its own right.

Just off the A69 near Corbridge, it combines a big farm shop and tea room with seasonal pick‑your‑own fields and play areas for children.

In summer the focus is on soft fruit, with rows of strawberries and raspberries ready to be picked, plus shelves of jams, chutneys and bakes made using what has grown on site.

Visitors talk about it as somewhere that works for the whole family: you can pick fruit, grab lunch in the café, and still have time to browse for pies, cheeses and treats to take home.

It is the kind of place that ends up on the yearly “we must go back” list once you have been once, especially if you are based in the Tyne Valley or heading along Hadrian’s Wall.

@brocksbushes It’s officially strawberry picking season and we’re so excited! The strawberry fields open tomorrow! 🍓🫶 #pyo #pyofruit #pyostrawberries #strawberries #strawberryseason #pickyourown #northumberland #brocksbushes #fruitpicking #newcastle #hexham #corbridge #fyp #foryoupage ♬ Show Me Love – WizTheMc & bees & honey

Moorhouse Farm Shop, near Stannington

Moorhouse Farm Shop, just outside Morpeth, is built firmly around its own livestock.

The farm rears beef, pork and lamb for the butchery counter, which has become a go‑to for people planning summer barbecues and Sunday lunches. Counters are lined with sausages, burgers, kebabs and roasting joints, backed up by pies, ready meals and plenty of local store‑cupboard staples.

Alongside the shop is a busy coffee shop serving breakfasts, lunches and home‑baked cakes, with outdoor seating that comes into its own on warmer days.

For anyone breaking a journey on the A1 or heading to a coastal cottage, it works as both a refuelling stop and a place to stock the fridge with Northumberland meat and dairy.

Blagdon Farm Shop, Blagdon

Blagdon Farm Shop is the one many people automatically aim for when they want “something decent” rather than a supermarket detour off the A1.

Set in the stone courtyard at the Milkhope Centre, it focuses on local meat, deli produce and a solid range of regional suppliers.

Fridges and counters are full of North East beef, pork and lamb, alongside sausages, pies, cheeses and salads that lend themselves perfectly to summer gatherings.

It has the feel of a place that takes its sourcing seriously without being precious about it.

Regulars pull in to pick up specific sausages or a joint for a special occasion; others call in for a general browse and leave with more than they planned.

With a café and other independent shops on the same site, it is easy to turn a quick top‑up into a longer potter when the weather is good.

Smaller stops and summer favourites

Beyond the bigger names, there are plenty of smaller Northumberland farm shops and producers that come into their own once the days lengthen.

Some are little more than a well‑stocked shed and an honesty box at the end of a lane; others combine a compact shop with a tearoom looking out over fields. Many add ice cream, picnic boxes or simple children’s activities during the school holidays.

These quieter spots are often where you find the most direct link between field and counter: trays of eggs from the hens you can see from the car park, salads and veg that were lifted that morning, and cakes baked in the kitchen next door.

For readers who like to build their own food trail, stringing a couple of these together with a walk or a beach stop can turn an ordinary Saturday into something that feels a bit more like a mini‑break.

Making the most of farm shops this summer

If you are planning a staycation, a week in a holiday cottage or just a run up the Northumberland coast, it is worth plotting a farm shop into the route.

Calling in at the start of a break to pick up meat, fruit, bread and cheese means the fridge is full of local food from day one, and topping up later in the week is a good excuse to get back out for another drive.

Most farm shops keep their websites and social channels updated with opening hours, pick‑your‑own dates and any special summer events, from tasting days to children’s trails.

It is worth checking before you set off so you can time your visit around the best of the season – whether that is the first proper strawberries, new‑season lamb or simply a slice of cake eaten in the sunshine while you decide what to put on the grill that night.

Hannibal Lecter was named the greatest villain in American cinema thanks to Anthony Hopkins’s chilling performance in the 1991 film. Now, Gina Gionfriddo adapts Thomas Harris’s multi-million-selling novel for its world stage premiere. When FBI trainee Clarice Starling is sent to interview a cannibalistic murderer, it’s hoped that his brilliant mind will help her to catch a sadistic new serial-killer, Buffalo Bill. But there’s nothing straightforward about Lecter, as we know. Casting tbc.

Curve, Leicester, Aug 1-15, then touring the UK and Ireland

Tickets: silenceofthelambsplay.com

Our Friends in the North

The BAFTA-winning 1996 TV phenomenon returns to Newcastle, the city where it’s set, in a new stage adaptation by the series’ original creator Peter Flannery, with Jack McNamara, artistic director at local playwriting powerhouse Live. The focus of this fresh theatrical version is two episodes in which Nicky, Mary, Tosker and Geordie (played in the series by Christopher Eccleston, Gina McKee, Mark Strong and Daniel Craig) come of age in the city during the turbulent early Thatcher years (1979-1984).

Newcastle Theatre Royal

Booking: Oct 15-24

Tickets: theatreroyal.co.uk

Police are appealing for information after a couple from Pontypridd were left in shock

An elderly couple have been left “in shock” after someone smashed their window and threw a “petrol bomb” into their house. The incident happened at around 4.30am on Monday on Porcher Avenue, Pontypridd.

According to their grandson, who posted publicly on Facebook, the couple are in their 70s and have no idea why they were targeted.

The post states: “This morning police and fire brigade have been. Front windows have been smashed through and police have said there was a petrol bomb that had smashed before landing in my nan and bamps living room.

“Haven’t got any idea who would have done this or why they would have done this, but let’s just say my nan and bamp are in their late 70s and do not deserve this.”

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Pictures show police and firefighters at the scene. Luckily no injuries were reported.

A police spokesman said an investigation into attempted arson is underway, while South Wales Fire and Rescue Service (SWFRS) said firefighters attended a report of a small fire at the scene.

A spokesman for South Wales Police said: “South Wales Police is investigating an attempted arson following a brick being thrown at a window at address on Porcher Avenue, Glyncoch on Monday June 1.

“No one was injured and extensive enquiries are on-going.

“Anyone who witnessed this incident or who has CCTV/dashcam footage or any footage they believe to be relevant should contact us and quote reference 2600171004.”

A spokesman for SWFRS said: “SWFRS received a call at approximately 4.23am on June 1 to reports of a small fire in the garden at a property on Porcher Avenue, Pontypridd.

“Crews and appliances from Pontypridd and Abercynon Stations attended but the fire was extinguished prior to their arrival. The stop message was given at around 4.46am.”

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