The University of Law (ULaw) has awarded Nazir Afzal OBE, “the man who prosecuted the crimes that define modern Britain”, with an Honorary Doctorate in recognition of his groundbreaking work.
Nazir’s 30-year career has seen him prosecute some of the country’s most high-profile cases. His prosecutions of the so-called Rochdale grooming gang and hundreds of others changed the landscape of child protection.
During his career, Nazir has held posts as Chief Crown Prosecutor for NW England and formerly Director in London. He was Chief Executive of the country’s Police & Crime Commissioners and most recently, National Adviser to the Welsh Government.
As well as his responsibility for more than 100,000 prosecutions each year, Nazir has also advised on many others. Notably, he has led nationally on important topics such as violence against women and girls, child sexual abuse and honour-based violence.
It was Nazir’s work that inspired the acclaimed BBC film “Three Girls”, which told the true story of the young victims of the 2012 grooming and sex trafficking case in Rochdale.
Nazir continues to hold influential roles nationwide. He is Chair of The Church of England National Safeguarding Panel, sits on the National Police Chiefs Ethics Committee, is a Patron of the Association of Safeguarding Partners and a Trustee of WOW (World of Women) Foundation.
In 2005, Nazir was awarded an OBE by the Queen for his work. He has also had the honour of being the only lawyer to ever prosecute a case before the Queen and in 2007, he received the UK Government’s Justice Award 2007.
Nazir was also selected for the Asian Power 100 along with the Muslim Power 100 list and is recognised as one of the 100 most influential leading Muslims and Asians in the UK. His memoirs “The Prosecutor”, published in 2020, are currently being adapted for a British multipart drama.
Commenting on his honorary doctorate, Nazir said: “It is a great honour to have my work celebrated by one of the most significant names in legal education. It’s vital that we continue to create generations of legal professionals who will give voices to the voiceless and fight for justice. I know this is something that ULaw instils in its students, which I know will create a generation of trailblazers in law and criminal prosecution.”
Professor Andrea Nollent, ULaw’s Vice-Chancellor & CEO, added: “We are delighted to award Nazir Afzal OBE with an honorary doctorate in recognition of his outstanding contributions to justice, equality, and social reform. Nazir’s relentless pursuit of justice, particularly in advocating for the most vulnerable in society, is an inspiration to our students and embodies the principles we hold dear at The University of Law. His remarkable career serves as a powerful reminder of the transformative impact that dedication and integrity can have in shaping a fairer and more inclusive society. We are proud to celebrate his achievements and the values he represents”.