Professor Raynor, who has produced more than two hundred publications, worked as a probation officer until 1975 and much of his research has concentrated on offender rehabilitation, community penalties and offender management.

He has also carried out research on victims of crime, drug and alcohol services, young offenders, social work education, unemployed young people, intensive probation and the relationship between rehabilitation and justice as well as a range of other criminal justice topics.

Professor Raynor has also produced a number of Home Office studies on subjects including the quality and effectiveness of pre-sentence reports, the resettlement of medium-term and short-sentence prisoners and the needs and experiences of black, Asian and other minority ethnic probationers.

Professor Raynor said 'I am personally very pleased that the quality and impact of my research have been recognised in this way by my fellow social scientists. It's also good news for the applied social sciences in Swansea, and particularly for Criminology, which has had a very good year.

“This is the third significant honour for Criminology staff in a year, following the Howard League Research Medal awarded to Professor Kevin Haines and Dr. Stephen Case and the British Society of Criminology National Award for Teaching Excellence awarded to the undergraduate teaching team. These are considerable achievements for a small Department, and they lay a good foundation for continuing success.'

Pro-Vice Chancellor of Swansea University, Professor Noel Thompson said: “I am delighted that the importance of Professor Raynor’s contribution to our understanding of the relationship between rehabilitation and justice, the treatment of young offenders‌ and the victims of crime has been recognised in this way. The award of Academician status reflects the major impact on the formulation of policy and practice which his research has had in these areas.”