You'll see that this is a very special issue. We have brought together two mini-themed issues, both reflecting on social, legal and ethical issues of wide interest. David Gurnham of the University of Southampton is leading a series of seminars, funded by the UK's Economic and Social Research Council on ‘Criminalising Contagion’ which some of our readers may have attended. We are delighted that he is Guest Editing a series on this topic. We present some research papers which will encourage deeper understanding and wider discussion of emerging political and legal debates about criminalisation. Gurnham's introductory editorial1 reflects on the papers presented here, which form part of a wider …