![Bethan Davies](https://profiles-cardiff.imgix.net/attachments/5077?w=200&h=200&auto=format&crop=faces&fit=crop&q=90")
Dr Bethan Davies
(she/her)
- Welsh speaking
Teams and roles for Bethan Davies
Research Associate
Overview
Beth has been a researcher at Cardiff University since 2015 and is based in the Security, Crime and Intelligence Innovation Institute. Her main areas of interest are extremism, terrorism, policing and social control.
Beth's PhD research explored the prevention of extremism, with a focus on early interventions for young people in Wales. As well as finding that 'extremism' concerns have shifted in recent years, the research highlighted a number of challenges this creates for those trying to prevent it, including in schools, youth work and police organisations.
Most recently, Beth worked with Survivors Against Terror to produce the report Communications, Intrusions and Accusations: Terror Survivors' Experiences on Social Media. Her previous research includes an evaluation of South Wales Police's use of facial recognition technology, where she led on the project's fieldwork and report. The work was later cited by a High Court judgement in 2019.
Her current projects centre on disinformation, extremism and terrorism.
Publication
2025
- Davies, B. et al. 2025. Communications, intrusions and accusations: Terror survivors’ experiences on social media. Project Report.[Online].Survivors Against Terror. Available at: https://survivorsagainstterror.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/Social-media-report.pdf.
- Davies, B. and Robinson, A. 2025. Capturing evidence on how the Wales Safeguarding Repository is impacting safeguarding review practice. Project Report.Cardiff: Cardiff University.
- Howells, A. and Davies, B. 2025. What do safeguarding reviews tell us about 'best practice' across Wales?. Project Report.Cardiff University.
- Robinson, A. L. and Davies, B. 2025. Specialist policing units as a pathway towards procedural justice for domestic abuse victims. Policing and Society (10.1080/10439463.2025.2525474)
2024
- Robinson, A. and Davies, B. 2024. Evaluation of South Wales Police ‘Operation Diogel’: Final Report. Project Report.Cardiff: Cardiff University.
- Robinson, A. L. and Davies, B. 2024. Specialist units for tackling violence against women and girls across Wales. Project Report.Cardiff: Cardiff University.
2023
- Davies, B. 2023. Early interventions with young people to prevent the onset of extremism and radicalisation: An ethnographic study. PhD Thesis , Cardiff University.
- Diaz, C. et al. 2023. The perceived impact of peer parental advocacy on child protection practice: a mixed-methods evaluation. Project Report.[Online].What Works for Early Intervention and Children’s Social Care. Available at: https://whatworks-csc.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/The-perceived-impact-of-peer-parental-advocacy-on-child-protection-practice_FINAL-with-cover_16-Jan.pdf.
- Innes, M. , Davies, B. and Lowe, T. 2023. Counter-governance and 'post-event prevent': regulating rumours, fake news and conspiracy theories in the aftermath of terror. International Journal of Law, Crime and Justice 72 100370. (10.1016/j.ijlcj.2019.100370)
2021
- Fussey, P. , Davies, B. and Innes, M. 2021. ‘Assisted’ facial recognition and the reinvention of suspicion and discretion in digital policing. British Journal of Criminology 61 (2), pp.325-344. (10.1093/bjc/azaa068)
2018
- Davies, B. , Innes, M. and Dawson, A. 2018. An evaluation of South Wales Police's use of automated facial recognition. Project Report.Cardiff: Cardiff University.
Articles
- Fussey, P. , Davies, B. and Innes, M. 2021. ‘Assisted’ facial recognition and the reinvention of suspicion and discretion in digital policing. British Journal of Criminology 61 (2), pp.325-344. (10.1093/bjc/azaa068)
- Innes, M. , Davies, B. and Lowe, T. 2023. Counter-governance and 'post-event prevent': regulating rumours, fake news and conspiracy theories in the aftermath of terror. International Journal of Law, Crime and Justice 72 100370. (10.1016/j.ijlcj.2019.100370)
- Robinson, A. L. and Davies, B. 2025. Specialist policing units as a pathway towards procedural justice for domestic abuse victims. Policing and Society (10.1080/10439463.2025.2525474)
Monographs
- Davies, B. , Innes, M. and Dawson, A. 2018. An evaluation of South Wales Police's use of automated facial recognition. Project Report.Cardiff: Cardiff University.
- Davies, B. et al. 2025. Communications, intrusions and accusations: Terror survivors’ experiences on social media. Project Report.[Online].Survivors Against Terror. Available at: https://survivorsagainstterror.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/Social-media-report.pdf.
- Davies, B. and Robinson, A. 2025. Capturing evidence on how the Wales Safeguarding Repository is impacting safeguarding review practice. Project Report.Cardiff: Cardiff University.
- Diaz, C. et al. 2023. The perceived impact of peer parental advocacy on child protection practice: a mixed-methods evaluation. Project Report.[Online].What Works for Early Intervention and Children’s Social Care. Available at: https://whatworks-csc.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/The-perceived-impact-of-peer-parental-advocacy-on-child-protection-practice_FINAL-with-cover_16-Jan.pdf.
- Howells, A. and Davies, B. 2025. What do safeguarding reviews tell us about 'best practice' across Wales?. Project Report.Cardiff University.
- Robinson, A. and Davies, B. 2024. Evaluation of South Wales Police ‘Operation Diogel’: Final Report. Project Report.Cardiff: Cardiff University.
- Robinson, A. L. and Davies, B. 2024. Specialist units for tackling violence against women and girls across Wales. Project Report.Cardiff: Cardiff University.
Thesis
- Davies, B. 2023. Early interventions with young people to prevent the onset of extremism and radicalisation: An ethnographic study. PhD Thesis , Cardiff University.
Biography
Ph.D. Criminology (Cardiff University, 2023)
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- Thesis: Early interventions with young people to prevent the onset of extremism and radicalisation: An ethnographic study
- Supervisors: Professor Martin Innes, Dr Sophie Hallett, Dr Jennifer Hoolachan
BSc Hons. Criminology (Cardiff University, 2015). First Class Honours.
Professional memberships
- Fellow of Advance HE (2023)
Committees and reviewing
Aelod - Pwyllgor y Gymraeg SOCSI / Member - SOCSI Welsh Language Committee
Contact Details
Research themes
Specialisms
- Criminology
- Extremism
- Policing
- Terrorism
- Qualitative research methods
