![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)
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 (group: Universities' Police Science 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.
Beth's previous research includes an evaluation of South Wales Police's use of facial recognition technology. She led on the project's fieldwork and report, which was cited by a High Court judgement in 2019.
Her current projects centre on disinfromation, policing and vulnerability. Beth is part of the team developing the Wales Safeguarding Repository (funded by Welsh Government).
Publication
2025
- 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. L. and Davies, B. 2024. Specialist units for tackling violence against women and girls across Wales. Project Report. Cardiff: Cardiff University.
- Robinson, A. and Davies, B. 2024. Evaluation of South Wales Police ‘Operation Diogel’: Final Report. 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.
- 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, article number: 100370. (10.1016/j.ijlcj.2019.100370)
- Diaz, C., Fitz-Symonds, S., Evans, L., Westlake, D., Devine, R., Mauri, D. and Davies, B. 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
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
- 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)
- 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, article number: 100370. (10.1016/j.ijlcj.2019.100370)
- 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)
Monographs
- Robinson, A. L. and Davies, B. 2024. Specialist units for tackling violence against women and girls across Wales. Project Report. Cardiff: Cardiff University.
- Robinson, A. and Davies, B. 2024. Evaluation of South Wales Police ‘Operation Diogel’: Final Report. Project Report. Cardiff: Cardiff University.
- Diaz, C., Fitz-Symonds, S., Evans, L., Westlake, D., Devine, R., Mauri, D. and Davies, B. 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
- 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.
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
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
- Policing
- Extremism
- Safeguarding
- Qualitative research methods