![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
Lecturer
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 current projects centre on extremism, terrorism and disinformation; this includes a collaborative review of educational interventions to prevent radicalisation (Fellowship of the Cologne International Forum).
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.
Publication
2026
- Davies, B. 2026. The ‘action/inaction conundrum’ in early interventions to prevent extremism. The British Journal of Criminology: An International Review of Crime and Society azag030. (10.1093/bjc/azag030)
- Robinson, A. L. and Davies, B. 2026. Specialist policing units as a pathway towards procedural justice for domestic abuse victims. Policing and Society 36 (2), pp.196-211. (10.1080/10439463.2025.2525474)
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.
- Howells, A. and Davies, B. 2025. What do safeguarding reviews tell us about 'best practice' across Wales?. Project Report.Cardiff University.
- Davies, B. and Robinson, A. 2025. Capturing evidence on how the Wales Safeguarding Repository is impacting safeguarding review practice. Project Report.Cardiff: Cardiff University.
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
- 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)
- 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.
- Davies, B. 2023. Early interventions with young people to prevent the onset of extremism and radicalisation: An ethnographic study. PhD Thesis , Cardiff University.
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)
2019
- Innes, M. , Davies, B. and McDermont, M. 2019. How co-production regulates. Social and Legal Studies 28 (3), pp.370-391. (10.1177/0964663918777803)
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
- Davies, B. 2026. The ‘action/inaction conundrum’ in early interventions to prevent extremism. The British Journal of Criminology: An International Review of Crime and Society azag030. (10.1093/bjc/azag030)
- Robinson, A. L. and Davies, B. 2026. Specialist policing units as a pathway towards procedural justice for domestic abuse victims. Policing and Society 36 (2), pp.196-211. (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 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)
- Innes, M. , Davies, B. and McDermont, M. 2019. How co-production regulates. Social and Legal Studies 28 (3), pp.370-391. (10.1177/0964663918777803)
Monographs
- 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.
- Howells, A. and Davies, B. 2025. What do safeguarding reviews tell us about 'best practice' across Wales?. Project Report.Cardiff University.
- Davies, B. and Robinson, A. 2025. Capturing evidence on how the Wales Safeguarding Repository is impacting safeguarding review practice. 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.
- Robinson, A. and Davies, B. 2024. Evaluation of South Wales Police ‘Operation Diogel’: Final Report. 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.
- 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.
Research
Beth's primary research interests are extremism and terrorism. She was awarded her PhD in Criminology in 2023, having studied early 'pre-Prevent' interventions aimed at young people in Wales. The goal of these interventions is to prevent the onset of extremism and to increase the overall resilience of their audiences. By observing the interventions in practice and interviewing policymakers and practitioners involved in their design and delivery, this research highlighted the evolving nature of extremism, including the growing number of 'problems' drawn into the 'net' of prevention. The research also revealed the challenges and negotiations involved in early intervention programmes, notably the questions of how 'early' is legitimate to intervene and the potential risks of both action and inaction in preventing extremism.
Since then, Beth's continued work in this area includes academic publications, an international collaborative review project, as well as studies of reactions to terrorism and the problematic nature of mis/disinformation.
Teaching
Beth regularly contributes to undergraduate and postgraduate teaching in the School of Social Sciences, delivering guest lectures (in English and Welsh language) on topics including Terrorism, Policing, and Criminal Justice in Wales. She has also supervised undergraduate dissertation and research placement students.
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)
Academic positions
Fellow (2026-present) Cologne International Forum, Innovative Tandem Collaboration
- Project title: What Works to Prevent Radicalisation? A Realist-Inspired Review of Educational Interventions
Research Associate (2023-present) Security, Crime and Intelligence Innovation Institute, Cardiff University
PhD Student (2019-2023) Cardiff University
Research Assistant (2015-2019) Universities Police Science Institute, Cardiff University
Researcher (2015-2016) University of Bristol
Committees and reviewing
Aelod - Pwyllgor y Gymraeg SOCSI / Member - SOCSI Welsh Language Committee
News articles
Contact Details
Research themes
Specialisms
- Criminology
- Extremism
- Policing
- Terrorism
- Qualitative research methods
