Dr Niall Hamilton-Smith

Associate Professor

Sociology, Social Policy & Criminology Colin Bell Building, University of Stirling, Stirling, FK9 4LA

Dr Niall Hamilton-Smith

Contact details

About me

Niall Hamilton-Smith is an Associate Professor in the Faculty of Social Sciences, the Associate Dean for Learning and Teaching and the Programme Director of the MSc Criminology. He is an Associate Director of the Scottish Centre for Crime and Justice Research ( http://www.sccjr.ac.uk/ ) and an associate of the Scottish Institute for Policing Research.

Prior to Stirling, Niall worked as a researcher in government, working both on the Home Office's Crime Reduction Programme and on the Organised Crime Research Programme.  

My research interests include: Policing and Organised Crime, in particular police intelligence, human trafficking, and community aspects of organised criminality (harm, benefits, awareness, involvement etc.). Community policing, community safety and crime reduction, in particular multi-agency partnership programmes, crime prevention programmes, and associated approaches to evaluation and performance management. Sectarianism (perceived or otherwise) and its association with marches and parades and with Scottish football. Risk management and control strategies associated with sporting events and mega events more generally. Negotiating just transitions when responding to climate change and associated environmental challenges. I currently supervise doctoral students across these research areas and welcome PhD enquiries from applicants with interests in any of these, or related, areas.

Current PhD students Suhail Alameri: Traffic Policing in the United Arab Emirates

Jordan Philips: Uncovering the myth of the male sex worker

Samet Ayvaz: The policing of identifiable religious communities

Davide Mattarello: Interacting with minority cultures: police issues and solutions

Mary Kent: Identifying criminal intent through social media

Scarlet Roberstson: Community policing and human trafficking in Scotland

Ringmichon Keishing: Understanding human trafficking of women in Manipur, India

Recently completed PhD students

Dr Richard Kjellgren (2023) Mapping current networks and identifying patterns of vulnerability and exploitation with the off-street sex market Dr Osasere Igbinomwanhia (2021)Human trafficking and poverty in South-South Nigeria Dr Cecep Mustafa (2020)Judicial Perspectives on the Sentencing of Minor Drug Offenders in Indonesia Dr Nicola Benbow (2019)Preventing youth crime in Scotland: the practices of early intervention and diversion under "whole system approach" implementation Dr Catherine Davidones (2017)A Study Looking at the Governance of Community Safety Partnerships in Scotland

Research projects (7)

Water and Fire: Understanding and reducing risk with 15 “Best Bets” for enhancing capacity for transformative adaptation with vulnerable township residents on the Cape Flats in Cape Town, South Africa.
PI:
Funded by: Economic and Social Research Council
–

Emerging Technologies in Policing
PI: Dr Niall Hamilton-Smith
Funded by: Scottish Institute for Policing Research
–

Community experiences of serious organised crime in Scotland
PI: Dr Niall Hamilton-Smith
–

A Proposal to Conduct Research into the Impact of the Offensive Behaviour at Football and Threatening Communications (Scotland) Act
PI: Dr Niall Hamilton-Smith
Funded by: Scottish Government
–

Community Impact of Marches and Parades
PI: Dr Niall Hamilton-Smith
Funded by: Scottish Government
–

The governance of Security and the Analysis of Risk for Sporting Mega-Events: creating a living legacy for Europe from an analysis of security planning for the Glasgow Commonwealth Games (G2014)
PI: Dr Niall Hamilton-Smith
Funded by: European Commission (Horizon 2020)
–

Evaluation of Football Banning Orders in Scotland
PI: Dr Niall Hamilton-Smith
Funded by: Scottish Government
–

Outputs (35)

Research Report

Inverness and Cromarty Green Freeport: Assessing crime and security risks

Sheridan A, Atkinson C, Hamilton-Smith N, Kjellgren R, McVie S & Soliman F (2025) Inverness and Cromarty Green Freeport: Assessing crime and security risks. Scottish Centre for Crime and Justice Research. https://www.sccjr.ac.uk/publication/inverness-and-cromarty-green-freeport-assessing-crime-and-security-risks/'

Article

Participatory visual methods and the mobilization of community knowledge: Working towards community-derived disaster risk management in the context of advancing climate change

Black GF, Petersen L, Mpofu-Mketwa T, Dick L, Wilson A, Ncube S, Abrams A, Carden K, Dickie J, Hamilton-Smith N, Piper L & Lamb G (2025) Participatory visual methods and the mobilization of community knowledge: Working towards community-derived disaster risk management in the context of advancing climate change. Journal of Participatory Research Methods, 6 (2). https://jprm.scholasticahq.com/article/129834-participatory-visual-methods-and-the-mobilization-of-community-knowledge-working-towards-community-derived-disaster-risk-management-in-the-context-of

Article

Place-pedagogies of water stress

Wilson A, Black G, Petersen L, Dick L, Ncube S, Mpofu-Mketwa T, Abrams A, Carden K, Piper L, Dickie J, Hamilton-Smith N & Lamb G (2025) Place-pedagogies of water stress. Global Social Challenges, 20 (20), pp. 1-33. https://doi.org/10.1332/27523349Y2025D000000034

Conference Paper (unpublished)

Embracing Emerging Technologies in Policing: Key Considerations

Connon I, Egan M, Hamilton-Smith N, Mackay N, Miranda D & Webster CW (2024) Embracing Emerging Technologies in Policing: Key Considerations. AI and Surveillance in Policing and Law and Order: Opportunities, Threats, Perspectives and Cases, Gothenburg, Sweden, 16.10.2024-18.10.2024.

Article

Understanding resilience capitals, agency and habitus in household experiences of water scarcity, floods and fire in marginalized settlements in the Cape Flats, South Africa

Ncube S, Wilson A, Petersen L, Black G, Abrams A, Carden K, Dick L, Dickie J, Gibson L, Hamilton-Smith N, Ireland A, Lamb G, Mpofu-Mketwa T, Piper L & Swanson D (2023) Understanding resilience capitals, agency and habitus in household experiences of water scarcity, floods and fire in marginalized settlements in the Cape Flats, South Africa. Social Sciences & Humanities Open, 8 (1), Art. No.: 100710. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ssaho.2023.100710

Research Report

Community Experiences of Serious Organised Crime in Scotland

Fraser A, Hamilton-Smith N, Clark A, Atkinson C, Graham W, McBride M, Doyle M & Hobbs D (2018) Community Experiences of Serious Organised Crime in Scotland. Scottish Government. Social Research Series. Edinburgh. https://www.gov.scot/publications/community-experiences-serious-organised-crime-scotland/

Research Report

The Effectiveness of Asset-Focussed Interventions against Organised Crime: Protocol for a Systematic Review

Atkinson C, Mackenzie S & Hamilton-Smith N (2017) The Effectiveness of Asset-Focussed Interventions against Organised Crime: Protocol for a Systematic Review. Economic and Social Research Council. What Works: Crime Reduction Systematic Review Series. Scottish Centre for Crime and Justice Research. http://whatworks.college.police.uk/Research/Systematic_Review_Series/Pages/Organised-crime.aspx

Research Report

A Systematic Review of the Effectiveness of Asset-Focussed Interventions against Organised Crime

Atkinson C, Mackenzie S & Hamilton-Smith N (2017) A Systematic Review of the Effectiveness of Asset-Focussed Interventions against Organised Crime. Economic and Social Research Council. What Works: Crime Reduction Systematic Review Series, 9. Scottish Centre for Crime and Justice Research. http://whatworks.college.police.uk/Research/Systematic_Review_Series/Pages/Organised-crime.aspx

Book Chapter

Organised crime in Scotland and the Criminal Justice Response

Cavanagh B, Hamilton-Smith N & Mackenzie S (2016) Organised crime in Scotland and the Criminal Justice Response. In: Croall H, Mooney G & Munro M (eds.) Crime, Justice and Society in Scotland. Abingdon, Oxon: Routledge, pp. 115-130. https://www.routledge.com/Crime-Justice-and-Society-in-Scotland/Croall-Mooney-Munro/p/book/9780415750301

Research Report

Community Impact of Public Processions

Hamilton-Smith N, Malloch M, Ashe S, Rutherford AC & Bradford B (2015) Community Impact of Public Processions. Scottish Government. Social Research series: Crime and Justice. Scottish Government Social Research. http://www.gov.scot/Publications/2015/02/3769/downloads

Book Chapter

England's Act, Scotland's Shame and the Limits of the Law

Hamilton-Smith N & McArdle D (2013) England's Act, Scotland's Shame and the Limits of the Law. In: Flint J & Kelly J (eds.) Bigotry, Football and Scotland. Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press, pp. 130-144. https://edinburghuniversitypress.com/book-bigotry-football-and-scotland.html

Research Report

An Evaluation of Football Banning Orders in Scotland

Hamilton-Smith N, Bradford B, Hopkins M, Kurland J, Lightowler C, McArdle D & Tilley N (2011) An Evaluation of Football Banning Orders in Scotland. Scottish Government. Scottish Government. www.scotland.gov.uk/socialresearch.

Research Report

Determining Identity and Nationality in Local Policing

Hamilton-Smith N & Patel S (2010) Determining Identity and Nationality in Local Policing. Home Office. Research Report, 42. Home Office. http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/publications/science-research-statistics/research-statistics/crime-research/horr42/

Book Chapter

The Prevention of Domestic Burglary

Hamilton-Smith N & Kent A (2005) The Prevention of Domestic Burglary. In: Tilley N (ed.) Handbook of Crime Prevention and Community Safety. Cullompton, Devon: Willan Publishing, pp. 417-457. http://www.routledge.com/books/details/9781843921462/

Teaching

Programme Director, MSc Criminology

Research centres/groups