Dr Simon K Harding

Dr. Simon Harding is an experienced criminologist and consultant with over four decades of dedicated service in the fields of crime reduction and community safety.  Currently, he serves as the Director of Criminology Services Limited, where he specialises in expert witness commissions focusing on gangs, modern slavery, exploitation, and drug-related issues.  Dr. Harding also serves as the Director of the National Centre for Gangs Research Ltd, leading research and consultancy on youth violence and gang activity. He is recognised as Lawyer Monthly's Expert Witness of 2025 and is a Professor of Criminology and Sociology at St Mary’s University, Twickenham.

Dr. Harding's extensive career includes notable positions at the Home Office, as well as various local councils including Hackney, Islington, and Lambeth, where he held the role of Crime Reduction Director.  He has worked on over 2,500 social housing estates in the UK, where he has led initiatives and authored numerous reports on crime and safety.  Among his significant contributions to the field, he invented Acceptable Behaviour Contracts (ABCs) in 1999, which have been influential in managing anti-social behaviour across the United Kingdom.

Dr. Harding's expertise is sought by various governmental bodies, including the Home Office, the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS), the National Crime Agency (NCA), and Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services (HMICFRS).  He plays a key advisory role on youth violence, gangs, knife crime, and county lines, actively participating in fieldwork and engaging directly with young people involved in gang activities.

His advisory roles have included participation in various groups and committees, such as the London Mayor’s Office Violence Reduction Advisory Group, the Mayor’s Office for Policing and Crime (MOPAC) Crime Plan Advisory Group, and other significant initiatives focused on crime and community safety. Dr. Harding's work has involved scrutinising serious incidents, providing insights to parliamentary committees, and contributing to major crime reviews.

Dr. Harding specialises in youth violence, urban street gangs, and drug markets, leading important projects such as the Lambeth Gangs Commission and the UK's largest anti-gang initiative.  His efforts aim to develop practical solutions for crime reduction and promote safer communities.  Dr. Harding is well-equipped to help organisations address challenges related to crime and community safety, offering tailored advice, training, and strategic support.

Dr Harding acts as an Expert Witness for both Defence and the Crown.  He has undertaken Expert Witness Training with the Academy of Experts and holds Certificates in training in the foundation course, Understanding Law and Procedure Rules and Into Court.

He is a Certified member of the Expert Witness Institute, a member of the Academy of Experts and a member of the Independent Drug Expert Alliance.

Key areas of expertise for reports and court appearances include:
▪ Street Gangs, gang dynamics and behaviours
▪ Criminal Exploitation; debt bondage; duress; vulnerabilities
▪ County Lines; drug dealing and drug dealing networks
▪ Knife crime; kidnapping; Drill music videos
▪ The Street Code
▪ Modern slavery and NRM Decisions

Dr Harding also acts as an Expert Advisor.  
Area of work: Nationwide and International