David Shepherd

David Shepherd is a Senior Lecturer in the School of Criminology and Criminal Justice at the University of Portsmouth, Faculty of Humanities & Social Sciences. He is a core member of the Centre for Cybercrime and Economic Crime and actively supervises PhD students.

His research focuses on white-collar crime, fraud, corruption, organizational compliance, and justice. He employs both quantitative and qualitative methodologies to study offender behavior, fraud measurement, and prevention strategies. His work aligns with the UN Sustainable Development Goals, particularly those related to justice and reduced inequalities.

Recent research outputs reveal a strong trend in understanding fraud against vulnerable populations—especially older adults—and evaluating public policy responses. His work also explores economic espionage through social media and systemic fraud in public services. He frequently collaborates with Mark Button and other colleagues on interdisciplinary projects.

• Emerald Outstanding Paper Award (2018)

David Shepherd has contributed to high-impact commissioned reports for the Ministry of Justice, Foreign and Commonwealth Office, and charitable organizations such as Re-engage. He has secured multiple research and innovation grants, often as Co-Investigator, focusing on fraud measurement, victim support, and economic crime. He regularly advises on national policy and has presented findings to the Home Office, INTERPOL, and WIPO.

He is actively involved in research dissemination through invited talks and media engagement, emphasizing the societal impact of white-collar crime and digital reintegration challenges for offenders.