About
Dr. Matthew Bacon serves as a Senior Lecturer in Criminology within the School of Law at the University of Sheffield, where he has been a faculty member since September 2012 following completion of his ESRC-funded PhD at the same institution. His academic career bridges criminology, sociology, and socio-legal studies with specialized expertise in policing practices, particularly drug enforcement and organizational dynamics. As institutional co-lead of the N8 Policing Research Partnership and founding member of the Sheffield University Policing Research Group, he actively shapes evidence-based policing through academic-practitioner collaboration with South Yorkshire Police and the Police and Crime Commissioner's office.
His educational background includes:
- PhD in Criminology, University of Sheffield
- MA in International Criminology, University of Sheffield
- LLB (Hons), University of Durham
Dr. Bacon's research focuses on innovations in drugs policing, examining how law enforcement navigates complex operational environments through harm reduction approaches and alternatives to criminalization. His work critically analyzes police culture, discretion, and organizational reform using ethnographic methods, contributing theoretical advancements through integration of cultural sociology and organizational theory. Recent scholarship increasingly addresses police drug diversion schemes, multi-agency partnerships, and the integration of public health perspectives into enforcement practices, reflecting his commitment to translating research into practical policing innovations that reduce drug-related harms.
Analysis of his publication trajectory (2013-2025) reveals a clear evolution from descriptive ethnographies of police detective work toward intervention-focused research evaluating real-world policy implementations. His recent work demonstrates growing emphasis on police-led diversion schemes, harm reduction integration, and the structural constraints shaping police discretion. This scholarship consistently bridges theoretical rigor with practical application, highlighting tensions between traditional enforcement models and emerging public health-oriented approaches within England and Wales' policing landscape.
His scientific contributions have been recognized through:
- Fellowship of the Higher Education Academy
- University of Sheffield's Vice-Chancellor’s Award for Learning and Teaching for Embedding Sustainability (2021)
Dr. Bacon has secured significant research funding as Principal Investigator, including ESRC (£44,349), N8 Policing Research Partnership (£19,531), and Cabinet Office (£279,143) grants focused on evaluating drug diversion schemes and conceptualizing policing impacts. His leadership in the N8 Policing Research Partnership and Sheffield University Policing Research Group facilitates knowledge exchange, collaborative research design, and evidence-based training development with operational policing bodies. He actively promotes critical thinking through research-led teaching, particularly in his convenor role for the 'Drugs, Crime and Control' module and as Lead Educator for the School of Law's Crime, Justice and Society MOOC.
Through the Sheffield University Policing Research Group (founded 2014) and N8 Policing Research Partnership, Dr. Bacon maintains robust collaborative relationships with South Yorkshire Police and the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner. These platforms enable co-production of research addressing contemporary challenges like knife crime messaging and drug market policing, while fostering sustainable academic-practitioner partnerships that translate evidence into operational practice through joint workshops, training development, and policy briefings.
