Paul Dresser

Paul Dresser is a faculty member at Northumbria University specializing in counter-terrorism, radicalisation studies, and criminology. His research focuses on intelligence gathering, deception analysis, and policing strategies related to counter-terrorism and radicalisation prevention.

Dr. Dresser holds a PhD in Criminology (awarded July 2015), an MRes in Research Methods (November 2011), and a BSc (Hons) in Criminology (July 2010). His academic foundation provides a strong basis for his current research in security studies and intelligence analysis.

His research interests span counter-terrorism strategies, radicalisation processes, deception detection in intelligence gathering, and the psychological aspects of counter-terrorism policing. Dresser examines how law enforcement agencies handle human intelligence sources, analyze deception in informant accounts, and implement counter-radicalisation programs like the UK's PREVENT strategy. His work critically assesses the impact of counter-terrorism measures on minority communities and explores the balance between security and human rights.

Dresser's publication record demonstrates a clear trajectory from theoretical analysis of counter-terrorism legislation toward more applied research on police practices and intelligence gathering. His recent work increasingly focuses on deception analysis in human intelligence sources and the operational challenges faced by police officers implementing counter-radicalisation policies. The interdisciplinary nature of his work bridges criminology, psychology, and security studies, with particular emphasis on evidence-based approaches to counter-terrorism.

Dr. Dresser currently supervises Sarah Driver, who is researching "Preventing and Addressing the Radicalisation of Men and Boys into Inceldom from the Perspectives of Former Incels and Counter-Terrorism Practitioners" (starting October 2024). This supervision reflects his ongoing commitment to mentoring the next generation of security studies researchers.