Zin Derfoufi

Zin Derfoufi is a Senior Lecturer in Criminology and Sociology at St Mary’s University, London. His work focuses on understanding serious violence, community counter-violence strategies, and the sociopolitical dynamics of counterterrorism. He advises civil society groups, policing bodies, and local/national governments on these issues.

Current research projects include:

• Tackling Serious Youth Violence: Collaborates with government, health, and policing bodies to address root causes via a public health approach, empowering communities to support victims and offenders.
• Communities-led Counterterrorism: Supports civic groups in analyzing global/local terrorist threats and adopting best practices to challenge violent narratives, while documenting UK civil society’s self-organization against extremism.

Key research interests include:

• Intersection of psychology and sociology in violence analysis
• Community-led solutions to violence
• Critical examination of counterterrorism policies
• Racial dynamics in policing and stop-and-search practices

Funded by St Mary’s University, his work bridges academic research with practical policy interventions. He has published widely on topics such as police governance, radicalization mechanisms, and the impact of counterterrorism strategies on democratic processes.