Elite Expert Witness Services | Criminology Services Limited

Led by Simon, our consultancy provides a premier Expert Witness service for both Crown and Defence in high-profile criminal and civil proceedings. With a career spanning over 2,500 UK social housing estates and 40 years of criminological expertise, Simon is a pre-eminent authority on gang affiliation, county lines, and modern slavery. His evidence is backed by decades of fieldwork, providing the courts with an unparalleled understanding of the mechanisms of exploitation and urban violence.

Our Associates

Our multidisciplinary associate network adds a sophisticated layer of forensic and academic depth to every commission:

Cultural & Linguistic Analysis: We provide expert interpretation of the cultural landscape of Drill music, bridging the gap between creative expression and criminal implication. Our experts analyse lyrical, visual, and linguistic material to ensure the judiciary receives culturally competent and fair interpretations of intent.

Digital & Social Network Forensics: Utilising Netnography and Social Network Analysis (SNA), we map the digital footprints of gang involvement. We provide evidence-based insights into how online influencers and digital platforms mirror or facilitate real-world criminal activity.

Psychological & Behavioral Profiling: With doctoral-level expertise in Criminal Psychology and Victimology, our associates offer rare qualitative insight into desistance, trauma-informed practice, and the reality of families impacted by exploitation.

Transnational & Specialist Crime: Our reach extends to global security, providing expert testimony on human trafficking, migration governance, and transnational organised crime, backed by multilingual proficiency in French, Spanish, and Arabic.

Why Instruct Us?

We don’t just provide reports; we provide Strategic Clarity. By combining frontline street intelligence with rigorous academic research, we ensure that every case is met with the highest standard of professional scrutiny.

Key advisory roles: "From the Frontline to the Cabinet Office: Simon Leads the Global Standard in Criminology and Urban Safety"

The London Mayor’s Office Violence Reduction Advisory Group 2020-21

The Mayor’s Office for Policing and Crime (Mopac) Crime Plan Advisory Group 2020-21

Mopac Matrix Community Reference Group 2018-20

Victims Commissioners Roundtable on victims 2020-21

Evidence to Home Affairs Select Committee on Serious violence, House of Commons 19/03/2019

See the video link below

MPS Cold Case Review of 58 sudden suspicious deaths due to drug intoxication 2018-19

His Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services (HMICFRS) Serious and Organised Crime Expert Reference Group 2017-19

London borough of Newham on Gangs scrutiny work 2019-21

Liaison with Street Crime Action Team (SCAT) and Government Office for London (GOL) Central unit re Street Crime. Production of street crime reports for London boroughs, (2002-2005)

Represented GOL on the Crime Forum of the London Chamber of Commerce and Industry, 2002-04

Advisor to the Joseph Rowntree Foundation on their current research into ASB, 2004-05

Advisory Board on new Racial & Violent Crimes Unit at Scotland Yard after London nail-bombings 1999

Dr Harding has provided advice to the National Crime Agency (NCA) and Number 10 Downing street

Dr Harding and Dr Smart OBE (with Dr Carlene Firmin MBE) speaking to the Home Affairs Select Committee inquiry into serious violence to provide expert insights into the factors driving the increase in serious violence and potential solutions | Houses of Parliament, 16 March 2019.

Our Associates’ Key Advisory Roles

United Nations & NATO: Representative for IFIMES at international summits on global security and human rights.

Home Office & Youth Endowment Fund (YEF): Strategic advisors on national violence reduction strategies and early intervention frameworks.

Organization for National Gang Information and Awareness (ONGIA): National Academic Advisor providing gang-related education and awareness (Canada).

National County Lines Coordination Centre (NCLCC): Specialist consultants on cuckooing, modern slavery, and the cultural landscape of Drill music.

NHS & Public Health England: Commissioned strategists for mapping disengaged demographics and informing responsive health policy.

U.S. Navy & Public Defenders Offices (USA): Consultative service on community policing and gang membership across Colorado and Kansas.

London Gangs Forum, House of Commons: Expert contributors to parliamentary discussions on youth violence and gang-affected areas.

National Probation Service (England & Wales): Former lead practitioners and researchers in offender management and desistance.

Children’s Workforce Development Council: Commissioned researchers for national studies on youth gang interventions.

Dyfed Powys Police & Hampshire County Council: Consultative lead on the production of local and national policing reports.

International Rescue Committee: Advisory and practitioner support for survivors of trafficking and violent crime.

Expert Advisor

One alternative to engaging an Expert Witness is to engage an Expert Advisor. This might also be a cost-effective alternative. A key benefit here is that the expert’s advice including client report, remain privileged and non-disclosable. This permits the client to access the expert’s knowledge, guidance and opinion. This role may also assist in strategic planning of a case.

An expert advisor can be quickly instructed without a need to wait on Legal Aid funding. They can assist in narrowing cases to focus on key issues pre-proceedings and ensure those involved in a case are provided with contemporary knowledge and opinion. Early instruction can also assist in such issues. An Expert Advisors would not be called to appear in court.

Expert Witness

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 registered with the National Crime Agency Major Crime Investigative Support, Expert Advisers Database.

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 and no snitching

• Modern slavery and NRM Decisions

Expert Witness Reports

Reports for Defence

Reports for Crown

Court Appearances

What is the difference between an Expert Advisor and Expert Witness?

An EA is any person able to assist an investigation because their specialist knowledge and/ or experience allows them to give an opinion on a particular matter or provide a specialist service directly related to their expertise. EA’s are independent of the Police Service (or Solicitor) and are usually employed to interpret and present evidence as a forensic expert, as a witness, although they are not necessarily an expert witness.

Expert evidence is admissible to furnish the court with information that is likely to be outside the experience and the knowledge of a judge or jury (Criminal Practice Direction V Evidence 19A Expert Evidence).

An Expert Witness can provide the court with a statement of opinion on any admissible matter calling for expertise by the witness if they are qualified to give such an opinion.

What makes a suitable EA will depend on the context of a particular case. An EA’s expertise and qualifications are only useful to an investigation if they are relevant to the issues in that investigation. Expertise can be demonstrated through formal, recognised qualifications or through experience. The type of expertise that is appropriate will depend on the nature of the investigation.

Source: Advice for Expert Advisers, Dec. 2020, Produced on behalf of the Major Crime Investigative Support: Crime Team: Version 1.5 behalf of the Serious Crime Team

Key Professional Knowledge Themes as an Expert Witness

Urban street gangs

Street gang culture

County lines drug networks

Different models of county lines dealing

Gang slang

Territorial or Postcode ‘beefs’

The MPS Gangs Matrix

Homocide

OSINT/ social media

Netnography

Serious youth violence

Duress/threat

Human trafficking

Grooming

Debt Bondage

Drill Music - translation analysis

Gang dynamics

Child criminal exploitation

Cuckooing

Loverboy scams/ exploitation

Modern Day Slavery

Drug Markets

Moped crime

Motorcycle gangs

Knife carrying

Acid Attacks

Cannabis farming

Ride outs

Dangerous Dogs as weapons

Recent Expert Witness Clients include

Abrahams Law

ABV Solicitors

ACA Law

Amosu Robinshaw

Commons legal

Darryl Ingram & Co

Faradays Solicitors

Forensic Access

Forensic Healthcare

GT Stewart Solicitors

Hodge, Jones and Allen

HP Gower

Imran Khan & Partners

Liberty Law

Lloyds PR

Macauley Smith Ltd

MN Law

Morgan HAS Solicitors

MTC Solicitors

Murray Hughman

Nelson Legal LLP in Bristol

Old Bailey Solicitors

Powell Spencer and Partners

Sansbury Douglas, Bristol

Saunders

Sperrin Law

Tildens Solicitors

Tuckers Solicitors

Westminster Solicitors

Bedfordshire/ Hertfordshire Police

Medway Police

Metropolitan Police

Suffolk Police

West Midlands Police

South Yorkshire Police

Expert Witness/Advisory roles