About the Centre for Social Harm, Crime and Violence

Bristol’s Social Harm, Crime and Violence (SHCV) Research Centre is a leading centre for the study of social harm and crime in the UK and globally, combining pioneering research with policy impact and activism.  

The centre builds on approaches to harm, crime, structural and gendered violence developed at Bristol since the early 1990s, which explore these issues beyond the confines of disciplines such as criminology or law. Centre members examine diverse forms of harms and crimes, perpetrated not only by individuals but by states, corporations and wider social structures.  

The centre bridges pioneering research, impact on policy and professional practice, and activism. It facilitates innovative interdisciplinary research which provides a greater understanding of major social issues, scrutinising the evidence base for policy and practice and expanding the policy options available.

As such, the centre also promotes approaches to public policy and activism that address the implications of social harms, including the harmful effects of policy itself.  

Our disciplinary backgrounds are diverse, including anthropology, childhood studies, economics, law and sociology, and our research often transcends disciplinary boundaries to better understand the complex subjects we study. Geographically, our research focuses on Bristol, the UK and global contexts, and we have a particularly strong expertise in the Americas, Sub-Saharan Africa, as well as West, South and South-East Asia.