David Wilson (criminologist)

David Wilson (born 23 April 1957) is a Scottish emeritus professor of

While at HMP Woodhill, Wilson helped design and managed the two units for the 12 most disruptive prisoners in the country. This experience brought him into contact with some of the most notorious offenders of the last 30 years, including Charles Bronson and Dennis Nilsen.^[2][5]

Latterly he was Head of

Wilson has advised various police forces as a criminologist, and in 2006 was also involved in the Ipswich serial murder case, as an advisor to Sky News. Subsequently, Steve Wright was arrested and prosecuted for this series of murders.^[4] Wilson co-authored a book with the former Sky broadcast journalist Paul Harrison about their experiences on this case. Wilson also approached convicted murderer Peter Tobin to discuss the Bible John killings, but did not secure a meeting with Tobin.^[4]

Wilson acted as: Vice-Chair of the Howard League for Penal Reform (1998–2014); Vice-President of New Bridge; and Chair of the Forum on Prisoner Education (2000–2006). He is a former Chair of the Commission on English Prisons Today, whose president was Cherie Blair, and of the Friends of Grendon Prison. In 2012, he was made a National Teaching Fellow of England and Wales.^[1]

Writing

Wilson has published widely on the

Wilson appeared on BBC Radio 4's Ramblings series on 1 October 2020, walking with Clare Balding from Wicken, Northamptonshire to Leckhampstead, Buckinghamshire whilst discussing his life.

Wilson gives public lectures and delivers lectures for schools through the company CrimiKnowledge. In 2016 the TV drama

Wilson is married to Anne, a practising lawyer. The couple live in Buckinghamshire and have two children.^[2]

Publications (books)

• Alex Alexandrowicz & David Wilson (1999). The Longest Injustice: The Strange Story of Alex Alexandrowicz. Winchester: Waterside Press.
  ISBN 978-1-872870-45-8
  .
• David Wilson & Anne Reuss (2000). Prison(er) Education: Stories of Change and Transformation. Winchester: Waterside Press.
  ISBN 978-1-872870-90-8
  .
• David Wilson & Sean O'Sullivan (2004). Images of Incarceration: Representations of Prison in Film and Television Drama. Hook: Waterside Press.
  ISBN 978-1-904380-08-5
  .
• David Wilson (2007). Serial Killers: Hunting Britons and Their Victims 1960–2006. Hook: Waterside Press.
  ISBN 978-1-906534-41-7
  .
• Paul Harrison & David Wilson (2008). Hunting Evil: Inside the Ipswich Serial Murders. London: Sphere.
  ISBN 978-0-7515-4024-6
  . – This co-author is the Sky broadcast journalist and not the former Police Officer of the same name.
• David Wilson & Paul Harrison (2010). The Lost British Serial Killer: Closing the case on Peter Tobin and Bible John.
  ISBN 978-0-7515-4232-5
  . – This co-author is the Sky broadcast journalist and not the former Police Officer of the same name.
• David Wilson (2009). A History of British Serial Killing. London: Sphere.
  ISBN 978-0-7481-1172-5
  .
• David Wilson (2011). Looking for Laura: Public Criminology and Hot News. Hook: Waterside Press.
  ISBN 978-1-904380-70-2
  .
• David Wilson (2012). Mary Ann Cotton: Britain's First Female Serial Killer. Hook: Waterside Press.
  ISBN 978-1-904380-91-7
  .
• David Wilson (2014). Pain and Retribution: A Short History of British Prisons, 1066 to the Present. London: Reaktion.
  ISBN 978-1-78023-283-6
  .
• David Wilson (2015). Female Serial Killers in Social Context. Bristol: Policy Press.
  ISBN 978-1-4473-2646-5
  .
• David Wilson; Elizabeth Yardley & Adam Lynes (2015). Serial Killers and the Phenomenon of Serial Murder: A Student Textbook. Hook: Waterside Press.
  ISBN 978-1-909976-21-4
  .
• David, Wilson (2019). My Life with Murderers: Behind Bars with the World's Most Violent Men. Hachette UK.
  ISBN 978-0-7515-7414-2
  .
• David, Wilson (2023). Murder At Home: How our safest space is where we’re most in danger. Hachette UK. ISBN 978-0-7515-8495-0 Hardback Published 23rd March 2023