Personal profile
Biography
David Buil-Gil is a quantitative criminologist whose research interests lie in the fields of communities and crime, comparative criminology, adolescent offending, and quantitative research methods. He has published on measurement error in crime data, model-based estimation of crime in small areas, spare time and crime, cybercrime, and international comparisons of crime data quality. He is currently a Senior Lecturer in Quantitative Criminology and Research Director at the Department of Criminology, University of Manchester, and Director at CrimRxiv.
David has collaborated with national statistical offices, government departments, law enforcement agencies, and research centres in the UK and internationally, including the Home Office, the Ministry of Justice, and the Office for National Statistics.
David Buil-Gil is originally from Barcelona, Catalonia (Spain). He received a BA in Criminology from the Autonomous University of Barcelona and a MA in Crime Analysis and Prevention from Miguel Hernández University of Elche. He obtained his PhD in Criminology at the University of Manchester in 2019 with a thesis focusing on the application of small area estimation techniques to measure crime under-reporting, fear of crime and disorder at small geographic levels. His doctoral work was funded by the UoM Presidential Doctoral Scholar Award and recognised with the 2021 Early Career Researcher Award of the Office for National Statistics.
He has previously held research and teaching roles at the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC), Miguel Hernández University, and the Schools of Law and Social Sciences at the University of Manchester. Between 2019 and 2021, he was a Research Fellow in Cybercrime in the Digital Trust and Security theme of the University of Manchester.
David’s research has been published in leading criminology journals, including the Journal of Quantitative Criminology, British Journal of Criminology, Journal of Experimental Criminology, Computers in Human Behavior, Crime Science, and International Review of Victimology. He has received research awards from the Office for National Statistics, Spanish Ministry of Education, the Spanish Society of Criminolo-gical Research, the Society of Chief Police Officers of Alicante (AJPLA), and Miguel Hernández University.
Education/Academic qualification
Doctor of Philosophy, Small area estimation in criminological research. Theory, methods, and applications, The University of Manchester
Award Date: 16 Dec 2019
Master of Arts, Crime Analysis and Crime Prevention, Universidad Miguel Hernandez de Elche
Award Date: 1 Jul 2016
Bachelor of Arts, Criminology, Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona
Award Date: 1 Jun 2015
External positions
External Examiner, Postgraduate Security and Crime Science Board, University College London (UCL)
14 Apr 2026 → 14 Apr 2028
Visiting Scholar, Department of Urban and Regional Planning, Sun Yat-sen University
1 Jul 2023 → 31 Aug 2023
Associate researcher, CRÍMINA Research Center for the Study and Prevention of Crime, Universidad Miguel Hernandez de Elche
1 Aug 2016 → …
Areas of expertise
- H Social Sciences (General)
- Crime data
- Victimisation surveys
- Measurement error
- Computational criminology
Research Beacons, Institutes and Platforms
- Digital Futures
- Cathie Marsh Institute
Keywords
- Fear of crime
- Small area estimation
- Environmental criminology
- Crime analysis
- Emotions about crime
Expertise related to UN Sustainable Development Goals
In 2015, UN member states agreed to 17 global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure prosperity for all. This person’s work contributes towards the following SDG(s):
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SDG 3 Good Health and Well-being
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SDG 5 Gender Equality
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SDG 7 Affordable and Clean Energy
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SDG 10 Reduced Inequalities
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SDG 11 Sustainable Cities and Communities
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SDG 16 Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions
Fingerprint
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Collaborations and top research areas from the last five years
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Diversifying Crime Datasets in Introductory Statistical Courses in Criminology
Buil-Gil, D., Bui, L., Trajtenberg, N., Diviak, T., Kim, E. & Solymosi, R., 18 May 2026, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in Criminal Justice Education. Marcum, C. D. (ed.). London: Routledge, p. 19-44 26 p.Research output: Chapter in Book/Conference proceeding › Chapter › peer-review
Open Access -
Measuring Recurrent Victimization: Evaluating Operationalization Strategies and Predictors Using the Crime Survey for England and Wales
Tura, F., Buil-Gil, D. & Adeniyi, O., 9 Jan 2026, (E-pub ahead of print) In: Evidence Base . 2605330.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open Access4 Downloads (Pure) -
Once Bitten, Twice Shy? Understanding Repeat and Multiple Victimization in Business Cybercrime
He, Y., Buil-Gil, D., Davies, J. & Barrett, E., 12 Mar 2026, (Accepted/In press) In: Crime and Delinquency.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
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The Effect of Counting Rules on Cross-National Comparisons of Homicide
Buil-Gil, D., Pina-Sánchez, J. & Aebi, M. F., 8 Jan 2026, In: Social Indicators Research. 181, 44.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open Access -
The Structure of Unstructured Time and Crime: A Spare Time Model
Buil-Gil, D., 1 Jan 2026, In: The British Journal of Criminology. 66, 1, p. 1 22 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open Access
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Manchester Policing Academic Centre of Excellence (M-PACE)
Solymosi, R. (PI), Bannister, J. (PI), Buil-Gil, D. (CoI), Oliveira, T. (CoI), Broad, R. (CoI), Lord, N. (CoI), Crockett, K. (CoI), Morris, S. (CoI), Han, L. (CoI) & Jogunola, O. (CoI)
1/10/25 → 30/09/28
Project: Research
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Exploring the dynamics of school absenteeism and antisocial behaviour and crime
Buil-Gil, D. (PI) & Pease, K. (Supervisor)
15/10/24 → 14/04/26
Project: Research
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Digital Identity and Life-Course Study (DIALCS): Phase 1
Zeng, Y. (PI), Buil-Gil, D. (CoI), Limniou, M. (CoI), Renwick, R. (CoI) & Lu, Y. (CoI)
1/05/23 → 31/08/23
Project: Research
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FinTech and Financial Crimes: Methods, Applications, and Regulations
Allmendinger, R. (PI), Zachariadis, M. (CoI), Buil-Gil, D. (CoI), Barrett, E. (CoI), Lord, N. (CoI), Freitas, A. (CoI), Joshi, M. (CoI) & Papamarkou, T. (CoI)
4/10/21 → 30/09/22
Project: Research
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PrivIoT: Understanding and Mitigating Privacy risks of IoT Homes with Demand-Side Management
Nicholson, J. (PI), Buil-Gil, D. (CoI), Coventry, L. (CoI), Kuenzel, S. (CoI), Zakhary, S. (CoI), Tilley, D. (Support team) & Kemp, S. (Researcher)
6/09/21 → 5/10/22
Project: Research
Prizes
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Extraordinary Prize for Master Students
Buil Gil, D. (Recipient), Mar 2017
Prize: Prize (including medals and awards)
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Final Master’s Dissertation Award for Master Students
Buil Gil, D. (Recipient), Jun 2016
Prize: Prize (including medals and awards)
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JAEIntro Research Scholarship 2014
Buil Gil, D. (Recipient), Jul 2014
Prize: Fellowship awarded competitively
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ONS Early Career Researcher Award 2021
Buil Gil, D. (Recipient), 13 Oct 2021
Prize: Prize (including medals and awards)
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President's Doctoral Scholar Award
Buil Gil, D. (Recipient), 2020
Prize: Prize (including medals and awards)
Activities
- 8 Editorial work
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European Journal on Criminal Policy and Research (Journal)
Buil-Gil, D. (Member of editorial board)
Jan 2026 → …Activity: Publication peer-review and editorial work › Editorial work › Research
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The Howard Journal of Crime and Justice (Journal)
Buil-Gil, D. (Member of editorial board)
Sept 2025 → …Activity: Publication peer-review and editorial work › Editorial work › Research
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Evidence Base (Journal)
Buil-Gil, D. (Associate editor)
Aug 2025 → …Activity: Publication peer-review and editorial work › Editorial work › Research
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Crime Science (Journal)
Buil-Gil, D. (Member of editorial board)
Nov 2024 → …Activity: Publication peer-review and editorial work › Editorial work › Research
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CrimRxiv (Journal)
Buil-Gil, D. (Editor in chief)
Apr 2024 → …Activity: Publication peer-review and editorial work › Editorial work › Research
Datasets
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It’s Inevitable That Open Access Will Simply Expand: Key Considerations for the Growth of Open Access Hubs: Interview Data, 2024
Sheppard, J. (Creator) & Buil-Gil, D. (Creator), UK Data Service, 24 Feb 2025
Dataset
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Synthetic Data Code, Crimes in England and Wales in 2011, 2022
Brunton-Smith, I. (Creator), Buil-Gil, D. (Creator), Pina-Sánchez, J. (Creator), Cernat, A. (Creator) & Moretti, A. (Creator), UK Data Service, 14 Jan 2024
Dataset
Thesis
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Small area estimation in criminological research. Theory, methods, and applications
Buil Gil, D. (Author), Medina, J. (Main Supervisor) & Shlomo, N. (Co Supervisor), 16 Dec 2019Student thesis: Phd
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