Will Humphries is a crime and courts reporter for The Times, specializing in stories that intersect legal frameworks and community impact. Based in the UK, his work often highlights systemic failures in rural policing and historic preservation.
“The best crime stories aren’t about the crime itself—they’re about what the crime reveals about us.”
Will Humphries has carved a distinguished career as a crime and courts reporter for The Times, where his work blends investigative rigor with narrative depth. A graduate of the University of Southampton and the Cardiff School of Journalism, Humphries began his career covering regional stories in Wales before joining The Times as its Southwest and Countryside Correspondent[4]. His early work focused on local governance and rural issues, but his knack for uncovering human-driven stories soon shifted his focus to crime reporting.
This 2023 investigation exposed a shocking case of workplace violence in a UK school, revealing systemic failures in staff vetting. Humphries’ sourcing included leaked internal emails and interviews with victims’ families, painting a stark picture of institutional negligence. The piece prompted a parliamentary inquiry into educational safeguarding protocols[1].
Blending environmental and legal journalism, this 2024 report dissected how outdated infrastructure laws threatened a 200-year-old canal. Humphries traced the issue to conflicting local and national regulations, citing interviews with hydrologists and heritage experts. The article spurred crowdfunding campaigns that raised £2M for preservation[1].
Humphries prioritizes cases that reveal systemic flaws rather than isolated incidents. A successful pitch might highlight how a local crime reflects broader trends in policing or legislation, similar to his canal piece linking environmental neglect to legal loopholes[1].
With deep roots in Southwest England and Wales, he’s particularly receptive to stories involving rural communities or historical institutions. For example, his reporting on coastal smuggling networks demonstrated how geography shapes criminal activity[4].
While technically under the crime umbrella, Humphries’ portfolio shows minimal interest in financial fraud or corporate malfeasance. Pitches about violent crime or public safety yield better engagement.
At PressContact, we aim to help you discover the most relevant journalists for your PR efforts. If you're looking to pitch to more journalists who write on Crime, here are some other real estate journalist profiles you may find relevant:
