Stuart has published over 60 peer reviewed articles in policing, crime reduction and investigation. He has also authored two books: Effective policing: implementation in theory and practice (2015) and "Improving intelligence analysis (2021). His most recent research involves working on two European commissioned projects. These reviewed EU human trafficking policy and estimating the cost of human trafficking.
He is currently a consultant on a 4 year UKRI project which is examining international information-sharing across law enforcement agencies. He acts as a consultant to UK police forces and the National Police Chiefs' Council and has engaged with police forces across the world, including: USA, India, UAE, China, Canada, Malaysia, Australia, NL and the UK. Stuart is a judge for the UK Problem Oriented Policing Policing Awards.
Stuart spent 30 years with Lancashire Constabulary in a variety of roles. His last three included: Divisional Commander, Acting Assistant Chief Constable (Operations) and Detective Chief Superintendent specialist crime and operations. As Detective Chief, he had responsibility across Lancashire for homicide, counterterrorism, forensics, intelligence, serious and organised crime, critical incidents, and major investigations.
He also had national responsibility as an offender profiler and hostage negotiations. He has been formally commended on many occasions. As a police officer, he twice received the UK Tilley Award for excellence in problem-oriented policing as well as being a finalist in the international (Goldstein) award.
On retiring from the police, he was employed as a lecturer, and senior lecturer, in Criminology at the University of Lancaster between September 2007 and August 2015 before moving here. In his academic role he continues to act as an advisor to NCA, College of Policing and the National Police Chief's Committee.