NCJ Number
62260
Date Published
1978
Length
48 pages
Annotation
INCIDENTS OF VANDALISM AND DISORDERLY CONDUCT (HOOLIGANISM) IN ONE BRITISH COUNTY ARE DISCUSSED IN THIS WORKING PARTY REPORT WHICH EMPASIZES POSSIBLE PREVENTIVE MEASURES.
Abstract
FORMED IN 1977, THE WORKING PARTY WAS COMPOSED OF BOTH POLICE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS. DATA WERE GATHERED VIA FORMS DISTRIBUTED TO POLICE DEPARTMENTS. RESULTS SHOWED THAT THE COUNTY'S RATIO OF VANDALISM TO ALL BURGLARY AND THEFT OFFENSES WAS THE HIGHEST FOR ANY POLICE AREA IN ENGLAND AND WALES. THE TOTAL COST OF COUNTY VANDALISM IN 1977 WAS OVER 350,000 POUNDS. PRIVATE PROPERTY AND MOTOR VEHICLES WERE THE MAIN TARGETS OF VANDALS, FOLLOWED CLOSELY BY SCHOOLS AND PUBLIC HOUSING. PUBLIC CONVENIENCES AND PUBLIC TELEPHONES WERE, SUPRISINGLY, MINOR TARGETS. OFFENDERS WERE MAINLY MALES. MOTIVES INCLUDED PLAY, PRESTIGE, AND A MEANS TO THE ATTAINMENT OF SOME OTHER END SUCH AS THEFT. A CONCENTRATED POLICE PRESENCE APPEARED TO AID BOTH DETERRENCE AND DETECTION OF VANDALISM. POSSIBLE PREVENTIVE MEASURES INCLUDE EDUCATION, DETERRENCE THROUGH AGGRESSIVE ENFORCEMENT, IMPROVED PROPERTY DESIGN, AND POLICE PRESENCE. JUVENILE HOOLIGANISM OFFENSES HAVE DECLINED THROUGHOUT ENGLAND AND WALES AS WELL AS, EXCEPT FOR ASSAULT ON THE POLICE, IN CLEVELAND COUNTY. ADULT HOOLIGANISM INCREASED BY 35 PERCENT FROM 1976 TO 1977. COSTS OF HOOLIGANISM WERE LARGELY NONMONETARY. THE MOST COMMON SITES OF INCIDENTS WERE HOUSING AREAS, AND OTHER SITES INCLUDED SHOPPING AREAS, PARKS AND OPEN SPACES, BEACHES, AND TAVERNS. LITTLE HOOLIGANISM WAS DIRECTED TOWARD THE ELDERLY. MOST OFFENDERS WERE IN YOUNGER AGE GROUPS. MEASURES TO COMBAT HOOLIGANISM ARE SIMILAR TO THOSE FOR VANDALISM. IT IS RECOMMENDED THAT THE WORKING PARTY CONTINUE, REPORT ITS FINDINGS TO OTHER BODIES, AND THAT PUBLIC EDUCATION AND PARENT GROUPS AT SCHOOLS SHOULD BE ESTABLISHED. PUBLICITY, BETTER RECREATIONAL FACILITIES, MORE SECURITY FORCES, IMPROVED ARCHITECTURAL DESIGNS, AND REVIEW OF PUNISHMENTS ARE AMONG THE FURTHER RECOMMENDATIONS. FOOTNOTES WHICH INCLUDE REFERENCES AND APPENDIXES PRESENTING STUDY INSTRUMENTS AND TABLES OF RESULTS ARE INCLUDED. (CFW)