NCJ Number
155335
Journal
Police Journal Volume: 68 Issue: 2 Dated: (April-June 1995) Pages: 99-102
Date Published
1995
Length
4 pages
Annotation
This article describes the context in which the rising crime rate in Great Britain can be understood, and considers the nature of crime in Britain today. The article also discusses a series of research studies being undertaken by Economic and Social Research Council (ESCR) on these topics.
Abstract
Crime trends recorded by police fall roughly into three time periods: mid-19th Century until World War II, annually rising crime rates beginning in the 1950's, and rapidly rising crime rates since the 1980's. One factor which distinguishes current concerns about crime from those of previous generations is citizens' everyday level of anxiety about crime and their consciousness of being potential crime victims. The ESCR research program will focus on the pattern of crime in the city, coping mechanisms used by inner- city residents to cope with crime, and the changing patterns of recreational drug use and its relationship to violence. Several projects will examine the nature of the contemporary British response to crime, including issues related to juvenile justice, the role of the police in the community, and the development of partnerships between the probation service and the private sector. Finally, two studies will explore the complex linkages over time between changes in the economy, cultural and structural change, and rates of crime and punishment. 1 reference