NCJ Number
88499
Date Published
1974
Length
0 pages
Annotation
The so-called 'wave' of muggings in England was less a reflection of an increase in this type of crime than an indicator of the media's power to influence public perceptions.
Abstract
The mugging label came from the American media, which sensitized the British to this crime before it even appeared. The British press also adopted the American profile of a mugger: he was from a low-income group, probably black, and violent. Thus, press coverage was shaped by outside events, leading the British public and police to expect mugging to occur and to be violent. A news spiral was created when the police began to target mugging, a policy reflected in higher crime rates, thereby reaffirming the public's expectations and attracting more media interest. The public should be aware of the distortions that can arise in such cases.