NCJ Number
212177
Date Published
July 2004
Length
65 pages
Annotation
This study explored the perceptions of deprived, high-crime communities in England and Wales held by different groups living and working in the larger community.
Abstract
The study was undertaken as a small complimentary study to the National Evaluation of On Track, a pilot project in England and Wales providing interventions for children and families who reside in areas of high deprivation and high crime. This report presents findings related to how children, parents, residents, local politicians and leaders, professionals, and service providers view high-crime areas of the community, including their perceptions of risk and how this perception varies by age, gender, and ethnicity. Focus groups and individual interviews with participants from all target groups were conducted within four On Track areas of England and Wales. Qualitative analysis of the data indicated that the four areas under investigation were not viewed as one homogenous unit, but rather as many sub-communities that varied by geography, income, gender, and ethnicity. The areas under investigation were perceived by adults and children alike as areas with bad reputations, which were reinforced by media coverage of the areas and by professional networks. Teenagers were often viewed, by both adults and children, as the cause of many of the problems involving nuisance and anti-social behavior. Most participants expressed a desire for more visible policing efforts in the areas and more availability of easily accessible, safe meeting places and opportunities for self-empowerment. Policy implications are discussed and include the need for community engagement in area-wide initiatives, especially in terms of planning and implementation. References, appendix