Simon Harding shares his opinions on the development and future of the community safety profession.
The purpose of this paper is to consider what the author might call the evolution of the evolutionary argument about gangs and, while acknowledging its explanatory power, suggests…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to consider what the author might call the evolution of the evolutionary argument about gangs and, while acknowledging its explanatory power, suggests that gangs may develop in very different ways depending on the available opportunities, pre-existing forms of criminality in the areas in which gangs emerge and global change.
Design/methodology/approach
It is based on a review of the relevant literature and interviews with purposive samples of research, criminal justice and social welfare professionals and young people involved in or affected by gang crime. Findings were triangulated with data held by the police and other public authorities.
Findings
The term “street gang” includes a wide variety of groupings all of which are involved in some form of crime but with differential levels of organisation and commitment to purely instrumental goals. Gangs may form but not necessarily evolve. Gangs appear to develop in very different ways depending on the available opportunities, pre-existing forms of criminality in the areas in which they emerge and global changes in drugs markets.
Originality/value
The originality of the paper consists in its interrogation of the concept of “gang evolution” and its discussion of the variety of forms and evolutionary trajectories of gangs.
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F. Taylor Ostrander had two courses from Henry C. Simons, Economics 201, Price Theory in a Competitive Economy and the Effects of Monopoly, and Economics 360, Public Finance…
Abstract
F. Taylor Ostrander had two courses from Henry C. Simons, Economics 201, Price Theory in a Competitive Economy and the Effects of Monopoly, and Economics 360, Public Finance. Ostrander’s and one other set of annotations of the Syllabus from Economics 201 and his notes from Economics 360 are presented below.
This article describes the new Comprehensive Area Assessment (CAA) and considers how it will impact on crime and disorder reduction partnerships. The new approach will consist of…
Abstract
This article describes the new Comprehensive Area Assessment (CAA) and considers how it will impact on crime and disorder reduction partnerships. The new approach will consist of area and organisational assessments focusing on local authorities and their partners and individual bodies, respectively. Implications are considered for the public, partnerships and the Audit Commission and the difficulties that they will face. Potential risks for the criminal justice sector are outlined. The challenge for the Audit Commission will be to make this new approach meaningful, understood and effective.
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In the light of the recent rapid growth in the ownership of ‘status dogs’ in the UK, and drawing upon research conducted in Britain and North America, this article considers the…
Abstract
In the light of the recent rapid growth in the ownership of ‘status dogs’ in the UK, and drawing upon research conducted in Britain and North America, this article considers the motivation of the dogs' owners, the relationship between the ownership of ‘status dogs’ and urban street gangs, and the social impact of these dogs.
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This article considers the implications of the government's Prevent Strategy and the likely impact of a new national target for tackling extremism, National Indicator 35, for…
Abstract
This article considers the implications of the government's Prevent Strategy and the likely impact of a new national target for tackling extremism, National Indicator 35, for CDRPs. It offers suggestions for how CDRPs might devise a successful action plan to meet this new and ambitious performance target.
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The purpose of this study is to suggest how the Covid-19 lockdown may affect illicit drug users and vulnerable children and young people who become involved in County lines drug…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this study is to suggest how the Covid-19 lockdown may affect illicit drug users and vulnerable children and young people who become involved in County lines drug dealing.
Design/methodology/approach
This is an “opinion piece” based on data released by central and local government departments and voluntary sector sources concerning the impact of the Covid-19 restrictions on illicit drug users and vulnerable children and young people. The data is augmented with information from recent discussions with police officers, youth workers and social workers in a London borough.
Findings
It appears that the Covid-19 restrictions have had, and will continue to have, a deleterious impact upon both illicit drug users and the young people caught up in County lines drug distribution.
Originality/value
The study’s originality lies in its attempt to use a range of sources to anticipate the consequences of the Covid-19 restrictions on illicit drug users and vulnerable children and young people.
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In what will be a regular column examining key issues facing community safety practitioners, Sarah Morton from Matrix Research and Consultancy discusses community involvement in…
Abstract
In what will be a regular column examining key issues facing community safety practitioners, Sarah Morton from Matrix Research and Consultancy discusses community involvement in crime and disorder reduction.Everyone appears to agree that increased community involvement is important because it can help to reassure members of the public as well as increase intelligence information gained from them. A variety of approaches for community engagement are discussed including the roll out of safer neighbourhood teams, which are felt to offer an opportunity to increase community empowerment further.
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Craig Barlow, Alicia Kidd, Simon T. Green and Bethany Darby
Child criminal exploitation (CCE) emerges from the complex interplay between potential targets, motivated perpetrators and conducive environments. Drawing on contextual…
Abstract
Purpose
Child criminal exploitation (CCE) emerges from the complex interplay between potential targets, motivated perpetrators and conducive environments. Drawing on contextual safeguarding and rational choice theory. The purpose of this paper is to explain the relational dynamics that lead to CCE in terms of complex systems.
Design/methodology/approach
This paper reviews the existing criminological and public health perspectives on CCE and compare against current assessment protocols used to identify child victims of exploitation.
Findings
Findings demonstrate a conceptual and empirical flaw in existing practice. This flaw can be understood in terms of a failure to include both environmental conditions and the perpetrator’s motivation when trying to prevent CCE.
Research limitations/implications
To correct this, this paper develops an original systemic model called circles of analysis. This model builds on contextual safeguarding to overcome this identified flaw by also including perpetrator motivation to develop a Systemic Investigation, Protection and Prosecution Strategy.
Practical implications
It is worth considering as to whether our model can be scaled up to look at trafficking of children and adults for modern slavery, servitude, forced and compulsory labour in different contexts and jurisdictions. Alongside this, is there capacity to build perpetrator behaviours into the contextual safeguarding model?
Social implications
The potential for further development and alignment with the principles of contextual safeguarding is tantalising, and it is hoped that the contribution to this important special edition will open up new avenues for collaboration with both academics and practitioners who are concerned with protecting children and combatting CCE.
Originality/value
This strategy is uniquely designed to improve how police and social workers identify and investigate CCE and safeguard potential victims and survivors.
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Rachel Fyson, Gordon McBride and Brian Myers
The aim of the research described was to gather information about both the objective and the subjective experiences of self‐advocates who had attended learning disability…
Abstract
The aim of the research described was to gather information about both the objective and the subjective experiences of self‐advocates who had attended learning disability partnership boards, in order to promote effective practices. Findings show that, although people with learning disabilities were present at meetings, a variety of barriers limited their ability to participate actively. Problems included lack of financial and practical help as well as the limited availability of accessible information. There were also, however, examples of good practice, and many self‐advocates were pleased at how their local authorities were beginning to implement effective partnership working practices. Ways of supporting self‐advocates and other people with learning disabilities to fulfil a truly representative, rather than a merely symbolic, function at partnership board meetings are discussed.An accessible summary of these findings is available to download from the project website: www.bris.ac.uk/Depts/NorahFry/Strategy/papers.htm