NCJ Number
177369
Journal
Crime Prevention and Community Safety: An International Journal Volume: 1 Issue: 1 Dated: 1999 Pages: 11-24
Date Published
1999
Length
14 pages
Annotation
Conducted over a period of 1.5 years, this study of two high-crime communities in Greater Manchester, England, used data obtained from focus group discussions, in-depth interviews, attendance at police-community consultative forums, and command and control data.
Abstract
The study explored similarities and differences in the way police officers constructed images of and activities in the two similarly structured and geographically close areas. Issues considered to be major problems in both areas included vandalism, crime, young people hanging out, unemployment, lack of play areas for children, and graffiti. Citizens were most worried about burglary, stolen vehicles, robbery, assault, young people hanging out, and being out alone. There was a significant amount of community willingness to talk to the police, but this willingness was consistently undermined by the distorted nature of everyday relationships in the two areas. Police officers indicated they felt extremely stressed on occasion as a result of working in high-crime neighborhoods. Even though both areas were less than 2 miles apart and police officers working in the two areas shared the same commanders, potentially effective policing strategies in each area appeared to be very different. 14 notes and 2 tables