England: Strategies to Combat Crime and Disorder with Special Reference to Inner City Areas

Abstract

Over the last quarter of a century, despite the many efforts of the British police service, crime rates have risen steadily and there have been particularly high rises in recorded crime in many inner-city areas (see Tables 1.2 and 1.3 and Figure 1.1). Though there are many ways of interpreting crime statistics trends shown by these figures are alarming. Some 3 847 410 offences reported in 1986 implies seven crimes occurring per minute. Television cameras bring pictures of disorder and violence direct into homes and all are aware of the problems to be encountered in many of our cities: the muggings and rape; drug dealing and abuse; alcohol abuse; burglary and theft; violence and vandalism; football hooliganism; angry demonstrations and rioting. Of prime concern are the youth at risk — black, brown or white — on the fringe of criminality.