Anti-social behaviour, community and radical moral communitarianism

Roger Hopkins-Burke,Philip Hodgson,John Martyn Chamberlain

doi:10.1080/23311886.2015.1033369

Roger Hopkins-Burke, Philip Hodgson + Show 1 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1080/23311886.2015.1033369

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Abstract

AbstractThis article offers an insight into the lives of individuals who are repeat victims of antisocial behaviour (ASB). Drawing on data derived from 15 case studies, the authors demonstrate the plight that such victims endure on a daily basis. The research reveals that a number of victims feel abandoned by their communities and the authorities and, how for many, there is an overwhelming sense of being “trapped” within their own homes. The article also offers evidence to support previous claims that police crime data only captures a small proportion of the actual number of incidents of ASB that occur. We conclude by proposing an emphasis on individual and community responsibility and suggest that by adopting a radical moral communitarian approach ASB could be reduced as part of rebuilding communities.

Highlights

Antisocial behaviour (ASB) is an umbrella term used to describe the day-to-day incidents of crime and incivility that make the lives of many people in this country a misery
This paper offers an insight into the lives of repeat victims of antisocial behaviour and the responses they receive from the police and other agencies
Defining and grasping the true extent of ASB is problematic, primarily due to the ambiguity as to what activities and actions constitute ASB; activities that can be censured as such are often tolerated or in some instances even celebrated, as in the case of famous graffiti artists. This uncertainty exacerbates the already significant under reporting of the problem, for example, during 2011, 3.2 million incidents relating to ASB were reported to the police which were estimated to represent only one quarter of all ASB offences that were committed (HMIC, 2012). Despite this high level of under reporting, ASB remains a problem for the police and Innes and Weston (2010) found that 45% of all calls made by the public to the police related to ASB, while Millie (2007) observes that ASB provides an attractive “catch all category” to government in that it enables flexibility in policy with ASB becoming “the ‘bad stuff’ that happens that cannot be tackled through existing measures” (2007, p. 613)

Summary

Introduction

Antisocial behaviour (ASB) is an umbrella term used to describe the day-to-day incidents of crime and incivility that make the lives of many people in this country a misery. 3. Research findings In accordance with the National Standard for Incident Recording (NPIA, 2011), three broad categories of ASB can be identified and each of these has an impact on individuals and their communities in different ways: Nuisance antisocial behaviour—this category captures those incidents where an act, condition, thing or person causes trouble, annoyance, inconvenience, offence or suffering to the local community, in general, rather than to individual victims. Research findings In accordance with the National Standard for Incident Recording (NPIA, 2011), three broad categories of ASB can be identified and each of these has an impact on individuals and their communities in different ways: Nuisance antisocial behaviour—this category captures those incidents where an act, condition, thing or person causes trouble, annoyance, inconvenience, offence or suffering to the local community, in general, rather than to individual victims It includes incidents where behaviour goes beyond the conventional bounds of acceptability and interferes with public interests including health, safety and quality of life. He is representative of a particular group of victims who have bought

Female

Findings

Discussion

Conclusion