Fears of violence among English young people: Disintegration theory and British social policy

Abstract

Young people are not only the perpetrators of violence; they are also the victims of violent acts. This leads to the question of how young people handle potential risk and how they can reduce the danger of becoming victims. The article stresses the topic of juvenile experience and fear of violence. Starting with a description of the nature of social disintegration in the north of England and the social consequences of social change at the beginning of the twenty-first century, the author focuses on the experience of young people who are affected by changes in social policies, such as the governmental response to antisocial behavior, which is generally considered to be the cause of escalating youth crime. It is pointed out that young people's experience of social disintegration is more complex than generally considered. Based on one of the few qualitative studies in this research field, the study outlines the reasons for fear of violence by presenting comments by young people in two cities and three smaller towns in the north of England. In particular, it looks at the experience of young people in public spaces, the effect of excessive alcohol consumption, young people's fears around illegal drugs and violence, strategies young people use to remain safe, and factors that tend to reduce perceived safety. The authors question the wider societal view that young people are passive and innocent objects: this view has consequences regarding the drive to reduce and avoid violence (by adult society) but also can result in increased insecurity for young people. For this reason, the article also provides a new political approach regarding the communal context.