S/S/40. How communities respond to crime and disorder

This paper seeks to decipher how communities may respond (if at all) to incivilities, disorder and neighbourhood decline. Firstly, it examines the actual definition of ‘community and the idea that crime prevention is the responsibility of the public. Throughout, there is a critical analysis of different ways in which communities may choose to prevent crime. This is linked to the ideas put forward in Wilson and Kellings ‘broken windows thesis. The possibility that ‘communities, or the ideology of a community, may no longer exist in an increasingly, economically and socially, polarised Britain. Additionally, the effectiveness of community safety initiatives (e.g. neighbourhood watch) is questioned. A plethora of evidence is utilised throughout, to reinforce any arguments.