Crime & Communities

This interdisciplinary network undertakes work on the relationships between communities and crime. Network members are concerned with a wide spectrum of crimes, from low-level incivilities and antisocial behaviour to serious and organised crime. The network’s research into this range of contemporary crime problems coheres around a central concern with communities: the problems in communities which produce crime, and the capacity of communities to solve crime problems. The 'communities' we research include local neighbourhoods, 'virtual' communities (geographically distant networked actors), and business communities. A key focus for the theoretical work of the network is about defining and understanding the understudied area of civility or pro-social, as opposed to anti-social, behaviour. This involves theoretical work with concepts such as identity, tolerance, and reciprocity. The empirical work of the network focuses on the cultures of the communities we study: ranging from gang culture to cultures of corruption in criminal markets. The research interests of members of the network include the complex dynamics between territory and crime; youth gangs; local and international criminal markets; white-collar crimes; and serious transnational organised crimes. The network is currently involved in research projects about:

• Youth Gangs and Knife Carrying
• Serious, Transnational and Organised Crime 
• Community Policing Constructions
• Contexts of Civility

Network Contacts