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Working Title of PhD: Space, Place and anti-social behaviour in rural locations

Summary: Despite the growing body of literature exploring anti-social behaviour (ASB) in urban contexts, rural anti-social behaviour has been largely under-researched.  Yet, many young adults, in rural locations feel both spatially and temporally dislocated from village life and wider society (Mathews et al, 2000) - feelings which are often conducive to the cause of ASB (Scottish Government, 2007). This study aims to fill this knowledge gap and in turn add to Scottish Government's strategic objective for a 'safer stronger' Scotland (Scottish Government, 2009).

This project will proceed through three case study locations to explore the nature, impact and responses to ASB in rural communities in Scotland. In particular the interaction of active citizenship and the policing of rural communities will be explored, while perceptions that rural settlements have a greater sense of community and therefore lower ASB will be tested. The study employs a qualitative methodology and will answer the following research aims:

• A critical assessment of the nature and meaning of ASB in rural communities, examining the definitional variations of ASB across space and place between different rural community settings and people
• An analysis of the impact of ASB in rural communities through assessment of who is affected by ASB in rural communities and the scale of the impact
• To examine the rural governance of ASB by critical analysing how formal and informal policing methods are utilised to respond ASB in rural communities. 

Keywords: Anti-social behaviour; policing; rural crime

Year commenced PhD study: October 2010 (full time)

 Funding Source: ESCR