Street Crime
Street crime remains high on the public and political agenda, and is frequently the subject of media attention and concern. This book aims to provide a detailed and accessible account of the phenomenon, placing the subject in its theoretical, historical and political context. It addresses the question of how serious a problem street crime really is, and why it has become such a hot political issue. The book draws upon contemporary debates about the supposed presence of an emerging underclass,...
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Before constructing his own sociological theory of street robbery, Hallsworth (director, Centre for Social and Evaluation Research, London Metropolitan U., UK) presents a historical narrative of the street robber as he has evolved in British society since the Middle Ages, eventually finding the modern street robber to be a product of forces distinctive to modern capitalist society. He then offers a critical overview of academic and non-academic theories of street robbery typically associated with conservative and leftist political agendas, criticizing the mono-causal orientation of all of them. Finally, he develops his own model, which explains street robbery in reference to the availability and suitability of victims, the social production of motivated offenders, and deficiencies inherent in the social control response. The book is distributed in the US by ISBS. Annotation ©2004 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR
Pt. 1A short history of street robberyCh. 1Outlaws and highwaymen13Ch. 2Street robbery in the urban context33Pt. 2Accounting for street crimeCh. 3Interpreting the data51Ch. 4The view from the right67Ch. 5The view from the left79Ch. 6Towards a framework of analysis92Pt. 3Street robbery and contemporary societyCh. 7Suitable and available victims109Ch. 8The production of motivated offenders122Ch. 9Deficits in social control142Ch. 10Conclusion161
