Ethnicity and crime

What statistic shows the relationship between ethnicity and crime?

Black people make up 3% of the population, but 11% of the prison population.

What theories suggest that ethnic minorities commit more crime?

• Locality Theory,

• Triple Quandary,

• political protest.

How does Locality Theory suggest ethnic minorities commit more crimes?

Waddington et al applied the ‘zone of transition’ theory to modern UK cities, suggesting crime rates are higher in areas with dense, low income housing. This often overlaps with high ethnic minority populations. For example, Tower Hamlets in London is characterised by high crime rates and ethnic diversity.

How does Triple Quandary suggest ethnic minorities commit more crime?

Sewell identifies 3 risk factors which may be responsible for relatively high levels of crime amongst black boys:

• Large numbers of single mother families amongst black families mean boys look to their community for role models, such as gang leaders.

• Negative experiences of white culture mean black boys may hold resentment for school, policing, and employer racism.

• The media influence of hip hop and rap stars construct a hyper masculinity based on violence and sexual conquest, and suggest status can be achieved through acquiring designer clothing and jewellery.

How does the idea of political protest suggest ethnic minorities commit more crime?

Gilroy sees crime in ethnic minorities as a legacy of the struggle against White dominance in former colonies. For example, ethnic minorities may use crime as a form of resistance against White-dominated authorities and police forces.

What theories suggest ethnic minorities don’t commit more crime?

• Institutional racism,

• over-policing,

• the myth of black criminality.

How does institutional racism suggest ethnic minorities don’t commit more crime?

The Macpherson Report on the police investigation of the racist murder of the black teenager Stephen Lawrence concluded there was institutional racism within the Metropolitan police. For example, cases of officers sharing racist messages on social media demonstrated the individual prejudices and discriminatory actions in the police force.

How does over-policing suggest ethnic minorities don’t commit more crime?

Phillips and Bowling suggest that ethnic minorities are deliberately targeted for stop and search, Black people are nearly 5 times more likely than White people to be stopped and searched. For example, in high discretion stops, police act without specific intelligence, meaning officers act purely off stereotypes, making disproportionality and discrimination more likely.

How does the myth of black criminality suggest ethnic minorities don’t commit more crime?

Gilroy suggests that the idea of black criminality is a myth created by racist stereotypes. For example, the police and criminal justice system act on these racist stereotypes meaning ethnic minorities come to be criminalised and therefore appear in greater numbers in the official statistics.