‘We’ll go grafting, yeah?’ crime as a response to urban neglect

Patel, TG

Abstract

Urban redevelopment attempts to rebrand spaces. The intention is to make them appear attractive for inward financial investment; to make improvements for residents; and, to reduce crime. It is considered by some to be a problematic process that does not always achieve the desired outcomes. This is especially so during the gentrification-transition stage. This qualitative study looked at crime in a sample site that was in a gentrification-transition stage of urban redevelopment. Using data sourced from those directly involved in criminal activity, this study argues that crime reduction in gentrification-transition environments is especially difficult to achieve. This is because disorganization in the built environment and economic inequality intensifies in areas experiencing gentrification-transition. Coupled with consumer pressures of the modern era, the result is a space where particular types of crime occur, often in significantly higher volumes than was the case prior to redevelopment.

Citation

Patel, T. (2014). ‘We’ll go grafting, yeah?’ crime as a response to urban neglect. Criminology and Criminal Justice, 14(2), 179-195. https://doi.org/10.1177/1748895813483761

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Online Publication Date: Apr 22, 2013
• Publication Date: Apr 1, 2014
• Deposit Date: May 7, 2013
• Journal: Criminology and Criminal Justice
• Print ISSN: 1748-8958
• Publisher: SAGE Publications
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 14
• Issue: 2
• Pages: 179-195
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/1748895813483761
• Publisher URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/1748895813483761
• Related Public URLs: http://crj.sagepub.com/content/current