Dealing, music and youth violence : neighbourhood relational change, isolation and youth criminality

Depending on their dynamics, neighbourhoods may serve to contain or exacerbate youth violence. This book uses fascinating ethnographic and interview data to explore the disappearance of localized relationships in a South London housing estate. Through a comparative analysis of the experiences of different generations, James Alexander considers the impact of both wider socio-economic developments and the gradual move from neighbourly to professional support for young people. As well as evaluating the effectiveness of youth work programmes, he considers how the actions of neighbours and the decisions of policymakers influence how supported young people feel and, consequently, their vulnerability to criminal influences.Depending on their dynamics, neighbourhoods may serve to contain or exacerbate youth violence. This book uses fascinating ethnographic and interview data to explore the disappearance of localized relationships in a South London housing estate. Through a comparative analysis of the experiences of different generations, James Alexander considers the impact of both wider socio-economic developments and the gradual move from neighbourly to professional support for young people. As well as evaluating the effectiveness of youth work programmes, he considers how the actions of neighbours and the decisions of policymakers influence how supported young people feel and, consequently, their vulnerability to criminal influences Front Cover Dealing, Music and Youth Violence: Neighbourhood Relational Change, Isolation and Youth Criminality Copyright information Dedication Table of contents 1 Introduction: Nearly Two Decades of Concern, Yet Young People Are Still Dying An overview of the context of knife crime and the efforts to address serious youth violence in the UK Neighbourhood research Neighbourhood crime: some theoretical underpinnings Chapter structure 2 The Wider Historical and Social Context of ‘Black Criminality’ and Youth Violence Racism, resistance and addressing offending behaviour within a changing political climate Historical context of migration, deprivation and racism New Labour: new focus? Serious youth violence and gangs branding Understanding the impact of oppression, racism and policy failure on youth safety 3 Exploring the Neighbourhood Deprivation, population change, diversity and relational change The people who make it all happen St Mary’s young people Taking a wider view The built environment of the estate Local concern and local action 4 Localized Disempowerment and the Development of Criminal Cultures How council interventions increased the space for a violent street culture to evolve St Mary’s Estate youth project Studio time Early signs of youth violence A new cooperative approach Proposal New values, relationships and statuses Death, mourning and action 5 All Alone: Youth Isolation and the Embedding of a Violent Street Culture The emergence of street culture Further isolation and the entrenchment of a violent street culture Continuation and escalation Professionalizing support, relational breakdown and increased violence 6 Studio Time, Drill and the Criminalization of Black Culture Drill: the sound of the estate The attention economy Police crackdowns and criminalization Criminal personas or an artistic income stream? 7 Separated, Isolated and Unconnected Focusing on primary school children and leaving the olders to police enforcement Residents standing up for themselves Summer play scheme Operation Shield St Mary’s Football Project on the estate Residents rebuilding their confidence and the failure of enforcement 8 The New Normal: From Gang Violence to Individualized Danger and Child Criminal Exploitation Disconnected simulation From gang violence to criminal exploitation and individual risk Lowered threshold Violence normalization and desensitization Criminal exploitation, desensitization and the new drivers of violence 9 Learning from the Past or More of the Same Shifting to a public health approach to tackling serious youth violence Public health approach A child first approach within youth justice Supporting young people at risk of child criminal exploitation A contextual approach to safeguarding young people from violence and criminal exploitation Locally in Lambeth Movement in the right direction Protecting children at risk and trying to address the causes of youth violence 10 Conclusion: Better Support but the Violence Remains From enforcement led to a public health approach Working together Recommendations Where are they now? References Index With fascinating ethnographic and interview data, James Alexander explores the disappearance of localised relationships and the rise in youth violence in a South London housing estate. Evaluating the effectiveness of youth work programmes, he considers the impact of the gradual move from neighbourly to professional support for young people.