9. Ethnicity and Crime Flashcards
Higher association of crime amongst those who are:
-Male
-Aged 14-25
-Lower socio-economic background
-Black African/Carribbean
Institutional Racism: MacPherson Report
-Police characterised by institutional racism
-The way they operate tends to exclude or disadvantage non white people
-Day to day activities based on racist ideas & practises
-Racism engrained in the system
-Black people 9x more likely to be stopped and searched than white people
-Only 7% of police service are Black minority ethnic
Institutional racism: Reiner’s Canteen culture
-Canteen culture in the police stemming from a strong collective identity
-Characteristics include mistrust for ordinary people especially non-white
-Stop and searches reinforce racist stereotypes
What is clear about stop and search data?
There is clear bias in stop & search, arrests and convictions.
Who is more likely to be stopped and searched/targetted?
-Black and Asian more likely to be stopped and searched repeatedly and to have more ‘intrusive searches’
-They are more likely to be targeted when suspicions of serious violence or terrorist crimes are reported
What happens when Black or Asians are arrested?
-Usually arrested without any adequate evidence, usually given immediate sentences
-Evidence of targeted, selective law enforcement
What do self-report studies show?
They show white males commit the most serious offenses e.g violence, drug selling.
Who says there is evidence for racism in the police?
Lea & Young
Black Criminality: How does society disadvantage ethnic minorities?
-Ethnic minorities less likely to succeed in education, less likely to get a job so more likely to be unemployed
-Ties in with left realist theories of relative deprivation, subcultures & marginalisation leading to crime
Black criminality: Where are police more likely to target?
-Police target areas with high population of ethnic minority groups
-Doesn’t mean there wrong to do so or racist it is where the crime is
What is a myth according to Prof Gilroy? AO3
Black Criminality is a myth
Black criminality: What does Hall et al say is most likely to blame for black criminality?
The focus placed on black youths is most likely to blame, this often provokes a violent reaction in self defence by youths who would then be arrested and tried for crimes of violence. Leading to a viscous cycle.
