CRIME AND DEVIANCE - Ethnicity - Statistics, 'Canteen Culture', Institutional Racism, Macpherson Report, Hall, Gilroy, Left-Realism, Strain, Subcultures

Question 1

What are the 6 Key Ideas, in regards to Crime and Deviance and Ethnicity?

Answer 1

• Disproportionate Representation
• ‘Stop and Searches’
• Racial Profiling
• Criminalisation
• Institutional Racism
• ‘Canteen Culture’

Question 2

What is the Definition of ‘Canteen Culture’?

Answer 2

No one challenges the dominant view, it just gets amplified by everyone saying the same thing!

Question 3

What is the Definition of ‘Institutional Racism’?

Answer 3

Racist views and ideas within an organisation, such as the Met Police; the system is built off the back of racism!

Question 4

What is the Definition of the Criminal Justice System, in regards to Ethnicity?

Answer 4

Statistics within the criminal justice system in comparison to the statistics within the population!

Question 5

What is the Definition of ‘Stop and Search’?

Answer 5

‘You Fit the Description’ and Section 60 (random stops and searches after terror attacks and large incidents); disproportionate via race → You are 30% more likely to be stopped and searched by the police if you are Black when you are London → Disproportionate!

Question 6

What is the Definition of ‘Racial Profiling’?

Answer 6

Over-policing areas to due conscious or unconscious bias due to racism!

Question 7

TRUE OR FALSE: There is NOT a disproportionate representation of BAME people (mainly men) in Crime Statistics!

Answer 7

FALSE - There IS INDEED a disproportionate representation of BAME people (men) in crime statistics!

Question 8

Compared to the total population (90%), what percentage of White People were ‘stopped and searched’ in 2013?

Answer 8

Around 70% of White People!

Question 9

Compared to the total population (Just under 3%), what percentage of Black People were ‘stopped and searched’ in 2013?

Answer 9

Around 14% of Black People - Disproportionate!

Question 10

Compared to the total population (Just under 10%), what percentage of Asian People were ‘stopped and searched’ in 2013?

Answer 10

Around 6% of Asian People!

Question 11

TRUE OR FALSE: In some places in the UK, Black People are up to 30 TIMES MORE LIKELY to be ‘stopped and searched’ than anyone else!

Answer 11

TRUE!

Question 12

Even though Black People make up just under 5% of the population, are they MORE or LESS LIKELY to go to Prison?

Why is this? HINT: There are 6 possible Reasons / Factors here!

Answer 12

MORE LIKELY!!

This is because of:

• Status Frustration
• Institutional Racism
• Typification
• Selective Enforcement
• Racial Profiling
• Committing More Crimes than Other Ethnic Groups

Question 13

TRUE OR FALSE: WHITE PEOPLE are 2x (TWICE) as likely to be arrested and convicted!

Answer 13

FALSE - BLACK PEOPLE are 2x (twice) as likely to be arrested and convicted!

Question 14

TRUE OR FALSE - Black people are almost 3x (THREE) TIMES as likely to be sent to Prison!

Answer 14

TRUE!

Question 15

What is Section 60, in regards to ‘Stop and Searches’? HINT: The Police have the power to ‘stop and search’ anyone!

Answer 15

Section 60 - This is where the Police have the power to stop and search anyone for any reason, without reasonable grounds; usually after big events, such as terrorism, or at football grounds - A lucky dip → Is it racially biassed though?

Question 16

What is the Macpherson Report 1999 and where did it Originate from?

Answer 16

• This Report came out more than four years after Stephen Lawrence (killed in 1993) was murdered by a group of white youths (who were either let off or did not receive punishments).
• A 350-page report concluded that the there was Institutional racism and systemic racism in the Met Police
• The Report recommended that police officers be better trained for dealing with ethnic minorities and different types of people and cultures, especially regarding giving people first aid and conducting illegal stop and searches; 70 recommendations were designed to show ‘zero tolerance’ for racism!

Question 17

Describe what is meant by the ‘Canteen Culture’ and how it links to Institutional Racism!

Answer 17

This refers to the way in which people working in a particular workplace (such as the police force) can develop a shared set of values and prejudices; the creation of an echo-chamber, where the views (perhaps the racist views) become acceptable.

This means that people’s views are justified (as seen with the creation of echo-chambers in the media), as no one is challenging anyone’s behaviour; it may have been accepted as banter or normal, because no one challenges or opposes the view / idea. The police are suspected to have quite a conservative canteen culture, in terms of police discrimination!

Question 18

What are the 4 Main Reasons as to why Working-Class, BAME People Commit More Crimes? HINT: Poverty, Police Targeting, Discrimination and Different norms and values!

Answer 18

1 = Poverty and unemployment - Working-class and BAME people are more likely to live in relative deprivation (left realism) and live in areas where unemployment is high.

2 = Police targeting - Think back to labelling, negotiations of justice (Cicourel and typification)

• Discrimination - Institutional racism / canteen culture; marginalisation (left realism) - Macpherson Report
• Different norms and values - The police service do not fully represent the populations they serve; lack of understanding regarding people and cultures can lead to conflict; subcultures (left realism) - Brixton Riots in the 1980s and the London Riots in 2011 (eroded away the belief and positive reaction towards the police)

Question 19

What Sociologist looked into the ‘Black Mugger’ Stereotype, in regards to Street Crime?

Answer 19

Stuart Hall / Hall et al - Policing the Crisis!

Question 20

(HALL - Policing the Crisis) What did he investigate and what did he discover? HINT: ‘Black Mugger’ stereotype creates Moral Panics; the Black community is portrayed as Criminal!

Answer 20

He examined the unequal structure of British society and the perceptions of the black community in the UK!

• He found that aggressive policing tactics, such as stop and searches, mobilised bystanders to react to discrimination
• The media legitimised police actions by portraying black community as criminal = The ‘Black Mugger’ Stereotype - Moral panic; led to the police going onto the streets (‘Bobbies on the beaches’)
• Made people feel safe to see the police on the streets, and it also acted as a deterrent; aggressive policing was seen as a good think
  Because people are angry, over-policing was justified and further police action was made

Question 21

What Sociologist looked into the ‘Myth of Black Criminality’ and ‘The Empire Strikes Back’?

Answer 21

Paul Gilroy!

Question 22

(GILROY) What he say and believe? HINT: Black Criinality is a myth!

Answer 22

• He says that black criminality is a myth
• Self-report surveys show similar levels of criminality in black and white communities
• Action is a form of political resistance to oppression and police retaliation is the state’s way of reaffirming control
• This was symbolic resistance from black people; they were not happy to be oppressed this way

Question 23

What do Left-Realists, Lea and Young, say to Explain Ethnicity and Crime and the Disproportionate Statistics of Crime? HINT: Marginalisation!

Answer 23

• Marginalisation of ethnic minority groups in society that are economically and socially excluded
• Failures of education result in the formation of subcultures as a response to block opportunities
• Media representations of ethnic minority criminality led to further marginalisation and exclusion
• They believe that poverty leads to exclusion leads to crime and subcultures.

Question 24

How can the Strain Theory (Merton) be used to explain Ethnicity and Crime? HINT: Illegitimate and Legitimate Opportunity Structures!

Answer 24

• Ethnic minority groups over-represented in poverty measures - 40% of ethnic minorities are classified as below the poverty line
• Lack of resources, such as food, lead to strain; they can also retreat from society or become innovators due to lacking legitimate subcultures

Question 25

What are the Sub-cultural Explanations of Ethnicity and Crime? HINT: Think about Cloward and Ohlin!

Answer 25

Gunter → Developed of ‘road culture’ (roadmen) amongst young black males

Cloward and Ohlin → Illegitimate opportunity structures and status frustration (Cohen)

Think about the Labelling Theory too - Braithwaite, Becker etc

Question 26

Explain the link between Institutional Racism (Macpherson report) and Ethnicity and Crime!

Answer 26

• MacPherson Report - Stated that the Met Police operated on practices that were institutionally racist

Waddington and Fielding - Found evidence of racial stereotyping in the attitudes of off-duty police and development of a ‘canteen culture’

• In 2019 - CSEW (Crime Statistics of England and Wales) 9 times more likely in England and Wales to be stopped and searched if you are Black; white people have a low rate of stops and searches