12.01.2006
Crime dominates our headlines, government policy and TV entertainment schedules - it's a major concern to most people, influencing behaviour and decisions.
On 2 February Peter Squires, Professor of Criminology and Public Policy at the University of Brighton, will argue that the popular dramatization of crime has led to misunderstanding and affects how we can respond effectively to it. The event will take place at Westlain House on the Falmer campus at 6:30pm.
Crime is the most significant social problem of the 21st century, and judging by the amount of criminal justice legislation considered by recent parliaments, it certainly represents a major Governmental priority. Most Governments of recent times - the present one included - have had their signature 'crime bill'.
But even when overall crime rates are falling - such as during the past six years - few people seem to realise and, anyway, the media tends to dwell on the bad news and the particular crimes which are not declining.
Yet crime is also a staple component of our prime-time entertainment such as The Bill, the ubiquitous American cop-shows, the 'true-life' dramas, the info-tainment cable shows such as 'Extreme Police Pursuits' or the often bizarre 'America's Dumbest Criminals'. At other times we may participate in 'murder weekends', whilst adolescent boys practice their aim playing 'Grand Theft Auto' or 'Resident Evil' on Playstations.
In a variety of ways therefore, crime is now a pretty routine and ordinary feature of our social life but, at the same time, many people tend to both discuss crime and consume crime in ways that make it something alien - the 'other' - or the 'dark side'.
"I'm interested in our confusingly and ambivalent attitudes to crime, about what crime means to us and what we think should be done about it," said Professor Squires. "The argument to be developed will suggest that our ways of representing crime probably hamper our ability to respond effectively to it."
If you would like to come to the event please contact Rebecca Haroutunian at r.haroutunian@brighton.ac.uk.
Contact: Marketing and Communications, University of Brighton, 01273 643022
