Is community a cure for crime?

Poppy Baxter

Delving deeper into community projects

Community focused projects offer a safe social space to many individuals across the country. But will an increase in these projects guarantee a decrease in crime?

Community focused projects can include youth clubs, sport clubs and community centres. I think these projects can have a huge impact on an individual's life. After the countless COVID 19 lockdowns I am sure many appreciate more than ever what a community can offer. And to me, these projects could have an effect on crime rates. I think they provide role models, stability and a support network to individuals who may feel excluded or frustrated within their own lives. This enables stronger community ties, which reduces the chances of people seeking connections in other groups such as gangs. For ex offenders, the homeless and other groups, community projects can fill the gaps in care they receive, such as upskilling sessions for ex offenders. This can mean that these individuals have the chance to break their cycle of reoffending.

Finally, community based projects have been increasingly used to combat knife crime. Youth clubs often carry out daily anti knife crime sessions on topics such as the consequences of using a knife. And the closures of many youth centered projects have been linked with the rise in knife crime. Because of all these reasons, I believe community projects have the power to deter people from committing crimes.

Yet can community focused projects cure all crime? Crime is complex, and there is no one solution. For example, I believe that stopping crimes such as sexual assaults against women has to involve other areas of society where misogyny is present. Until changes in areas such as education and the media happen, crimes against women will continue to rise. I appreciate how much a community focused project can offer, but in the end it is only a small part of society.

I also believe it should not be relied on as a solution to crime as people may not even use them. Communities could reject them due to distrust or intimidation by outside sources. This means projects may not have any impact on crime rates within an area as not all community members would use them.

To add to this, I think that the effectiveness of community focused projects also depends on if it is in a rural or urban area. In an urban area, community centres can be set up in the middle of a community with good transport connections. Yet, as I myself know from living in a rural part of Northumberland, communities can be more spread out and have little to no transport connections.

Overall, I cannot help but feel this recent push for more community focused projects is an act of shifting responsibility for the rising crime rates. By presenting these projects as a solution to crime, wider systemic causes are effectively brushed under the carpet. I believe community focused projects can have some impact on crime rates within their area, but it can never be the complete cure.

Sub-editors: Elisabeth Göres, Isabel Lamb & Anthony Welsh