Lost in translation: interpreting and implementing anti-social behaviour policies

In this chapter, we seek to examine the ways in which those ostensibly punitive and disciplinary policies have been interpreted and implemented in the past few years in England and Wales. Drawing on the research conducted in three London boroughs in 2006, we aim to explore the gaps between the rhetoric and reality and between interventions and outcomes1. In doing so, we aim to argue that there are substantial difficulties and inconsistencies in the implementation of anti-social behaviour strategies. Although this is paper focuses on a relatively small number of boroughs which were seen to be ‘failing’, many of the issues discussed in this paper are relevant to many other boroughs in which we have recently visited.

Citation:
Matthews, R. and Briggs, D. (2008) ‘Lost in translation: interpreting and implementing anti-social behaviour policies’ in Squires, P. (ed.) ASBO nation: the criminalisation of nuisance. Bristol: Policy Press, 2008..