The High Level of Violent Crime in Lambeth - Dissertation Example

?Chapter Three Research Methodology Introduction The purpose of this research is to investigate and understand the extent to which the high level of violent crime in the London Borough of Lambeth is due to poor relations between the police and young black men in this London Borough. A review of literature reveals that young black men are at a greater risk of becoming victims and/or perpetrators of violent crimes. In Lambeth, there is a high level of violent crimes among black minority groups. Since the police are the main gateway and mediator between offenders and victims of crime and between offenders and victims and the criminal justice system, this study focuses on the relationship between young black men in Lambeth and police. Specifically, this research seeks to understand the experiences of these young black men with police in the context of the Lambeth community. Therefore in order to accomplish the purpose of this study and to understand the experiences of these young black men as a means of accomplishing the purpose of this study, a mixed method approach to the collection and analysis of data is taken. This chapter will explain the methodology used and the rationale for using this research methodology. Rationale for the Research Methodology The mixed method research design “involves combining” quantitative and qualitative data in a single research study (Leech & Onwuegbuzie, 2009, p. 266). In this regard, quantitative approaches allow for hypothesis testing. The hypothesis is derived from theories espoused in a review of literature which point to the issues that are under investigation. The theories espoused in the literature will point toward or suggest “causal relationships between specified variables” (Kuada, 2009, p. 103). For example, it is reported in the literature that there is a link between violent crime and a lack of confidence in the criminal justice system on the part of black communities(dailymail.co..uk). It is also suggested in the literature that since police are the most visible point of contact within the criminal justice system, their relationship with members of the public is entirely important to confidence building (Internetjournalofcriminology.com). Therefore in taking a quantitative approach to the collection and analysis of data, the researcher will look for variables capable of determining the relationship between black youth and police and the link between that relationship and confidence in the criminal justice system and the link between the level of confidence and the incidents of crime. Specifically, the researcher will attempt to look for factors determinative of the kind of attitudes toward and contact with police among young black males in Lambeth. The quantitative approach can usually involve the inferential approach which means the selection of a specific population sample for studying via questioning or observations to determine the specific traits and then infer that those traits are carried by the population (Kothari, 2008). The quantitative collection of data in this research study takes an inferential approach in that questionnaires will be distributed among a select population sample for the purpose of identifying variables and relationships between variables: attitudes toward police, confidence in police and thus an inference will be made with respect to how those variables influence criminal behaviour. Quantitative data also involves the collection of data that can be quantified and measured in terms of numerical or statistical ways (Kothari, 2008). Therefore the use of questionnaires will allow for the collection and analysis of numerical outcomes. According to Merriam (2009), a qualitative study has as its primary aim, a search for “meaning and understanding” (p. 39). In order to effectively search for meaning and understanding, the researcher will select a sample who is experiencing or has experienced the phenomenon under investigation (Merriam, 2009). In this regard, the phenomenon under investigation is the incidents of violent crime among young black males and the extent to which relationships between young black men in an area where violent crimes among young black minority groups is high contributes to the high volume of crimes among young black men. In investigating this phenomenon and in an attempt to find meaning and understanding, a sample of respondents is selected from among young black men in Lambeth: an area where violent crimes among black youth are particularly high. The qualitative approach focuses on the “subjective assessment of attitudes, opinions and behaviour” (Kothari, 2008, p. 5). In this regard, qualitative approaches involve research that engages the insight and impressions of the respondents and the researcher. The data is collected in a way that is not quantitative and allows for the collection of in-depth data. This will usually be accomplished by virtue of open-ended questionnaires or in-depth interviews or focus groups (Kothari, 2008). The qualitative data collected in this research will be in the form of in-depth interviews among a select group of respondents meeting the same criterion of those participating in the questionnaires. Since the data is collected via qualitative and quantitative methods, this is a mixed methods approach. Although there are concerns that mixed methods approaches are time consuming since it involves the collection of two data sources requiring two different types of analyses, mixed methods are entirely beneficial. The most significant benefit it the triangulation capabilities of the two data types. The weaknesses in one data source can be compensated by the strengths of the other data source and the results of one data source may strengthen the inferences derived from the other data source. For example, if the results of one data source is confirmed by the results of the other data source we can have greater confidence that the “results are valid” (Molina-Azorin & Cameron, 2010, p. 344). Data Collection Questionnaires The quantitative data were collected via a close-ended, structured questionnaire in which the respondents are required to choose between alternative responses: yes or no. The first question asks the respondents to select their race or ethnicity. The second question asks the respondents to ascertain whether or not they are males between the ages of 18 and 25. The remaining questions require a yes or no answer and explore encounters and perceptions of police in a variety of ways (Appendix A). Thus the questionnaires allowed for the quantification of results. For example once the questionnaires are completed the researcher will be able to determine how many of the sample had encounters with the police, how many of those encounters were arrests or searches and seizures and so on. According to Goddard and Melville (2007), a good questionnaire is concise, clear and does not illicit irrelevant questions. Therefore the close-ended structured questionnaire is simple and only requires a yes or no response. All of the questions are relevant to the research and are constructed so that only relevant information is extracted. A good questionnaire does not ask questions suggestive of desired responses (Goddard & Meville, 2007). By asking the respondents to select a yes or no response, the questions are not suggestive of the desired response. Goddard and Melville (2007) warn that respondents will not usually care about the questionnaire or the answers and will not always be honest. Therefore in order to reduce the risk of dishonesty and disengagement, I explained the importance of the research (Appendix A) and kept the questionnaire short and simple to safeguard against disinterest and rushed responses. Interviews The qualitative data were collected by the use of face-to-face, semi-structured interviews, although one interview was conducted by telephone. The semi-structured interview is necessary for allowing the researcher to go off-script in the event information is offered that was not previously anticipated and requires further exploration or if an answer to one question requires clarification (Creswell, 2009). The interview questions were designed to confirm and compliment the responses given to the questionnaire (Appendix B). To ensure reliability and validity of the results the interviews were conducted at a time and place convenient to the respondents. Moreover, the interviews were conducted in a friendly and relaxed manner and I reserved judgment and bracketed my own feelings and impressions (Creswell, 2009). The respondents were permitted to speak freely. In order to ensure validity and credibility, I used the member checking technique. Member checking occurs by repeating a response given and asking the respondent if that is what he or she meant to say (Creswell, 2009). During the course of the interviews I was able to actively observe the respondent’s demeanour. I was able to judge inflection and non-verbal cues. For example, hesitation might have indicated discomfort with a question and therefore gentle probing was used to encourage an honest response. Notes were taken of observations during the course of the interviews. Sampling The sampling was purposive in that the respondents were selected on the basis of a predetermined criterion: young black males from Lambeth between the ages of 18 and 25 (Creswell, 2009). Therefore the sample is not random. It is however, non-probability sample in that it is not possible to specify the probability that any person will be included in the sample (Robson, 2002). The non-probability sampling is used because it is economical, appropriate and convenient. I also used a snowball sampling because it allowed me to establish contact with a small number of people who then put me in contact with others who led me to the identification of young black men who were either victims or offenders of violent crimes. Snowball sampling allowed me to overcome the difficulties associated with identifying these members of the population (Robson, 2002). The sample population participating in the questionnaires consisted of 40 black males between the ages of 18 and 25 who were either victims or perpetrators of violent crimes and lived in Lambeth. The sample population participating in the interviews consisted of 10 black males between the ages of 18 and 25 who were either victims or perpetrators of violent crimes. Data Analysis The data was collected and analysed using a concurrent nested strategy. In this regard, the data is collected and analysed in a way that one “is embedded (i.e., nested) within the other” (Terrell, 2012, p. 270). In this regard, as the questionnaires were being completed and returned to me, I was conducting the interviews and analyzing the results as they all came in. As Terrell (2012) explained, the primary purpose of taking the concurrent nested approach to data collection and analysis is for “gaining a broader perspective than could be gained” by focusing on one data source at a time (p. 270). Moreover, the nested approach allows for addressing “different research questions” for garnering information “from different groups” (Terrell, 2012, p. 270). In analyzing the data collected, I used codes and numerical symbols for collating the data and placing them into useable and coherent categories. I looked for variables with commonalities and discrepancies and placed those into coded categories accordingly. Taking a qualitative approach to the interview results, I examined the results over and over again until all possible explanations were narrowed down to a single possibility. Ethical Considerations Pursuant to ethical standards for conducting research, I ensured that the participants were voluntarily participating in the research. In this regard, I provided the reasons for the research and informed the respondents that they once they consented to participate in the research they were at liberty to withdraw at any time. To further ensure voluntary participation and to protect the integrity of the research and reliability of the data, no monetary rewards or gifts were offered or given to the respondents. All of the respondents were over the age of 18 and were determined to be competent adults and were therefore legally and mentally competent to consent to participating in the research. In order to protect the privacy of the participants the questionnaires were blind items in that the respondents were not required to provide their names. They were given pseudonyms for ease of reference in the research and all notes will be kept in my custody and subsequently destroyed six months after the final report is presented. Chapter Four Results and Analysis Results Of the 40 respondents participating in the questionnaire, only 38 were used since two indicated that they were not between the ages of 18 and 25. The two indicating that they were not between the ages of 18 and 25 could not be used because there was a possibility that they were not old enough to give their consent. Moreover, they did not meet the criteria for this research. All of the respondents were black. All of the respondents participating in the interviews were black males from Lambeth between the ages of 18 and 25. Nine of the interviews were conducted in person and one over the telephone as he could not make time for a face-to-face interview. Questionnaire Results Thirty-one of the respondents reported having contact with the police and seven indicated that they did not have contact with the police. Regrettably, I was not able to differentiate between the respondents in terms of ages. There may have been a correlation between age and contact with the police. For example an 18 year old may not have had contact with the police, but this would not have precluded the possibility that contact would come over the next year or so. Of the 31 respondents having contact with the police, all but 8 only reported having contact with the police one time. The remaining respondents reported having contact with the police on multiple occasions. Again, I only knew the age range of the respondents and cannot make a connection between frequency of contact with the police and age. All I am able to say at this point is that young black males between the ages of 18 and 25 have a high likelihood of coming into contact with the police in Lambeth by the time they are 25 years of age. Five of the respondents reporting having contact with the police indicated that the contact was for reporting an offence, stop and search, and apprehension/arrest. A majority of the 31 respondents reporting contact with the police indicated that they had been stopped and searched. Eleven indicated that they had been arrested. These results are significant in that they indicate that young black males have a high likelihood of being stopped and searched by police. Twenty-one of the respondents reported that they or their family members had been victims of violent crimes and 17 answered negatively. 11 of the respondents who had been victims or had family members who were victims reported that the victimisation occurred more than once while the remaining 10 reported having this experience only one time. Interestingly, of those experiencing victimisation within the family or otherwise only 9 indicated that the police were involved. Twelve of the respondents indicated that the police were not involved because the crime had not been reported. This raises an important question as to why these young men or the family members did not report violent crimes in which they were victims to the police. While it is possible that they wished to protect a family member, it is also possible that they did not trust the police or were afraid of repercussions and feared the police would not protect them from repercussions. Only 6 of the 38 respondents reported being members of a gang. Even so, 6 out of 38 is a relatively high number, giving the nature of gangs and their reputations for violent crimes. Twenty-six of the respondents reported that they have at one time or another felt that they were not treated fairly by the police. These results are not surprising given the fact that a majority of the respondents have had contact with the police at least once in their short lifetimes. The fact that all 26 of the respondents indicating that they felt they had not been treated fairly by the police felt that their treatment was due to ethnicity is instructive. This indicates that race plays a role in the formation of strong relations with the police. Likewise, 19 of 20 respondents reporting that they did not feel adequately protected by police felt that this inadequate protection was linked to their ethnicity. Twenty-three of the respondents indicated that they felt like taking the law into their own hands and 10 revealed that they had done so. Twenty of these respondents indicated that they either felt this way or did take the law into their own hands because they did not feel protected by the police. Interview Results The respondents were generally engaged indicating that they found the subject interesting and were happy to discuss their experiences and perceptions. When speaking face-to-face, young black males were more varied in their response and shed some light on the mixed perceptions of the police. For example some of the respondents participating in the interview reported that they thought the police were doing their best and that a majority of black people gave the police reasons to treat them the way that they do. For example one respondent stated on the issue of stop and search: …why would one dress up all in black with a hoody on and scarf on a sunny day when it’s not raining? It can only be assumed that perceptions of police are informed by experiences with police. In other words an individual who had no contact with police might take a more optimistic view of the police than one who had previous experiences with the police. Other respondents expressed the view that police do not prevent crimes otherwise they would not only make themselves available after a crime had been committed. In this regard, the perception is that police are not proactive, but are rather reactive and this may account for the lack of confidence in police. For example, one respondent indicated that they never reported crimes to the police because he was aware that the police would not do anything significant in response. The respondent went on to state: …what is the point of reporting the crime when all they do is blame the victim. So it’s just best to handle it yourself. Another respondent reported that young people do not report crime “these days” and that was fine since they have family or friends that they can rely on when they are offended. Moreover, relying on friends and family was quicker and safer. Therefore, confidence in the police is compromised by the fear that the police will somehow cause more injury to the victim by treating him as a suspect or by simply mishandling the complaint or not take it seriously. Analysis A number of common themes were identified in the results of the questionnaires and the interviews. The most prominent themes are a demonstrative lack of confidence in the police which does not bode well for the criminal justice system. The lack of confidence in the police is evidenced by the prevailing lack of reporting of crimes and the propensity with which the respondents have felt a desire to take the law into their own hands. This lack of confidence is tied to another heavily themed narrative in the interviews and the questionnaires: the treatment of young black males by police. The treatment of young black males by police embodies a number of other themes: persistent arrests, stops and searches and mistreatment as victims of crimes. It is not known whether or not stops and searches and arrests are supported by the evidence or that police had reasonable grounds to make arrests or to stop and search the respondents reporting these experiences. What is known however, is that young black males participating in this research have demonstrated a general disenchantment with the police and with this disenchantment comes a lack of confidence in the police to treat them fairly or to take their complaints seriously. These attitudes are exacerbated by a persistent belief that the police treat them unfairly because of their ethnicity. As a result, whether or not the police have reasonable grounds to arrest the respondents or to stop and search them, the respondents will not give them the benefit of the doubt. A vicious cycle of crime is created as a result of the lack of confidence in the police to treat young black men fairly. These young men not only feel like they ought to take the law into their own hands as a response to threats of crime or in response to actual crimes, but some have actually done so. Therefore the contention that a lack of confidence in police can compel young black men to take the law into their own hands or to carry weapons in an attempt to distribute justice and to ensure their own personal safety is confirmed by the results of this study (see dailymail.co.uk). A majority of the respondents indicated that they had been stopped and searched by police and this can be entirely corrosive of the relationship between the police and young black men. As indicated by Lord Scarman’s report of the Stephen Lawrence inquiry, the long history of poor relations between young black men and police including the continued use of stop and search powers has promulgated a lack of confidence in police on the part of young black men. Although one respondent felt that young black men bring suspicion on themselves by the way that they dress, this is only indicative of the controversies associated with the use of stop and search powers. As Bowling and Philips (2003) reports, the use of stop and search police powers in ethnic minority communities is the most controversial issue relative to policing in those communities. The prevalence of stop and search of young black males is evidenced by this research and confirms the accusation in the MacPherson report that stop and search by police has grown into institutionalized racism (cited in Newburn, 2008). Essentially, research findings are consistent with the left realist theorists who believe that police relations with ethnic minority communities as reflected in riots was heavily themed by West Indian counterculture; inner city marginalization, and the manner in which people in deprived neighbourhoods are dealt with (White & Haines, 2004). As evidenced by the results of this research, the respondents for the most part feel that police do not treat them fairly, cannot be relied on to respond to crimes and if they are victims of crimes they are treated as if they were perpetrators all because they are ethnic minorities. Therefore the respondents feel marginalized and their relationship with the police is frayed. Perhaps these individuals feel that they are not represented and have no voice and the only viable means of expression is to either commit crimes or to take matters into their own hands. In the final analysis, the results of this research demonstrate that labeling theory is operating to the extent that offending is created by police treatment of young black men and their poor relations with police. Police label young black men as criminals and treat them as such as evidenced by the propensity to stop and search young black men and the propensity to dismiss them as victims and to immediately assume that they are criminals instead. According to labeling theory this characterization of any group or individual as a criminals or as likely criminals this becomes the catalyst for crime. The labeled individual is given an identity which is referred to as secondary deviance which leads to deviant behaviour (Goffman, 1963). Therefore, the police have a significant role to play in the perpetuation of crime among young black males as they tend to label black men and thus contribute to secondary deviance that leads to crime. The results of this research demonstrate that young black men feel labeled and feel that they are labeled purely on the basis of their ethnic identities. Appendix A Research questionnaire Thanks for allowing me to communicate with you. My name is Sandra Awanle. I am a student from London South Bank University. I am carrying out a research on the relationship between the police and young black men in Lambeth. This will help me to understand whether the high level of violent crime amongst Afro-Caribbean youths in Lambeth is due to ineffective method of policing with people in this area. Please answer the questions as honest as possible. I assure you that all responses will be held strictly confidential. PERSONAL BACKGROUND 1. What would you consider your ethnicity to be? Arab Asian Black White Other 2. Are you a male aged between 18 and 25? Yes   No  (end questionnaire. Thank you) ENCOUNTER WITH THE POLICE 3. Have you ever had any contact with the police? Yes No (go to question 5) If yes, please state how many times you have been in contact with the police. ……………………………………………………… 4. Please tick the relevant box (es) of what the nature of your contact was and state how many times? I had to report an offence I was stopped and searched I was arrested Others........................................................ 5. Have you or your family members ever been a victim of any violent crime? Yes No (go to question 7) If yes, how many times? ……………………………………………………………………………………… 6. Were the police involved in all cases? Yes No If no, why weren’t the police involved? ………………………………………………………………………………………………… 7. Have you ever been or presently a member of a gang? (optional) Yes No PERSONAL EXPERIENCE AND PERCEPTION OF THE POLICE 8. Have you ever felt that you have been treated unfairly by the police? Yes No If yes, do you believe it was due to your ethnicity? Yes No 9. Have you ever felt that you are not adequately protected by the police? Yes No If yes, do you think this was due to you ethnicity? Yes No 10. Have you ever felt like you wanted to take the law into your hands? Yes No 11. Have you ever taken the law into your hands? Yes No 12. If question 10 or 11 were yes, was it because the police failed to protect you? Yes No Appendix B Interview Questions 1. What do you think about the police, would you say they are doing enough to protect all citizens? 2. In your questionnaire, you said you or a member of you family have been a victim from violent crime but the crime wasn’t reported. Why? 3. You stated that you are in a gang or have been, why? 4. You stated you have been arrested, what for? 5. You stated that you have taken the law into your hands, why? Do you think that is the police job? 6. Why do you feel you are not protected by the police? What happened to make you feel that way? 7. What you say the police are the reason for the high level of crime in this borough Lambeth? 8. What do you think the police can do more to protect young black youths? Bibliography Creswell, J.W. (2009). Research Design: Qualitative, Quantitative, and Mixed Methods Approaches. Thousand Oaks, CA: SAGE Publications, Inc. Goddard, W.D. and Melville, S. (2007). Research Methodology: An Introduction. Lansdowne: Juta & Co. Ltd. Kothari, C.R. (2008). Research Methodology: Methods and Techniques. New Age International Kuada, J. (2012). Research Methodology: A Project Guide for University Students. Sandsfund Literature. Leech, N.L. and Onwuegbuzie, A.J. (March 2009). “A Typology of Mixed Methods Research Designs.” Quality & Quantity, Vol. 33(2): 265-275. Merriam, S.B. (2009). Qualitative Research: A Guide to Design and Implementation. San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass. Molina-Azorin, J. and Cameron, R. (2010). “A Review of the Use of Mixed Methods in Organizational Research. In Esteves, J. (Ed.) Ninth European Conference on Research Methodology for Business and Management Studies. Academics Conference Limited. Terrell, S.R. (January 2012). “Mixed-Methods Research Methodologies.” The Qualitative Report, Vol. 17(1): 254-280. Read More