CRIME AS A SOCIAL PROBLEM Starter: Work in pairs. Work out what the key concepts are on the worksheet The pair that finishes first wins. To win you will need to read out the key concepts to the class to prove you did it correctly – three mistakes acceptable. Learning outcomes All will be able to identify, with examples, two types of crime which are currently seen as a social problem in Britain. Most will be able to explain why these types of crime are seen as social problems. Some will be able to explain what the government has tried to do to solve these social problems. 10 Mins

Starter  Work in pairs.  Work out what the key concepts are on the worksheet from the definition.  The pair that finishes first wins 10 + points each, but will have to read the key concepts to the class to prove they did it correctly – three mistakes acceptable. 10 Mins

Debates on crime and deviance  Crime is a major focus of public concern and debate.  These debates focus on issues such as anti-social behaviour, sexual violence, racist murders and crimes committed by teenagers.  The media play a role in setting the agenda (deciding on the focus) of public debates and discussions about crime and deviance. 5 Mins

Crime as a social problem  Racism  Youth crime

Task 1: Poster on social crimes  Work in pairs.  You will create a poster on either (youth crime or racism)  Your worksheet and pages ( ) will help you complete the poster  Your poster must include 1. Definition of the term and examples. 2. Why is this type of crime seen as a social problem? 3. What has the government tried to do to decrease this type of crime? 4. Any other interesting facts or information about youth crime or racism 20 Mins

Youth crime 1. Youth crime – refers to crimes committed by young people. They include anti-social behaviour, drug taking, binge drinking, gangs, gun and knife crime. 2. It is often front page news and has therefore become seen as a huge social problem – something that concerns members of the public.  Youth crime is seen as a social problem because it has negative consequences on communities:  Financial – the cost of repairing / removing acts of vandalism and graffiti.  Social – it generates fear and damages community links, more serious crimes cost lives and damage families of the victims. 3. The government has tried to control youth crime through policies such as fining parents for their children’s misbehaviour, imposing curfews, exclusion zones and ASBOs.

Racism  Racism is discrimination against a person on the grounds of their ethnicity. It can take the form of verbal abuse, physical assault or criminal damage.  It is a social problem because it is damaging to individuals and society.  The government has tried to decrease this type of crime by introducing new legislation (laws) such as the Crime and Disorder Act of 1998 which says that racism can take the form of assault, criminal damage and harassment if the hostility demonstrated towards the victim is based on the victim’s ethnic background.

Task 2: Present your posters  During the presentations, everyone else has to take notes under these headings: 1. Definition of the term and examples. 2. Why is this type of crime seen as a social problem? 3. What has the government tried to do to decrease this type of crime? 4. Any other interesting facts or information about youth crime or racism 10 Mins

Exam question  Identify one type of crime which is seen as a social problem and explain how the government has tried to do to decrease this type of crime? (4 marks) 5 Mins

Review  Discussion:  Is the moral panic about youth crime justified and why?  How effective are methods such as ASBOs in preventing youth crime and why?  How effective is legislation in reducing racism and racially motivated crime? 5 Mins