Morrell, G., Scott, S., McNeish, D., Webster, S. (2011) The August riots in England: Understanding the involvement of young people

The overall aim of this study/report was to explore what triggered the youth involvement in the August riots of 2011.

WHERE? Tottenham, North London High unemployment 48% children living in poverty Young people feeling despair and hopelessness Residents express pride in the attitude of the community Investment in secondary schools lead to improved achievement

WHAT? TASK: Watch the video and read the news articles. Using the information, write a summary of what happened in the Tottenham riots in 2011 http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-14434318 https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2011/aug/07/tottenham-riots-peaceful-protest https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zgutKwUE79Q

RESEARCH METHODS SAMPLE Researchers aimed to speak to 30 people in each of the five areas studied – Tottenham, Peckham, Clapham Junction, Salford and Birmingham - and two unaffected areas – Poplar in east London and Firth Park in Sheffield. Each sample comprised a roughly even split of over and under 18s and diversity with respect to gender, ethnicity and work status.

RESEARCH METHODS PROCEDURE Participants were interviewed on a one to one and face to face basis. In addition to the interviews, larger discussion groups were conducted with young people, community stakeholders and residents.

FINDINGS Who was involved in the Tottenham riots?

WHO? Mixed age groups; all ethnicities; people in work, training and education; and the unemployed. WATCHERS People who were present at incidents and observed some of what happened but did not become involved in criminal behaviour. Bystanders: young people who happened to be there – lived locally or were passing through when the events occurred. The curious: young people who deliberately chose to be there to see what was going on.

WHO? Mixed age groups; all ethnicities; people in work, training and education; and the unemployed. RIOTERS People who were involved in violent disturbances and vandalism. Protesters: young people who acted because of a specific grievance or set of grievances. Retaliators: young people who acted to get their own back on the police or the ‘system’. Thrill-seekers: young people who got involved to get the excitement or ‘buzz’

WHO? Mixed age groups; all ethnicities; people in work, training and education; and the unemployed. LOOTERS People involved in breaking into shops, stealing from broken-into shops or picking up stolen goods left in the streets. Opportunists: young people who saw the chance to steal things for themselves or family, or to sell on. Sellers: Young people who planned their involvement to maximise their ‘profits’

WHO? Mixed age groups; all ethnicities; people in work, training and education; and the unemployed. NON-INVOLVED People who did not become involved in the disturbances. Stay-aways: young people who chose not to get involved or observe. Wannabes: young people who weren’t there but would have liked to have been.

WATCHERS RIOTERS LOOTERS NON-INVOLVED WHO? Mixed age groups; all ethnicities; people in work, training and education; and the unemployed. Some people that were involved fell into more than one category. i.e. you could be a looter as well as a rioter. WATCHERS RIOTERS LOOTERS NON-INVOLVED

FINDINGS Why did people decide to get involved, or not?

WHY did people get involved? What reasons can you think of as to why people may have decided to get involved in the riots?

WHY did people get involved? “It was a chance to get free stuff!” “I wanted an exciting experience” “I wanted to get back at the police”

WHY did people get involved? Nudge and Tug factors NUDGE TUG Things that nudge people towards getting involved Things that tug people away from getting involved

WHY did people get involved? Nudge and Tug factors SITUATIONAL CAUSES

GROUP PROCESSES WHY did people get involved? NUDGE TUG Feeling disinhibited and swept along by the power of the group Seeing others ‘get away with it’ Feeling anonymous (deindividuation) Actively thinking toward future goals and not focusing on the ‘here and now’. E.g. If I steal something and get caught it could ruin my chances of getting a good job and earning enough money.

PEER PRESSURES WHY did people get involved? NUDGE TUG Friends being involved Friends not being involved

INFORMATION WHY did people get involved? NUDGE TUG Seeing it on TV Getting texts about it Facebook coverage BBM messages No messages No social media coverage Not seeing it on TV

CIRCUMSTANCES WHY did people get involved? NUDGE TUG Nothing else to do It was nearby It was easy to get there It was hard to get there Lack of transport

AUTHORITY FIGURES WHY did people get involved? NUDGE TUG No adult telling them not to Everybody was doing it and not being caught by authorities (police) Parents, relations, or youth workers telling them not to get involved

DISPOSITIONAL CAUSES WHY did people get involved? Nudge and Tug factors DISPOSITIONAL CAUSES

PREVIOUS CRIMINAL ACTIVITY WHY did people get involved? PREVIOUS CRIMINAL ACTIVITY NUDGE TUG Easy to get involved in It’s ‘the thing to do’ around here Having been caught once and knowing the risks

ATTITUDES TOWARDS AUTHORITY WHY did people get involved? ATTITUDES TOWARDS AUTHORITY NUDGE TUG Anger towards politicians and police Negative personal experiences of the police No negative experiences of the police

PROSPECTS WHY did people get involved? NUDGE TUG Poor job prospects Low income Limited hope for the future ‘Nothing to lose’ In work High expectations for employment High aspirations A lot to lose

WHY did people get involved? Nudge and Tug factors OTHER CAUSES

FAMILY ATTITUDES WHY did people get involved? NUDGE TUG Relative not disapproving Disapproval from family ‘Not brought up like that’

COMMUNITY WHY did people get involved? NUDGE TUG In a community with lots of low-level crime In a prosocial community In a religious community

BELONGING WHY did people get involved? NUDGE TUG Low sense of ownership A low stake in the community Sense of ownership and stake in society

POVERTY & MATERIALISM WHY did people get involved? NUDGE TUG Desire for material goods but no means to pay for them Adequate resources to purchase desired goods

WHY did people get involved? People went through two mental processes in deciding whether to take part or not: Beliefs about right and wrong (morals) Weighing up the benefits and risks of taking part Example: someone who initially believed the rioting/looting was justifiable may have ended up deciding the personal risk was too great and so did not get involved.

CONCLUSIONS Anti-social criminal behaviour is influenced by situational/social factors dispositional/individual factors. beliefs about what is right and what is wrong. assessment of the costs and benefits of involvement.