1

Final Conference

Joe Cullen, Arcola Research, London

Shared strategies for a community approach to conflicts in public

spaces

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The problem - diversity, complexity and governmentality

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Areas A-CArea D

Area E

Area F

2

Shoreditch

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Dalston - Hackney

Holloway London: West End Central Camden Town

3

Action Research Model

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Implementing the Model

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What we did in London (Phase 1)

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Rapid AppraisalAnalysis of crime stats in sub-areasAnalysis of ASB policies and strategiesField Work on streetsInterviews

Street Observations

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The Police Perspective

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Key Conclusions: patterns of crime and ASB

The actual recorded level of incidents is less than the perceived level, and the level of ‘fear’ of crime, anti-social behaviour and disorder.

Young people are more likely to be both perpetrators and victims.

‘Offenders’ and ‘offending’ is socially constructed. This is linked to factors like age, culture and power.

Four main dynamics contribute to conflict and disorder in inner cities: changes of use & conflicts of space; structural dynamics – like poverty, unemployment, poor housing; low family and community cohesion and resilience; perceptions of ‘difference’ and ‘otherness’ that lead to intolerance, labelling and demonization

The highest levels of anti-social behaviour are found in night time economy locations.

Changes in policy and legislation have led to a more robust and more punitive approach to anti-social behaviour and disorder in cities, combined with ‘early intervention’ measures.

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Phase 2 approach Consultation Syndicates

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Engagement

10

Stakeholder Group No. contacted Stakeholder distribution

Examples

Institutional 120

PoliceLocal authorityService providers

Senior and ‘front-line’ officersMayor’s CabinetDrugs and Alcohol Action teams

Commercial 31

LeisureRetailEntertainmentNetworks

Leisure centresLocal shopsPubs, bars, clubsPubwatch

Community 100

Education institutionsYoung people’s servicesResidents AssociationsCommunity organisations

Hackney Community CollegeHackney Learning TrustHackney Youth ParliamentHackney Activists

+

E-mail & snowballing

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The Ideas

• Institutional Group – Night Watch, Inclusion Project, I am Invaded

• Commercial Group – Juice Night; Reclaim Gillett Square; Urban Wildlife

• Community Group – Community Conversation; People for Change; Grass roots empowerment

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Phase 3: Action Research Experiments

• Pilot 1: ‘Strani Eventi’• 2 Community Festivals• Hackney One/Mixology – family interactive area and Non-alcoholic cocktail

mixing workshop• Something Different - multi-activity event, involving occupation,

involvement and inclusion in a Community Space• Background activities – interactive graffiti Art and mural , workshops, food

sharing, Dance, Play and Creative workshops, Tarot reading, interactive theatre, Universal Board Games

• Foreground (stage) activities – Cardboard Citizens (ex-homeless theatre group); Turkish/Kurdish music; rap; R&B; retro-punk

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Pilot 1: ‘Something Different’ Festival, Dalston

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Pilot 2 – Innovating Social Innovation

• Learning programme for ‘intermediaries’ – organisations who already work with communities and individuals within them

• integrates a range of research projects that have been carried out over the past five years under various European Union initiatives and presents and applies the results in interactive workshops

• The programme structure and content is organised along ten ‘special interest areas’ (SIAs). These reflect particular practitioner roles and interests

• 3 themes: ‘Navigating the Landscape’; ‘What works’; ‘Developing Organisational Intelligence'

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Pilot 1 Evaluation Approach

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Event Observation Audience Feedback

Street Interview

Hackney 1 4 24 26

Something Different

6 76 20

Total 10 100 46

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Pilot 1: Key Evaluation Results

18

Event

M F White BEMGUnder 18 18-30

31 - 50

Over 50

Resident Hackney

Hackney 1 36 64 42 58 2 8 42 58 67Something Different 49 51 73 27 20 43 23 14

62

Combined events 51 49 69 31 17 38 26 19

63

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Key conclusions

• Interventions to reduce anti-social behaviour in ‘night time economies’ need to understand the complex dynamics at work

• It’s not a ‘youth issue’ – nor a ‘drugs and alcohol’ issue• Its about identifying the contextual dynamics that create tension and

developing cross-sectoral and cross-stakeholder partnerships to address the issues

• Collaborative action research is the best way to get results• But interventions like ‘Something Different’ are ‘one offs’ unless they

form part of a sustainable, community- embedded long term process that addresses fundamental inequalities and lack of empowerment

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