Rachel E Swann

In this paper, we report findings from a qualitative, multidisciplinary analysis of 20 Child Practice Reviews (CPRs) (previously Serious Case Review) in Wales. The reviews were analysed from three different disciplinary perspectives: law, criminology and practice (social work). The following cross‐cutting themes were identified from our coding of the reviews: (i) hierarchy of knowledge, where certain sources of knowledge were privileged over others; (ii) information sharing/recording, where deficiencies of sharing or recording of information were evident; (iii) partial assessment, where certain assessments were not always holistic; and lastly, (iv) voice of the child, where the experience or perspective of the child was not always considered. In addition, our analysis revealed a range of challenges to the CPR process as implemented. This paper is the first to explore themes emerging from (Welsh) CPRs and is also the first to do so from a multidisciplinary perspective. We conclude by...

Female aggression in night-time economies (NTE) is a relatively under-researched area of criminological inquiry. This article focuses on a group of White, working-class local women (Locals) drawing on a mixed-method qualitative study of 78 women (18–58 years) who participated in the NTE of a Welsh city centre. This article explores the women’s accounts and understandings of engaging in aggressive behaviours in this particular situational context. Foregrounding their voices, the research found that stereotypical assumptions surrounding the women’s reputation for unprovoked aggression is not supported. Rather, the women themselves understand their aggression as justifiable responses to breaches of shared group norms and values in relation to both reputation and manners. This group of women’s aggressive behaviour often was oriented towards maintaining their relationships and loyalty to each other and their group. This further challenges research in which women’s violence is framed as a...

This paper examines the work of the Street Pastors, a Christian organisation offering support to people in the Night Time Economy (NTE), through the perceptions of students. This paper utilises data reported on in a previous conference paper (Green and Johns, 2011), to contextualise the role of faith groups in a changing landscape of plural policing.  The role played by faith groups is becoming more important as a shift from policing ‘by’, ‘through’ and ‘beyond’ to policing from ‘below’ occurs (Jones and Lister, 2015). While the Street Pastors would not regard themselves as ‘police agents’ there is undoubtedly a close connection albeit with geographical variation (Johns et al.2009b). An evaluation of their activities and of public attitudes particularly around issues of trust is therefore important. Although the stated aims of the Street Pastors centre around community safety, there is evidence that many Street Pastors are using their position to engage in proselytising. In this research we explored this further and identified how far Street Pastors are associated with religious rather than community safety roles. It reports on the findings of an online survey of students about interactions with, and attitudes to, the Street Pastors. Therefore, while there may be the shift identified above, it is apparent that the Street Pastors are escaping such an association of policing from ‘below’ in the eyes of some of their key ‘client’ groups.