Subcultural Left realist (Marxist)/Strain

• Left realists see the root cause of crime as an unequal and unfair social structure. Their theory has been applied to three main policies with the aim of reducing crime:

  1. Policies to reduce inequality
  2. Democratic policing
  3. A multi-agency approach
• 1. Reducing inequality:

  • left realists call for major structural changes to tackle discrimination, inequality and unfairness of rewards
  • they call for an increase in support for all people to allow access to jobs, education and positive opportunities e.g. housing (this would reduce the root cause of crime, inequality)
• 1. reducing inequality success:

  the equality trust state that "Rates of violence are higher in more unequal societies"

  HOWEVER

  It is ambiguous as to whether other types of violent crimes such as assault are impacted by inequality.
• 2. Democratic policing

  • implemented because the police are losing support, particularly in poorer areas
  • police had been relying on 'military policing' such as stop and searches - further reducing support
  • involves local communities in deciding the police's priorities
  • police must focus on crimes that victimise the disadvantaged
• 3. A multiagency approach

  • proposed by left realists
  • examples: social services, youth offenders, NHS primary care
  • these agencies provide alternatives to crime
  • case study: No Knives Better Lives: wide range of agencies (e.g. schools, councils)