Crime and Media

Crime and Media Against a backdrop of long term rising crime figures, rising prison population and more recently; the daily reporting of street crime, the common sense narrative for crime has evolved. The public is reliant on the government to reduce crime levels, and are more or less powerless to enforce or change the law, apart from campaigns or direct action. With the daily reporting of street crime in the media, often sensationalised or simplified, …showed first 75 words of 708 total…

…showed last 75 words of 708 total…that moral, social standards are dropping. People also feel powerless to fight this crime/moral decline and the systems, authorities put in place to deal with such things seem inadequate. In recent times the media has exploited the publics fear/fascination with this ‘Moral Panic’ phenomenon and incited the public to campaign the government on many issues often related to small numbers of actual crimes committed. Cohen,S (1973)Folk Devils and Moral Panics, London Paladin.