Crime, anti-social behaviour and schools

Until relatively recently in Britain police involvement in schools was generally limited to the odd talk on drugs or 'stranger danger' or much more serious events that were clearly a crime. The concept of 'anti-social behaviour' was rarely used in relation to school children. Public discourse about young people more commonly links their behaviour to a 'lack of discipline in school' or 'poor parenting'; as well as the potential for problem behavior developing into 'anti-social' or 'criminal' behavior. Although schools are one of the safest places for most young people there is a great deal of generalized anxiety about schools and the behaviour of young people in and around schools. This book brings together a number of experts from within the fields of criminology, social policy and education to take a careful and critical look at these issues, underpinned by a number of original research projects that investigate the experiences of young people, teachers and parents.