Item A:
Some minority ethnic groups are over-represented in crime statistics according to various
sources. Some sociologists point to public perceptions of certain minority ethnic groups such as
African-Caribbean and Pakistani males as one reason for this. Other sociologists suggest that
these groups are disproportionately focused on by the authorities.
However, other sociologists would suggest that these figures are correct and that the reason
these groups are over-represented is due to their economic circumstances and the areas they
live in.
Applying material from Item A, analyse two ways ethnic minority groups may be over-
represented in crime statistics (10)
One way in which ethnic minority groups may be over-represented in crime statistics is due
to institutional racism. Item A suggests that Pakistani and African-Caribbean males are
‘disproportionately focused on by the authorities’ as the police often make judgements about
the involvement of minority ethnic groups in criminal activities due to ill-formed stereo-types
based upon the ‘canteen culture’ of the police. Evidence for this was found by the
McPherson Inquiry following the death of Stephen Lawrence, a young black male who was
attacked by a gang of white youths. The inquiry found that the Metropolitan Police operated
by principles that were designed to put minority ethnic groups at a disadvantage.
Furthermore, the Black and Asian Officers Association of the Metropolitan Police advised
minority ethnic groups from joining the force as it had a culture of institutional racism. This
has led to accusation of racially motivated ‘stop and search’ policies that disproportionately
target minority ethnic groups and becomes a form of selective law enforcement. This leads
to more arrests for minority ethnic groups as the police focus most of their resources on
areas inhabited by African, Caribbean and Pakistani groups, and as a result causes them to
be over-represented in crime statistics. However, some sociologists such as right realists,
would argue that the inadequate socialisation of these groups leads to them being more
likely to commit crime and so the police focus on these areas in order to reduce criminal
activity.
A second reason for the over-representation of minority ethnic crime is put forward by left
realists. They suggest that ethnic minority groups are more likely to be disproportionately
involved in criminal behaviour, but this is a result of the way society treats them. Minority
ethnic groups are most likely to experience limited economic circumstances (Item A) which
forces them to turn to crime in order to make ends meet. Furthermore, ‘public perceptions’
(Item A) lead to the marginalisation of these groups and particularly for young males into
subcultural groups whereby status is derived from criminal and deviant behaviour.
Furthermore, Lea and Young suggest that the structure of society limits the opportunities for
these groups to achieve financial success and therefore they are often located in areas of
relative deprivation where they are more susceptible to becoming victims of crime. However,
right realists would suggest that minority ethnic offending is down to both cultural and
physiological differences between minority ethnic groups and the wider population and that
their lack of integration leads them to be excluded from opportunities in society.
- Annotate areas of AO1, AO2, AO3
- What mark would you give this out of 10 and why?
Some minority ethnic groups are over-represented in crime statistics according to various
sources. Some sociologists point to public perceptions of certain minority ethnic groups such as
African-Caribbean and Pakistani males as one reason for this. Other sociologists suggest that
these groups are disproportionately focused on by the authorities.
However, other sociologists would suggest that these figures are correct and that the reason
these groups are over-represented is due to their economic circumstances and the areas they
live in.
Applying material from Item A, analyse two ways ethnic minority groups may be over-
represented in crime statistics (10)
One way in which ethnic minority groups may be over-represented in crime statistics is due
to institutional racism. Item A suggests that Pakistani and African-Caribbean males are
‘disproportionately focused on by the authorities’ as the police often make judgements about
the involvement of minority ethnic groups in criminal activities due to ill-formed stereo-types
based upon the ‘canteen culture’ of the police. Evidence for this was found by the
McPherson Inquiry following the death of Stephen Lawrence, a young black male who was
attacked by a gang of white youths. The inquiry found that the Metropolitan Police operated
by principles that were designed to put minority ethnic groups at a disadvantage.
Furthermore, the Black and Asian Officers Association of the Metropolitan Police advised
minority ethnic groups from joining the force as it had a culture of institutional racism. This
has led to accusation of racially motivated ‘stop and search’ policies that disproportionately
target minority ethnic groups and becomes a form of selective law enforcement. This leads
to more arrests for minority ethnic groups as the police focus most of their resources on
areas inhabited by African, Caribbean and Pakistani groups, and as a result causes them to
be over-represented in crime statistics. However, some sociologists such as right realists,
would argue that the inadequate socialisation of these groups leads to them being more
likely to commit crime and so the police focus on these areas in order to reduce criminal
activity.
A second reason for the over-representation of minority ethnic crime is put forward by left
realists. They suggest that ethnic minority groups are more likely to be disproportionately
involved in criminal behaviour, but this is a result of the way society treats them. Minority
ethnic groups are most likely to experience limited economic circumstances (Item A) which
forces them to turn to crime in order to make ends meet. Furthermore, ‘public perceptions’
(Item A) lead to the marginalisation of these groups and particularly for young males into
subcultural groups whereby status is derived from criminal and deviant behaviour.
Furthermore, Lea and Young suggest that the structure of society limits the opportunities for
these groups to achieve financial success and therefore they are often located in areas of
relative deprivation where they are more susceptible to becoming victims of crime. However,
right realists would suggest that minority ethnic offending is down to both cultural and
physiological differences between minority ethnic groups and the wider population and that
their lack of integration leads them to be excluded from opportunities in society.
- Annotate areas of AO1, AO2, AO3
- What mark would you give this out of 10 and why?
