Skip to main content
Log in

Citizen Involvement in Local Security Networks

  • Original Article
  • Published:
Security Journal Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

This paper deals with the involvement of citizens (and local businesspersons) in the prevention and control of crime and disorder. Four models of citizen involvement in local security networks are distinguished. In each of these models the role of citizens concentrates on different functions: (1) providing information, (2) advising or participating in decision-making, (3) promoting collective efficacy and informal social control, and (4) more autonomous and exclusionary activities. Tensions in the participation of citizens in local security networks may result from contradictions between the underlying models. The meaning of non-participation by citizens and the relations between the police and citizens differ for each of the models of citizen involvement.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Arnkil, R. (2005) Good Practices to Promote Real Citizen Participation. Paper prepared for the securcity network of Urbact (obtained from http://www.urbact.eu/ August 2006).

  • Benson, J.K. (1975) The Interorganizational Network as a Political Economy. Administrative Science Quarterly. Vol. 20, No. 2, pp 229–249.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Benyon, J . and Edwards, A . (1999) Community Governance of Crime Control. In Stoker, G. (ed.) The New Management of British Local Governance. Basingstoke: Macmillan.

    Google Scholar 

  • Blagg, H., Pearson, G., Sampson, A., Smith, D. and Stubbs, P. (1988) Inter-Agency Co-operation: Rhetoric and Reality. In Hope, T. and Shaw, M. (eds) Communities and Crime Reduction. London: HMSO.

    Google Scholar 

  • Carr, P.J. (2005) Clean Streets. Controlling Crime, Maintaining Order, and Building Community Activism. New York: New York University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Crawford, A. (1997) The Local Governance of Crime: Appeals to Community and Partnerships. Oxford: Oxford University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Crosby, N., Kelly, J.M. and Schaefer, P. (1986) Citizens Panels: A New Approach to Citizen Participation. Public Administration Review. Vol. 46, No. 2, pp 170–178.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • De Swaan, A. (1988) In Care of the State. Health Care, Education and Welfare in Europe and the U.S.A. in the Modern Era. New York: Oxford University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ebers, M. (1999) The Dynamics of Inter-Organizational Relationships. In Andrews, S.B. and Knoke, D. (eds) Networks In and Around Organizations. Research in the Sociology of Organizations, Vol. 16. Stanford: JAI Press Inc.

    Google Scholar 

  • Felson, M. (1987) Routine Activities and Crime Prevention in the Developing Metropolis. Criminology. Vol. 25, No. 4, pp 911–931.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fisher, B. (1993) Community Responses to Crime and Fear of Crime. In Forst, B. (ed.) The Socio-Economics of Crime and Justice. New York: Sharpe.

    Google Scholar 

  • Garland, D. (2001) The Culture of Control: Crime and Social Order in Contemporary Society. Oxford: Oxford University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Grinc, R.M. (1994) “Angels in Marble”: Problems in Stimulating Community Involvement in Community Policing. Crime and Delinquency. Vol. 40, No. 3, pp 437–468.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hood, C. (2000) The Art of the State. Culture, Rhetoric, and Public Management. Oxford: Clarendon.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Low, S. (2003) Behind the Gates. Life, Security, and the Pursuit of Happiness in Fortress America. New York: Routledge.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pearson, G., Blagg, H., Smith, D., Sampson, A. and Stubbs, P. (1992) Crime, Community and Conflict: The Multi-Agency Approach. In Downes, D. (ed.) Unravelling Criminal Justice. Eleven British Studies. Basingstoke: Macmillan.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pfeffer, J. and Salancik, G.R. (1978) The External Control of Organizations: A Resource Dependency Perspective. New York: Harper & Row.

    Google Scholar 

  • Roché, S. (2002) Towards a New Governance of Crime and Insecurity in France. In Crawford, A. (ed.) Crime and Insecurity. The Governance of Safety in Europe. Cullompton: Willan Publishing.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rosenbaum, D.P. (1987) The Theory and Research Behind Neighborhood Watch: Is it a Sound Fear and Crime Reduction Strategy? Crime and Delinquency. Vol. 33, No. 1, pp 103–134.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sampson, A. (1988) Crime, Localities and the Multi-Agency Approach. British Journal of Criminology. Vol. 28, No. 4, pp 478–493.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sampson, R., Raudenbusch, S.W. and Earls, F. (15 August 1997) Neighbourhoods and Violent Crime: A Multilevel Study of Collective Efficacy. Science. Vol. 277, pp 918–924.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Scott, M.S. (2005) Shifting and Sharing Police Responsibility to Address Public Safety Problems. In: Tilley, N. (ed.) Handbook of Crime Prevention and Community Safety. Cullompton: Willan Publishing.

    Google Scholar 

  • Skogan, W.G. (1998) Community Participation and Community Policing. In Brodeur, J.P. (ed.) How to Recognize Good Policing? Problems and Issues. Thousand Oaks: Sage.

    Google Scholar 

  • Skogan, W.G. (2004) Representing the Community in Community Policing. In Skogan, W.G. (ed.) Community Policing. Can it Work? Belmont: Wadsworth.

    Google Scholar 

  • Terpstra, J. (2005) Models of Local Security Networks: On the Diversity of Local Security Networks in the Netherlands. Crime Prevention and Community Safety: An International Journal. Vol. 7, No. 4, pp 37–46.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Terpstra, J. and Kouwenhoven, R. (2004) Samenwerking en netwerken in de lokale veiligheidszorg (co-operation and networks in the local management of public safety). Zeist: Kerckebosch.

    Google Scholar 

  • Van Swaaningen, R. (2002) Towards a Replacement Discourse on Community Safety: Lessons from the Netherlands. In Hughes, G., McLaughlin, E. and Muncie, J. (eds) Crime Prevention and Community Safety. New Directions. London: Sage Publications.

    Google Scholar 

  • Weisburd, D. and Eck, J.E. (2004) What Can Police Do to Reduce Crime, Disorder, and Fear? The Annals of the American Academy of Political and Social Science. Vol. 593, No. 1, pp 42–65.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Yin, R.K. (2002) Case Study Research. Design and Methods, 3rd edn. Newbury Park/London: Sage.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Terpstra, J. Citizen Involvement in Local Security Networks. Secur J 22, 156–169 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1057/palgrave.sj.8350079

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1057/palgrave.sj.8350079

Keywords

Navigation