Experiences of Violence

Abstract

As referenced in Chapter 2, Jamaica suffers from high levels of violent crime; in 2013 it had the sixth highest murder rate in the world (UNODC, 2014). Whilst the death toll has risen significantly since 1980 when cocaine was first trafficked to Jamaica, it has been a country beset with violence and brutality, since the Spanish first arrived in the 15th century. This is the cultural environment in which the respondents grew up and, consequently, to some extent became accustomed to before moving to the UK. This chapter examines their individual experiences of violence, both in Jamaica and in the UK. It details their narratives in relation to being victims, perpetrators and sometimes both.