Research led by a Northumbria academic exploring the relationship
between the presence of pubs and crime rates across England and Wales has been published in European Planning Studies.
The study used data collected from 375 local authorities between
2003 and 2018, and looked in particular at the density of pubs at a localised
level and the differences this made in the rates and types of crimes between
rural and urban areas. Lead author Professor Ignazio Cabras believes the
findings will help policy makers better understand and monitor crime levels at
a local level, and therefore put in place more effective policing and crime
prevention measures.
In rural areas the research identified a significant relationship between
pubs and crimes classified as public disorder, while in urban areas the
analysis identified a significant relationship between pubs and crimes
classified as violence without injuries and, to a lesser extent, damage and
arson. The incidence of crime in relation to pubs was also higher in sub-urban
areas, with strong relationships identified for crime classified as theft and
sexual offences.
Professor Cabras says the study yields three important results.
Firstly, the analysis indicates that rural areas experience a much lower
incidence of crime issues related to the number of pubs compared to more
urbanised areas, confirming the positive role played by pubs within rural
communities.
Secondly, the study identifies a positive relationship between the
number of pubs and specific types of crimes depending on how urban or rural the
area is. This offers insights into designing and developing policies and
initiatives aimed at increasing the effectiveness of policing at local level
and, at the same time, increasing levels of community cohesion and trust within
local communities.
Thirdly, findings from the study corroborate evidence that the
decline in the number of pubs in UK, regardless of geographical areas, could
potentially have important repercussions on
monitoring and understanding crime levels at a local level. This is
significant, according to Professor Cabras, because recent UK government
initiatives tackling crimes have neglected the role pubs and publicans play
within local communities. He explains: “Our research work confirms the
importance of place-based strategies in tackling social issues such as crime
levels based on the presence of pubs. As the association between crime and pubs
is multi-faceted, the formation of formal and informal policing (or lack
thereof) gravitating around pubs plays a crucial role in whether the presence
of pubs acts as a deterrent or an enabler of criminal behaviour.
“Given the paucity of research targeting the effects of pub
closures on local communities, our study provides a fresh and timely
contribution to the literature. It also provides a venue for new research aimed
at better understanding the potential of pubs in terms of generating social
capital, strengthening community cohesion, and preventing crime”.
Greg
Mulholland, Campaign Director for the Campaign for Pubs added: ‘Pubs play a
very important role in our communities and our society and policy makers and
others underestimate the many ways they do this. Well run pubs are important
focal points and help communities come together and address a variety of
issues, including dealing with crime and anti-social behaviour. Good pubs have
very strong reputations locally and command respect from people and without
them areas lose some of their social cohesion, which has many knock off effects.
"This is
an important study that shows that pubs are relevant to being able to monitor
and track crime and also that the loss of a pub not only takes away a community
focal point but also makes it harder to measure do this, yet another negative
of communities of losing their local pubs”.
