Section: Research & Surveys
JRF Findings
The Joseph Rowntree
Foundation published, as part of its Findings series, Antisocial Behaviour Strategies: Finding a Balance (Ref.: 0305). This study,
by King's College London, looked at public attitudes towards antisocial behaviour nationally. It examined the problems and solutions in three
case-study neighbourhoods with high levels of antisocial behaviour. Findings of the study included:
- Antisocial behaviour has a
significant impact on the lives of a minority of people, particularly in areas of social deprivation and inner cities. It has little or no effect on
the lives of the majority of the population.
- There is a tendency to equate antisocial behaviour with problems associated with young
people, including rowdiness, drug use, and graffiti. Two-thirds favoured preventative action over tough action against perpetrators.
- In
the three case-study neighbourhoods, people were most concerned with general misbehaviour by children and young people, visible drug and alcohol
abuse, neighbour disputes, and problem families.
- Residents often described antisocial behaviour as a symptom of moral decline, whilst some
merely labelled it as kids will be kids. Local agencies tended to explain it in terms of social exclusion. These different perspectives
implied different solutions, ranging from prevention and inclusion measures to tougher action.
The researchers
conclude that both national and local antisocial behaviour strategies should aim for a balance between enforcement and prevention. They also conclude
that more care is needed in defining antisocial behaviour and determining limits on the use of civil law
remedies.
Findings and other reports from the Foundation can be read on their website at www.jrf.org.uk.
Low Income Homeowners
Research into Low Income Homeowners was published by the
Housing Research and Analysis Division of the Department for Work and Pensions.
The research was commissioned to establish the
characteristics of low-income homeowners and their circumstances, and is based on analysis of a range of data resources, including the Survey of
English Housing (2002/03) and the English House Condition Survey (2001). The research found that:
- The population of low-income
homeowners differed markedly from the population of low-income tenants. Very few are aged less than 30 years, or have dependent children. Most are
aged over 60 and own their homes outright. Their living costs are relatively low and generally they appear to be managing on low incomes without
experiencing hardship.
- The households that appear to be experiencing real problems are those who have both mortgages and very low incomes.
These include families where one or more adults are self-employed, or which contain a single person aged under 60 years.
- Most low-income
homeowners are less likely to experience hardship than low-income tenants, even though their incomes are actually lower. Low income homeowners (and
their homes) are more like higher-income homeowners than low-income tenants.
- Becoming a low-income homeowner tends to be caused by a drop
in income, while remaining in the same home. Many experience a recovery in income within a year or two. For most low-income homeowners of working
age, the experience is associated with a temporary drop in income.
- Seven out of ten low-income homeowners own their homes outright.
Nearly half of them have savings, and there is a relatively low incidence of a lack of essential items other than leisure, holidays, and nights
out.
Recent Publications
On the Web
A new website was launched to provide a base for sharing information
about arrears recovery initiatives at: www.arrearstalk.org.
