‘We’ll go grafting,yeah?’: Crime as a response to urban neglect

Abstract

Urban redevelopment attempts to rebrand spaces. The intention is to make them appear attractive for inward financial investment; to make improvements for residents; and, to reduce crime. It is considered by some to be a problematic process that does not always achieve the desired outcomes. This is especially so during the gentrification-transition stage. This qualitative study looked at crime in a sample site that was in a gentrification-transition stage of urban redevelopment. Using data sourced from those directly involved in criminal activity, this study argues that crime reduction in gentrification-transition environments is especially difficult to achieve. This is because disorganization in the built environment and economic inequality intensifies in areas experiencing gentrification-transition. Coupled with consumer pressures of the modern era, the result is a space where particular types of crime occur, often in significantly higher volumes than was the case prior to redevelopment.