Moped Crime and General Strain Theory

This assignment delves into the phenomenon of moped-related crime, specifically robberies, by applying General Strain Theory. Students are tasked with analyzing crime statistics from England and Wales, examining relevant news articles about recent incidents, and evaluating how Agnew's General Strain Theory can explain the motivations behind these crimes. The assignment requires a critical understanding of both the theoretical framework and its application to real-world criminal behavior.

Criminology

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
Strain Theory..........................................................................................................................1
Application of Strain theory in current times ........................................................................3
Findings............................................................................................................................................5
Conclusion.......................................................................................................................................5
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................6
APPENDIX I...................................................................................................................................8

INTRODUCTION
Crime is an unlawful act or unethical act commenced by an individual or group in order
to satisfy their personal greed or in order to seek revenge. It is illegal and punishable by law and
government. In criminology, examining why people commit crime is very important in the
ongoing debate of how crime should be handled and prevented. Many theories have emerged
over the years, and they continue to be explored, individually and in combination (Downes, Rock
and McLaughlin, 2016). In accordance with this context, Strain Theory of sociology and
criminology will be discussed in this assignment. The relevancy of Strain theory will be
evaluated in this report. Further, rationale will be provided for the particular occurrence of crime.
Critical analysis of the implication of the theory in the current era to Britain's multi-cultural
society and the British Criminal Justice system.
Strain Theory
Strain theory was developed in 1938 by Robert K. Merton. The theory states that the
society puts pressure on individuals to achieve socially accepted goals, albeit they lack the means
and this leads to strain which may lead the individual to commit crime (McCoy and Pugh, 2014).
In sociology and criminology, strain theory proposed that because of excessive social pressure,
an individual commits crime. As society puts pressure on individuals to accomplish their goals .
If individuals fails to accomplish the goals from ethical means, they aim to achieve it through
unethical means. For example, conducting criminal activities such as theft, robberies, burglaries,
etc. From the last decade, crime level in United Kingdom constantly increasing which creates a
situation of tension and anxiety in the country (Alexander, 2014). Robberies have been
increased tremendously in United Kingdom. Thus, in this context, the Strain theory will focus on
the criminal behaviours and robberies taken place in the country. Criminals committing crimes in
order to fulfil their necessary needs and demands which government fails to fulfil.
There are various theories of sociology, criminology and psychology that describes the
reason because of which human being commit crimes (Chouhy, Cullen and Unnever, 2016). In
this context, strain theory of sociology and criminology has been selected in this report, that
describes the relevancy of crime in the country. People living and residing in the dark areas
surrounded with negative environment, that impacts on them negatively. It not only influences
them to commit crime but also make them violent and insolent. They therefore became robbers
and steal people precious and valuables things in vengeance (Cullen, Johnson and Parboteeah,
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2014). Individuals experiencing chronic rage against society made them criminals and they seek
revenge by stealing their money and other valuables. Early intervention and strategies such as
transforming the societies, focus on child behaviour will aid in reducing the criminal behaviour
in the country effectively and efficiently.
According to the Merton strain theory, society can encourage deviance to a large degree.
Alexander, (2014) said that people tend to commit crime because of social influence and
negative impact of surrounding environment. People faced with strain, left with five ways to
adapt which are:
 Conformity: People accept the failure and consider their responsibility. Most of the
people are conformist as they accept both the culturally defined goals and societally
restricted means of achieving such goals.
 Innovation: Innovators are those, who innovates destructive ideas to achieve monetary
success. For examples, gangster, mob dealers, etc (Downes, Rock and McLaughlin,
2016).
 Ritualism: Ritualists alleviate the strain of anomie by lessening their own aspirations of
success to a point where goals are more practically attainable.
 Retreatism: People who fails to accomplish the cultural goals and social goals tends to
retreat. Suicide is the best example of retreatism.
 Rebellion: To reject the cultural goals and means, then work to replace them.
In UK, investigators found that the major crimes occurred in neighbourhood or street
levels which were caused by local thieves or robbers (Johnson, Vaidyanathan and Howard
Ecklund, 2017). The theory aim to explain the nature of criminals and factors that make them
criminals in effective and efficient manners. Strain theory proposed that individual behaviour
and psychology are easily influenced by the surrounding societies and communities. Cullen,
Johnson, and Parboteeah, (2014) stated that the more violent and negative environment, the more
criminal behaviour in the person. From this it can be stated that environment affects the
psychology of human being effectively. Other criminology theories like rational choice theory,
social disorganisation, social learning theory, social control theory and biology, genetics and
evolution theory studies the psychology of human being and proposed various determinants on
the basis of which people commits crime.
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These theories in context with Strain theory studies the impact of personal behaviour and
criminal activities effectively (Lester, 2016). From this it can be stated that negative environment
surrounding the United Kingdom is responsible for rapid growth of crime level in the country.
The Strain theory proposed that due to transformation in the behaviour of an individual leads to
increase in criminal activities in the country. John Pitts, professor of Socio-Legal studies and
Director of the Vauzhall Center for the Study of Crime, investigated youth crime and youth
justice of United Kingdom (Link and et.al., 2016).
In his recent study he identified that majority of crimes committed in the country due to
negative social influences. He examined one of the case of student studying in private school
found consuming harmful and illegal drugs. From the investigation it was found that the society
the child lives in, was not appropriate as majority of the people were not good. Further, in his
book “Reluctant Gangster”, he examined the impact of social influence that develop delinquency
in the behaviour of young people of England. His book provides an account of the emergence,
nature and impact of armed youth gangs in an East London Borough over the last decade (Pitts,
2008). Strain theory among with other theories supports that human behaviour and social
influence is the root cause which impact on criminal activities. The root of new attitudes arises
from the formation of new relationships and interaction between the person and the world
outside the community. Santoro and Broidy, (2014) said that behaviour and attitude of individual
and negative influence from society leads to growth of delinquent personality in an individual.
This theory efficiently helps in understanding the particular crimes such robberies, drug dealing,
public offence occurred in United Kingdom.
Application of Strain theory in current times
According to UK crime statistics, the crime level in England and Wales substantially
decreases in August 2017. With the help of effective judicial system of United Kingdom,
authorities were able to take control on criminal activities (England and Wales. 2017). The above
table describes the crime rates in England and Wales with their variations. From the above table
it can be understood that the majority of crimes occurred was anti social behaviour, violent
crime, thefts and robberies. For example, the majority of the robberies in United Kingdom are
made through moped scooters. The gang target pedestrians and business men whom they want to
seek revenge. The infuriation and mental strain in them made them criminals and they rob and
steal people money and precious things. (Trapper, 2017)
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This implies that Strain theory applies in the context of United Kingdom criminal activities. Due
to increase in migration in the social context of country, Britain is now developing as a multi-
cultural community country. With this there is rapid growth in the crime levels in the country
(Ousey, Wilcox and Schreck, 2015). With the help of applications of this theory, British
government can reduce the level of crime in the country. All they need to transform the current
environment and eradicate the dark and negative society in order to reduce the crime level in the
country. For example, the recent criminal activity observed in London, where six men robbed the
high end jewellers. The motive of thieves was to steal the jewellers in order to fulfil their desires
and needs. It was organised and crime committed in gangs. From the analysis it was identified
that due to social influence they committed crime (Press Association, 2017).
From this it can be implied that Strain theory is useful and applicable in the current times to
Britain multi-cultural society and the British Criminal Justice system. Strain theory helps the
judicial department of the country to work on eradicating crimes in effective and efficient way.
Thus, the theories of sociology, psychology and criminology plays vital role in order to
understand the nature and psychology of human being in effective and efficient manners (McCoy
and Pugh, 2014). By applying these theories in the current context, government can take control
over rising crime in the countries of United Kingdom. The authors and researchers critically
describe the theory of Strain in a way that assist the reader to comprehend the society behaviour
and impacts in order to change the behaviour of individual and made him criminal.
The rate of particular crime occurs in the country of Great Britain. Thus, by applying
Strain theories in the current times of Britain multi-cultural society the crime rates can be
decreased efficiently. The impact of Strain theory researched by many philosophers and
researcher in order to understand its implication in reducing the crime rates of the country
(Lester, 2016). Link and et.al., 2016 stated that strain theory will help in better understanding of
nature of society and community. In the era of globalisation many people came in UK for better
job opportunities. They were targeted by some locals and they made those migrants criminals.
Johnson, Vaidyanathan and Howard Ecklund, (2017) argued that strain theory will only help in
understanding society behaviour, it will not help in eliminating criminal behaviour developed by
an individual. From this it can be stated that crime can be reduced in United Kingdom if the
judicial system of the country applies methods and techniques proposed in Strain theory
effectively. The environment surrounding the individual of UK influences the behaviour of the
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people in negative way. For example, a man used large knife in broad day light to steal money
from One Shop store in Black Bull Lane. From the analysis it was identified that in order to take
revenge from the shop owner, man robbed his store (Large knife used in robbery, 2017). Thus, it
leads to rapid growth of crimes in the country. This creates tension and anxiety in the citizens of
the country and thus, lead to increase in negative behaviour in the country (Morris and Huck,
2014). From this it can be implied that theories of criminology, sociology and psychology helps
the government in order to reduce the crimes in effective and efficient manner. In order to
eliminate the crime rates in the country, it is very essential to the government to implement,
specific strategy in the light of Strain theory (Morris and Huck, 2014).
Findings
In the above report, the analysis of young offenders and youth crime with the help of
strain theory has been identified. It was founded that number of youth crimes has been increasing
rapidly in London which impacts on British Judicial System greatly. It was also found that
family background and culture also contributes in youth crime and delinquency.
Conclusion
Strain Theory proposed that it is the nature and social environment that influences the
behaviour of individual and force him to commit crimes. In accordance with this context,
following report aid in comprehending the individual mind and behaviour that can be easily
manipulated by the societies. The assignment able to explain the relevancy and rationale for
particular crime occurs. Further, from this report it can be concluded that Strain theory applies in
the current time of Britain multi-cultural society and British criminal justice efficiently.
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REFERENCES
Books and Journals
Alexander, J. C., 2014. The Antinomies of Classical Thought: Marx and Durkheim (Theoretical
Logic in Sociology) (Vol. 2). Routledge.
Chouhy, C., Cullen, F. T. and Unnever, J.D., 2016. Mean streets revisited: assessing the
generality of rival criminological theories. Victims & Offenders. 11(2). pp.225-250.
Cullen, J. B., Johnson, J. L. and Parboteeah, K. P., 2014. National rates of opportunity
entrepreneurship activity: Insights from institutional anomie theory. Entrepreneurship
Theory and Practice. 38(4). pp.775-806.
Downes, D., Rock, P. and McLaughlin, E., 2016. Understanding deviance: a guide to the
sociology of crime and rule-breaking. Oxford University Press.
Johnson, D.R., Vaidyanathan, B. and Howard Ecklund, E., 2017. Structural Strain in Science:
Organizational Context, Career Stage, Discipline, and Role Composition. Sociological
Inquiry.
Lester, J.L., 2016. Strain and Adaptation Among Probation Officers: An Application of Merton's
Classic Strain Theory(Doctoral dissertation, Middle Tennessee State University).
Link, N. W. and et.al., 2016. Can General Strain Theory Help Us Understand Violent Behaviors
Among People with Mental Illnesses?. Justice Quarterly. 33(4). pp.729-754.
McCoy, T. and Pugh, M., 2014. Strain Theory. The Encyclopedia of Criminology and Criminal
Justice.
Morris, C. and Huck, J. L., 2014. General Strain Theory. The Encyclopedia of Criminology and
Criminal Justice.
Ousey, G. C., Wilcox, P. and Schreck, C.J., 2015. Violent victimization, confluence of risks and
the nature of criminal behavior: Testing main and interactive effects from Agnew’s
extension of General Strain Theory. Journal of Criminal Justice. 43(2). pp.164-173.
Pitts, J., 2008. Reluctant gangsters: The changing face of youth crime. Taylor & Francis.
Santoro, W. A. and Broidy, L., 2014. Gendered Rioting: A General Strain Theoretical
Approach. Social Forces. 93(1). pp.329-354.
Online
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At a glance: Crime statistics. 2010. [Online]. Available
through:<http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/6906554.stm> [Accessed on 17th October
2017].
England and Wales. 2017. [Online]. Available through:<http://www.ukcrimestats.com/>
[Accessed on 17th October 2017].
Large knife used in robbery. 2017. [Online]. Available
through:<https://www.2br.co.uk/news/local-news/2422554/large-knife-used-in-robbery/>
[Accessed on 6th Novemeber 2017].
Press Association. 2017 Six men get away on one moped after robbery at high-end jewellers in
London. [Online]. Available through:<
https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2017/oct/09/six-men-one-moped-robbery-london-
mappin-webb-regent-street-jewellers> [Accessed on 3rd November 2017].
Trapper. J., 2017 The moped menace: how the scooter became muggers’ vehicle of choice.
[Online]. Available through:<https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2017/jul/22/moped-
menace-muggers-vehicle-of-choice-scooters-acid-attacks-phone-robberies> [Accessed on
6th Novemeber 2017].
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APPENDIX I
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Illustration 1: Total crimes in England and Wales
(Source: England and Wales, 2017)

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Illustration 2: Types of Crimes
(Source: At a glance: Crime statistics, 2010)