Description
Book SynopsisCriminology has until recently neglected the nature and levels of crime outside the urban realm. This is not a surprise as crime tends to concentrate in urban areas and the police directs resources where the problems are. Yet, there are many reasons why scholars, decision-makers and society as a whole should care about crime and safety in rural areas. This book highlights 20 reasons why crime and safety in rural areas is a topic of relevance. We attempt to untangle currently simplistic views of the rural by discussing a number of facets of the countryside as both safe and criminogenic, and more importantly, a hybrid place worth to be examined in its own right. We adopt the notion of a rural-urban continuum that captures the nuances of places of varied nature, spanning from remote and desolate spaces to accessible and connected environments of the urban fringe. Areas on the rural-urban continuum may be in constant transformation given local and global influences, which imposes challenges for policing and long-term social sustainability.
Then, the book critically reviews a rich body of English-language literature in rural criminology that extends over more than four decades—a scholarship that has engaged researchers and practitioners in all continents. The books finishes with a discussion of the emergent research questions of the field, and offers implications for practice and the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals.
Trade Review“The book is ambitious for a self-defined ‘extended essay,’ but is written in a clear, concise and engaging manner. The authors are skilled writers and demonstrate a solid understanding of academic research, the wide range of topics and literature surveyed, and the needs of the intended audiences. In summary, Crime and Safety in Rural Areas is a book which is useful and will be used often.” (James Windle, Crime Prevention and Community Safety, Vol. 25 (4), 2023)
Table of Contents1) Crime and safety in rural areas2) Reasons why crime and safety in rural areas matter3) Current knowledge on crime and safety in rural areas4) Crime, offenders and victims5) Safety perceptions in rural areas6) Police and criminal justice7) Crime prevention and safety interventions8) Emergent topics in research in rural areas9) Implications for practice10) Conclusions and recommendations
