The war on antisocial behaviour rationeles underlying antisocial behaviour policies : comparing British and Dutch discourse analyses

Abstract

Only fifteen years ago, measures against antisocial behaviour on the street (ASB) were on the fringe of crime policies. Now this kind of behaviour is the focus of many new anti-crime actions. If this sort of sub-crime is addressed as a major security problem what does that say about the current Dutch crime policy climate? Are young people terrorising the streets? Why do Dutch politicians think a fight against them is needed? What do the media say? And what does the public think? These descriptive questions fit within the recent criminological debate on shifting crime policies and the ideas of David Garland on a Culture of Control. This study zooms in on local developments, addressing the raised questions and analysing the Dutch judicial, political, media en public discourse on ASB. Dutch politicians regularly refer to English ASB measures as a recipe for success. By comparing the UK with the Netherlands, a deeper understanding of the construction of Dutch crime policies is created. This study reveals the assumptions that structure political decisions to tackle ASB, presents a balanced picture of the alleged pressing problem of ASB and identifies divergent currents in the Culture of Control.