Learning objective:

To identify/describe/explain the reasons why ethnic

minorities are over represented in crime statistics

Key question:

• Do people from ethnic minorities actually commit more crime?

• And • Do the official crime statistics give a true

picture of the level of crime committed by ethnic minorities?

Main explanations for level of crime and convictions among ethnic groups• There is evidence of institutional racism and a

canteen culture• Police mishandle enquiries e.g. the murder of

Stephen Lawrence • Some sociologists believe that ‘stop and search’

policy unfairly targets and labels black men.• Ethnic minorities are more likely to face poverty and

live in urban areas. • Media may reinforce stereotypes e.g. Fear of

terrorism • Police are mainly white & middle class men who

discriminate against ethnic minorities

Case study

• Stephen Lawrence • He was stabbed to death at a bus stop in

1993. He was 18 • 2 men have been convicted of his murder

after 18 years. • The police were accused of failing to look for

Stephen’s killers because of institutional racism and stereotyping

Read about Stephen Lawrence on page 45 of the white textbook

Lord McPherson who carried out the Stephen Lawrence Enquiry concluded that the police service was full of institutional racism and a canteen culture.

Copy out the definition of institutional racism on page 112

Copy out the definition of canteen culture

Exam questions

1. Explain what is meant by labelling 4 marks Labelling is …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….For example ………………………………………………………………………........................................................................................................……………………..This means that ………………………………………………………….........................................................................................…………………………………………… 2. Explain what is meant by prejudice 4 marks

3. Explain what is meant by racism 4 marks

4. Describe one way in which governments have attempted to reduce racist behaviour in society and explain how successful this has been. 5 marks

Governments have attempted to reduce racist behaviour by (The Race Discrimination Act/anti bullying projects in schools/The Equality Law 2010/police training)......................................................................................................................................................................................

This means that ....................................................................................................................................................................................................This has been successful because .........................................................................................................................................................................But there is still ......................................................................................................................................................................................................

5. Discuss how far sociologists would agree that some ethnic groups appear to commit more crime than others because they are stereotyped. 12 marks

Some sociologists would agree that ………………………………………………………………….whilst others disagree and think that ……………………………One reason why ethnic minorities appear to commit more crime is due to (write about how ethnic minorities are more likely to face ‘stop

and search’ and be targeted and arrested by the police who stereotype them through police statistics)...........................................................

However, some ethnic minorities commit more crime because (write about how ethnic minorities are more likely to face unemployment and poverty which means they could commit crime)

Another reason why ethnic minorities appear to commit more crime is due to (write about how institutional racism in the police is a factor for stereotyping and include the Stephen Lawrence case as an example here) ........................................................................................

However, ethnic minorities also face stereotyping from the mass media through (write about how the media is likely to over exaggerate in order to sell newspapers which reinforces stereotypes) ......................................................................................................................................

In conclusion .........................................................................................................................................................................................................