explain how the notion of ‘entanglements’ helps in understanding the relationship between social welfare and crime control.
For the purpose of this essay and reflecting on the materials studied, I will seek to explain how the notion of entanglements helps in understanding the relationship between social welfare and crime control. In doing so I will consider evidence from Introducing Surveillance, which focuses on the White Rose Shopping Centre in Leeds, its use of surveillance as a tool to ensure the control of crime and its relationship with the delivery of social welfare services. I will then look at and the issues concerned with safeguarding children, reflecting on the balance required in ensuring Children’s Services meet their statutory obligations in relation to the protection of children whilst maintaining a focus on the delivery of social welfare
The White Rose shopping centre is located on the outskirts of Leeds near an area considered to be one of the most deprived wards in the country. Its location and range of outlets, aimed mainly at those in the middle income bracket, suggests that it does not seek to attract those from lower income brackets. This may serve to exclude those from the local community. To address this, the Mall has developed a social welfare scheme to invest in the local community by the provision of a Learning Centre for young people, observed as being at risk of being excluded from school through non-attendance. This welfarist approach serves a dual purposed in trying to address the needs of those facing exclusion from school who may be perceived as future troublemakers whilst trying to make the Mall attractive to young people in the community. However, an element of the surveillance taking place at the Centre focuses on the need to take a pro-active stance in managing numbers of young people accessing the Centre who may subject others to anti social behaviour. According to John White, Manager of the Centre, they have a...