Public order, legality and security are dominant themes in the daily lives of a large number of citizens and are the subject of much media attention. The space and interest devoted to episodes that destabilise law and order in urban centres and that occur on the streets, in parks, on public transport, in places of aggregation with their consequences, unfortunately contributes to reinforcing the climate and the subjective perception of insecurity that affects more the people who have fewer means of combating it, such as children, the differently abled, the elderly and, transversally, women. It is clear that the climate of uncertainty and insecurity that affects our cities, as well as the growing fear of crime, are only partly determined by the objective situation of an increase in criminal acts or deviant conduct, especially by minors and young people, who are also more visible and perceptible on our streets. The crisis of the social security and protection systems, the spread of structural unemployment and an increasingly less guaranteed labour market, the fall in value models, the re-emergence and multiplication of poverty, old and new, and the risk that each of us, due to redundancy, illness, or simply advancing old age, will enter the so-called 'grey zone' have a decisive influence on the feeling of security of large sections of the population. The growing gap between poverty or near-poverty and wealth and the effects of globalisation, which with the great migrations have brought immigrants and those 'different' in terms of culture, habits and status to our cities, contribute, according to some, to destabilising the social framework, creating deep anxieties and fears that often express themselves in a demand for security from the external 'enemy' and the hostile city. According to others, instead, immigrants represent a potential multicultural richness to be valorised and integrated into urban communities. The demand for security is strongly posed to institutions, starting with the closest ones, i.e. municipalities and mayors, even when decisions and responsibilities for policies and actions are placed at other institutional levels. However, citizens expect their personal security to be guaranteed by their city and the administrators they know most closely. Strengthening the sense of security therefore becomes a primary task of institutions, starting with local administrations. For such a complex and articulated problem, there can be no simple and unidirectional answers. Today, although we are witnessing a new process, with positive and proactive interventions to combat lawlessness and urban regeneration with the aim of creating a climate of security and boosting confidence, a large proportion of citizens are still clamouring for the removal of the 'different' (immigrants, Roma, drug addicts, prostitutes).
Order and legality in urban space: prevention profiles against deviance
Malizia Nicola
2022-01-01
Abstract
Public order, legality and security are dominant themes in the daily lives of a large number of citizens and are the subject of much media attention. The space and interest devoted to episodes that destabilise law and order in urban centres and that occur on the streets, in parks, on public transport, in places of aggregation with their consequences, unfortunately contributes to reinforcing the climate and the subjective perception of insecurity that affects more the people who have fewer means of combating it, such as children, the differently abled, the elderly and, transversally, women. It is clear that the climate of uncertainty and insecurity that affects our cities, as well as the growing fear of crime, are only partly determined by the objective situation of an increase in criminal acts or deviant conduct, especially by minors and young people, who are also more visible and perceptible on our streets. The crisis of the social security and protection systems, the spread of structural unemployment and an increasingly less guaranteed labour market, the fall in value models, the re-emergence and multiplication of poverty, old and new, and the risk that each of us, due to redundancy, illness, or simply advancing old age, will enter the so-called 'grey zone' have a decisive influence on the feeling of security of large sections of the population. The growing gap between poverty or near-poverty and wealth and the effects of globalisation, which with the great migrations have brought immigrants and those 'different' in terms of culture, habits and status to our cities, contribute, according to some, to destabilising the social framework, creating deep anxieties and fears that often express themselves in a demand for security from the external 'enemy' and the hostile city. According to others, instead, immigrants represent a potential multicultural richness to be valorised and integrated into urban communities. The demand for security is strongly posed to institutions, starting with the closest ones, i.e. municipalities and mayors, even when decisions and responsibilities for policies and actions are placed at other institutional levels. However, citizens expect their personal security to be guaranteed by their city and the administrators they know most closely. Strengthening the sense of security therefore becomes a primary task of institutions, starting with local administrations. For such a complex and articulated problem, there can be no simple and unidirectional answers. Today, although we are witnessing a new process, with positive and proactive interventions to combat lawlessness and urban regeneration with the aim of creating a climate of security and boosting confidence, a large proportion of citizens are still clamouring for the removal of the 'different' (immigrants, Roma, drug addicts, prostitutes).I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
