This book investigates the shifting paradigms of crime prevention and community safety within the context of contemporary social policy. Authors John Pitts and Roger Matthews compile research from leading international authorities to evaluate how institutional frameworks, such as the Crime and Disorder Act 1998, have redefined the responsibilities of local authorities and policing agencies. The text provides a critical assessment of how these systemic changes impact marginalized populations, including the socially excluded, youth, and ethnic minorities.

Experts identify this collection as a foundational resource for understanding the structural shifts in late 20th-century crime control policy. Readers frequently note the academic density of the prose, which serves as a comprehensive reference for students and practitioners of criminology and social policy.