Integration of Resettlers and Communal Crime Prevention

Integration of Resettlers and Communal Crime Prevention

Client: Police directorate Heidenheim/ Brenz (funding: Ministry of the Interior Baden-Württemberg) (2000) | Area: Social Work & Social Risks

Main Interest |

The exploratory study was directed to describe the as an inner city classified residential area Memminger Wanne in terms of social statistics and to assess the living conditions of the residents. The area is characterized by a high share of ethnic German resettlers and an increasing drug problem (consumption and dealing) of hitherto unknown scope, causing the area’s image to turn more and more negative and leading to rumors and sales difficulties regarding apartments.

The police is interested in gaining information to give direction to further preventive measures. Youths were of particular interest, as this group has been the most noticeable in the concerned area and was considered the target group of the municipal crime prevention.

 

SINE-Mandate |

  • Collection and presentation of socio-structural and demographic data regarding the area and its residents
  • Collection and analysis of previous measures and actors in the field of municipal crime prevention
  • Analysis of the police criminal statistics regarding the area
  • Description of the living environment of young resettlers in the area with the following focus areas:
      • Changes after moving to Germany
      • Living situation
      • Communitisation of the residents
      • Attitudes towards school and police

In a follow-up project assigned by the city of Giengen recommendations have been elaborated and presented together with selected results of the study to policymakers. Hereby, a foundation for subsequent socio-political reforms could be successfully established

 

Methods |

  • Analysis of already existing data (creation of overviews, presentation of relations, statistical analyses)
  • Topic-focused interviews
  • Participant observation

The implementation in this form meant a mix of methods, which was suitable for the following reasons:

The contracting institution’s target was primarily the exploration of the field, which is why a widespread approach in data collection was needed: Quantitative methods for the analysis of police criminal statistics and socio-demographic data, qualitative methods for the description of the living environment.

In addtion to this, the mix of methods increases the reliability of the results: Different data material and diverse analytical methods allow a comparative control and complementation of results. Hereby, a sound result could be reached despite the limited scope of the study.

 

Responsible | Dipl.-Soz. Sylvia Lustig, Prof. Dr. Patricia Pfeil