NCJ Number
206186
Journal
Journal of Police and Criminal Psychology Volume: 19 Issue: 1 Dated: Spring 2004 Pages: 45-57
Date Published
2004
Length
13 pages
Annotation
This study investigated casual factors in weekend city center aggression in the United Kingdom.
Abstract
Over the last two decades, the United Kingdom has experienced a 30 percent increase in the number of bars, nightclubs, and restaurants, the vast majority in city centers. Research suggests that the increase in venues has brought with it an upsurge in the number of assaults resulting in bodily harm, the majority of which occur during the weekend. Research has also found that both perpetrators and victims of violence tended to be males in the 18-30 age range, and either manual workers or unemployed. Troublesome arguments occur in 36 percent of the bars at least once a month, fights break out in 6 percent of the pubs a week, and 5 percent of club managers are assaulted on an average every month. The weekend Aggression Model is just one plausible explanation of the relationship between arousal, alcohol, and aggression on city-center streets on weekend nights. The typical characteristics of weekend city center aggression appear to be stemming from the vast majority of bars being in such close proximity and the sheer number of revelers attracted to them, and ultimately the competition for resources, whether they be females, alcohol, fast food, and/or transport home afterwards. Through the use of models such as this, studies can identify stages and factors that may be amiable to modification in particular instances leading up to acts of aggression. Decreasing the congestion would minimize the gathering of groups and ultimately flare-ups of hostility and aggression. References