PART-TIME CRIME - AN ETHNOGRAPHY OF FIDDLING AND PILFERAGE

• NCJ Number: 43399
• Author(s): J DITTON
• Date Published: 1977
• Length: 201 pages
• Grant Number(s): 71/6682/5; HR 3603/1
• Sale Source: Macmillan Press Ltd
• Language: English
• Country: United Kingdom

Annotation

THE AUTHOR DESCRIBES HOW 'FIDDLING', A BRITISH TERM FOR STEALING FROM CUSTOMERS, IS SIMULTANEOUSLY FIDDLING, THAT IS, FELT TO BE PRACTICALLY AND PSYCHOLOGICALLY TRIFLING BY THOSE WHO DO IT.

Abstract

AN ETHNOGRAPHIC STUDY OF BAKERS' DELIVERYMEN (THE AUTHOR WORKED IN A BAKERY FOR SEVERAL MONTHS AND EXTENSIVELY INTERVIEWED THE OTHER DELIVERYMEN) IS PRESENTED, AND THE THESIS OF 'PART-TIME' CRIME IS UNRAVELED AND DOCUMENTED. THE 'ROUNDSMEN' ARE INITIALLY TAUGHT TO FIDDLE BY THE BAKERY MANAGEMENT. THE CUSTOMER'S EXPECTATION THAT THE ROUNDSMEN SHOULD BE SERVILE PERPETUATES FIDDLING. THE ROUNDSMEN PROTECT THEMSELVES BY PRACTICING MANY FIDDLES WHICH COULD NOT ALL BE EXPOSED AT ONCE, AND BY RATIONALIZING THAT THE CUSTOMER CAN AFFORD IT, OR THAT EVERYBODY DOES IT. THE BOOK REVEALS HOW EASILY ONE CAN BECOME CONVINCED THAT FIDDLING ISN'T REALLY CRIMINAL AND IS READILY ACCEPTABLE.