MORAL PANIC CHANGING PUBLIC CONCERNS AND Key
Research shows that media exaggerate levels of ATTITUDES words/Terminology
serious crime and the risk of becoming a victim, which Over time, the public have been concerned about Moral Panic – an instance of
is known as moral panic. This has been found true for different types of crime.
studies of newspapers, television and radio content.
public anxiety or alarm in
The impact of changing concerns and attitudes reflects
response to a problem
Examples of moral panic range from the risk of on the policing and government priorities. For instance, regarded as threatening the
a
contracting HIV in the 1980s to the modern moral in response to terrorist acts the government may raise moral standards of society.
vi
panic surrounding the reporting of terrorism and the the threat level, for example, from sever to critical
subsequent result of Islamophobia. following concerns after the Manchester bombing in Islamophobia – dislike of or
2017. prejudice against Islam or
ed
The impact of moral panic is to make the public think Islamophobia also has an impact on the public’s Muslims, especially as a
the issue is worse than it is in reality. attitude towards terrorism. political force.
ar
Alternatively, public concerns and attitudes can lead to
Amnesty – an official pardon
knife amnesties – wherein, someone can turn over a
for people who have been
sh
knife in their possession without repercussions.
convicted of political offences.
PERCEPTIONS OF CRIME TRENDS STEREOTYPING OF CRIMINALS
Generally, the public’s perception is that crime is on As a result of media reports, the public form
as
the increase. When the media report a high volume of stereotypes of criminals. Often they are seen as poor Civil Liberties - the state of
crime stories, it impacts the public, giving them a false and uneducated members of society. In the UK young being subject only to laws
established for the good of the
w
belief about the amount of crime that is happening. people are seen by many, especially by the older
This is because there is research which suggests that members of society, as ‘hoodies’ and ‘thugs’. community, especially with
crime is decreasing. (According to the CSEW) regard to freedom of action
m e
This stereotyping of criminals results in the public and speech.
The impacts of the public perception of a rising crime being mistrusting of people who fit the stereotypical
the subsequent repercussions. co rc
rate are anxiety and stress about being a victim and image. The public may also become angry and fear
crime, thus supporting harsher sentences.
Stereotype – a widely held but
o. ou
fixed and oversimplified image
or idea of a particular type of
LEVELS OF RESPONSE TO CRIME AND TYPES CHANGING PRIORITIES AND EMPHASIS
person or thing.
er res
OF PUNISHMENT Certain major criminal events are world changing,
The media has an impact on the levels of response and producing new priorities and policies. For example, the
punishment to certain crimes. 9/11 attacks on the Twin Towers, New York in 2001, Disproportionate – too large or
have had a lasting impact, with new policies that affect too small in comparison with
everyone. something else.
se dy
The impact of this response to crime is to produce
disproportionate sentences that fail to reflect the
seriousness of the crime that has been committed. These can range from Acts of Legislation, to Repercussions – an unintended
tu
heightened security at airports, to counter terrorism consequence of an event or
The response is to show that crime of this nature will measures. action, especially an
ss
not be tolerated and to set a deterrent punishment to unwelcome one.
H
hi
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