Poor housing conditions is a massive issue in Starley Cross. There are two main areas where housing conditions are at their worse Frykam Terrace/Kray Street and Manor Estate. Frykman Terrace and Kray Street were built in the 1960’s and have had little to no maintenance since leaving them in bad condition. Manor Estate is a high-rise block of flats that has a very bad reputation due to its cheap, ugly design and horrific living conditions. Most of the residents are unemployed or have low income.
There are many theories that can be used to explain why individuals living in these properties may turn to crime:
- Routine activities theory- The lack of quality housing conditions and security in houses make them a suitable target. The lack of community may also contribute. (Cohen and Felson, 2016).
- Rational choice theory- To avoid the pain of their poor housing conditions they may target higher value properties. Starley Cross had 164 house burglaries in the year.
- Strain theory- They may see rich houses around them such as the ones on Brookes Close and want to be like them. (Merton, 1938).
- Labelling theory- If people are told they live in a poor area such as Manor Estate they are likely to take on that label and not look after their property. (Becker, 1963).
(Almy, 2019)
Starley Cross Community Safety Team 