No Cover Image

Journal article 99 views 3 downloads

Flip the Streets: community-enacted public criminology and the reclamation of public space

Lella Nouri Orcid Logo

Safer Communities, Pages: 1 - 19

Swansea University Author: Lella Nouri Orcid Logo

  • 71674.AAM.pdf

    PDF | Accepted Manuscript

    Author accepted manuscript document released under the terms of a Creative Commons CC-BY licence using the Swansea University Research Publications Policy (rights retention).

    Download (579.77KB)

Check full text

DOI (Published version): 10.1108/sc-11-2025-0074

Abstract

Purpose: This paper aims to introduce community-enacted public criminology as an extension to existing models of public criminology. It does so through the Flip the Streets (FLP) initiative, a participatory, arts-based response to hate graffiti that embeds criminological learning and action within c...

Full description

Published in: Safer Communities
ISSN: 1757-8043 2042-8774
Published: Emerald Publishing Limited 2026
Online Access: Check full text

URI: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa71674
first_indexed 2026-03-25T16:01:33Z
last_indexed 2026-05-06T06:03:13Z
id cronfa71674
recordtype SURis
fullrecord <?xml version="1.0"?><rfc1807><datestamp>2026-05-05T15:55:59.2256661</datestamp><bib-version>v2</bib-version><id>71674</id><entry>2026-03-25</entry><title>Flip the Streets: community-enacted public criminology and the reclamation of public space</title><swanseaauthors><author><sid>1ae4927ec437ac78d6aa11dc4b76e08f</sid><ORCID>0000-0003-2228-588X</ORCID><firstname>Lella</firstname><surname>Nouri</surname><name>Lella Nouri</name><active>true</active><ethesisStudent>false</ethesisStudent></author></swanseaauthors><date>2026-03-25</date><deptcode>SOSS</deptcode><abstract>Purpose: This paper aims to introduce community-enacted public criminology as an extension to existing models of public criminology. It does so through the Flip the Streets (FLP) initiative, a participatory, arts-based response to hate graffiti that embeds criminological learning and action within communities. The paper argues that co-produced, place-based interventions constitute a necessary fourth strand of public criminology, capable of addressing the everyday harms of exclusion, fear and &#x201C;ambient hate&#x201D;. Design/methodology/approach: Six participatory action research interventions were delivered across Swansea (2022&#x2013;2024) with 140 participants (105 children and young people; 35 university students), using facilitated dialogue, criminological framing, co-produced mural design and public installation. Qualitative data (fieldnotes, observations, informal interviews and community feedback) were analysed thematically following Braun and Clarke&#x2019;s (2012) approach. Findings: Visible, creative interventions reduced fear and insecurity, strengthened belonging and generated intergenerational and institutional trust. Young people, often stigmatised in public-safety narratives, became active agents of prevention and cohesion. The analysis demonstrates how criminological concepts (e.g. harm, stigma, desistance) can be operationalised in everyday spaces to support community-led safety. Originality/value: This paper advances a new fourth strand of public criminology, community-enacted public criminology, in which criminological knowledge is co-produced with communities through participatory, arts-based practice. The FLP model offers a scalable, evidence-informed framework aligned with the Anti-Racist Wales Action Plan and Safer Streets priorities, providing practical guidance for local authorities and community-safety partnerships.</abstract><type>Journal Article</type><journal>Safer Communities</journal><volume>0</volume><journalNumber/><paginationStart>1</paginationStart><paginationEnd>19</paginationEnd><publisher>Emerald Publishing Limited</publisher><placeOfPublication/><isbnPrint/><isbnElectronic/><issnPrint>1757-8043</issnPrint><issnElectronic>2042-8774</issnElectronic><keywords>Public criminology, Community safety, Hate crime, Participatory action research, Community cohesion, Creative methods</keywords><publishedDay>13</publishedDay><publishedMonth>4</publishedMonth><publishedYear>2026</publishedYear><publishedDate>2026-04-13</publishedDate><doi>10.1108/sc-11-2025-0074</doi><url/><notes/><college>COLLEGE NANME</college><department>Social Sciences School</department><CollegeCode>COLLEGE CODE</CollegeCode><DepartmentCode>SOSS</DepartmentCode><institution>Swansea University</institution><apcterm>Not Required</apcterm><funders/><projectreference/><lastEdited>2026-05-05T15:55:59.2256661</lastEdited><Created>2026-03-25T11:15:45.4750830</Created><path><level id="1">Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences</level><level id="2">School of Social Sciences - Criminology, Sociology and Social Policy</level></path><authors><author><firstname>Lella</firstname><surname>Nouri</surname><orcid>0000-0003-2228-588X</orcid><order>1</order></author></authors><documents><document><filename>71674__36660__2303150b7fd044ba84570554637e3a59.pdf</filename><originalFilename>71674.AAM.pdf</originalFilename><uploaded>2026-05-05T14:50:49.4741701</uploaded><type>Output</type><contentLength>593682</contentLength><contentType>application/pdf</contentType><version>Accepted Manuscript</version><cronfaStatus>true</cronfaStatus><documentNotes>Author accepted manuscript document released under the terms of a Creative Commons CC-BY licence using the Swansea University Research Publications Policy (rights retention).</documentNotes><copyrightCorrect>true</copyrightCorrect><language>eng</language><licence>https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/</licence></document></documents><OutputDurs/></rfc1807>
spelling 2026-05-05T15:55:59.2256661 v2 71674 2026-03-25 Flip the Streets: community-enacted public criminology and the reclamation of public space 1ae4927ec437ac78d6aa11dc4b76e08f 0000-0003-2228-588X Lella Nouri Lella Nouri true false 2026-03-25 SOSS Purpose: This paper aims to introduce community-enacted public criminology as an extension to existing models of public criminology. It does so through the Flip the Streets (FLP) initiative, a participatory, arts-based response to hate graffiti that embeds criminological learning and action within communities. The paper argues that co-produced, place-based interventions constitute a necessary fourth strand of public criminology, capable of addressing the everyday harms of exclusion, fear and “ambient hate”. Design/methodology/approach: Six participatory action research interventions were delivered across Swansea (2022–2024) with 140 participants (105 children and young people; 35 university students), using facilitated dialogue, criminological framing, co-produced mural design and public installation. Qualitative data (fieldnotes, observations, informal interviews and community feedback) were analysed thematically following Braun and Clarke’s (2012) approach. Findings: Visible, creative interventions reduced fear and insecurity, strengthened belonging and generated intergenerational and institutional trust. Young people, often stigmatised in public-safety narratives, became active agents of prevention and cohesion. The analysis demonstrates how criminological concepts (e.g. harm, stigma, desistance) can be operationalised in everyday spaces to support community-led safety. Originality/value: This paper advances a new fourth strand of public criminology, community-enacted public criminology, in which criminological knowledge is co-produced with communities through participatory, arts-based practice. The FLP model offers a scalable, evidence-informed framework aligned with the Anti-Racist Wales Action Plan and Safer Streets priorities, providing practical guidance for local authorities and community-safety partnerships. Journal Article Safer Communities 0 1 19 Emerald Publishing Limited 1757-8043 2042-8774 Public criminology, Community safety, Hate crime, Participatory action research, Community cohesion, Creative methods 13 4 2026 2026-04-13 10.1108/sc-11-2025-0074 COLLEGE NANME Social Sciences School COLLEGE CODE SOSS Swansea University Not Required 2026-05-05T15:55:59.2256661 2026-03-25T11:15:45.4750830 Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences School of Social Sciences - Criminology, Sociology and Social Policy Lella Nouri 0000-0003-2228-588X 1 71674__36660__2303150b7fd044ba84570554637e3a59.pdf 71674.AAM.pdf 2026-05-05T14:50:49.4741701 Output 593682 application/pdf Accepted Manuscript true Author accepted manuscript document released under the terms of a Creative Commons CC-BY licence using the Swansea University Research Publications Policy (rights retention). true eng https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
title Flip the Streets: community-enacted public criminology and the reclamation of public space
spellingShingle Flip the Streets: community-enacted public criminology and the reclamation of public space
Lella Nouri
title_short Flip the Streets: community-enacted public criminology and the reclamation of public space
title_full Flip the Streets: community-enacted public criminology and the reclamation of public space
title_fullStr Flip the Streets: community-enacted public criminology and the reclamation of public space
title_full_unstemmed Flip the Streets: community-enacted public criminology and the reclamation of public space
title_sort Flip the Streets: community-enacted public criminology and the reclamation of public space
author_id_str_mv 1ae4927ec437ac78d6aa11dc4b76e08f
author_id_fullname_str_mv 1ae4927ec437ac78d6aa11dc4b76e08f_***_Lella Nouri
author Lella Nouri
author2 Lella Nouri
format Journal article
container_title Safer Communities
container_volume 0
container_start_page 1
publishDate 2026
institution Swansea University
issn 1757-8043
2042-8774
doi_str_mv 10.1108/sc-11-2025-0074
publisher Emerald Publishing Limited
college_str Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences
hierarchytype
hierarchy_top_id facultyofhumanitiesandsocialsciences
hierarchy_top_title Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences
hierarchy_parent_id facultyofhumanitiesandsocialsciences
hierarchy_parent_title Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences
department_str School of Social Sciences - Criminology, Sociology and Social Policy{{{_:::_}}}Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences{{{_:::_}}}School of Social Sciences - Criminology, Sociology and Social Policy
document_store_str 1
active_str 0
description Purpose: This paper aims to introduce community-enacted public criminology as an extension to existing models of public criminology. It does so through the Flip the Streets (FLP) initiative, a participatory, arts-based response to hate graffiti that embeds criminological learning and action within communities. The paper argues that co-produced, place-based interventions constitute a necessary fourth strand of public criminology, capable of addressing the everyday harms of exclusion, fear and “ambient hate”. Design/methodology/approach: Six participatory action research interventions were delivered across Swansea (2022–2024) with 140 participants (105 children and young people; 35 university students), using facilitated dialogue, criminological framing, co-produced mural design and public installation. Qualitative data (fieldnotes, observations, informal interviews and community feedback) were analysed thematically following Braun and Clarke’s (2012) approach. Findings: Visible, creative interventions reduced fear and insecurity, strengthened belonging and generated intergenerational and institutional trust. Young people, often stigmatised in public-safety narratives, became active agents of prevention and cohesion. The analysis demonstrates how criminological concepts (e.g. harm, stigma, desistance) can be operationalised in everyday spaces to support community-led safety. Originality/value: This paper advances a new fourth strand of public criminology, community-enacted public criminology, in which criminological knowledge is co-produced with communities through participatory, arts-based practice. The FLP model offers a scalable, evidence-informed framework aligned with the Anti-Racist Wales Action Plan and Safer Streets priorities, providing practical guidance for local authorities and community-safety partnerships.
published_date 2026-04-13T07:56:38Z
_version_ 1864602378080092160
score 11.10461

Similar Items