Agency Community Research: Working Towards Safer Communities
How do we create safer, stronger and more connected neighbourhoods?
In our ongoing Agency Community Research, we work alongside local people to uncover the biggest challenges and opportunities in their areas. Through focus groups and marketplace research, one key theme stood out: safety. Many communities, particularly in Southampton and Manchester, are grappling with anti-social behaviour, crime, and the social conditions that allow these issues to persist. But beyond the statistics, there’s something deeper - a strong desire for change and a belief that things can improve.
This news item explores what residents of these areas are experiencing, the root causes of these issues and what each community believes can be done to make a difference.
Young people are often blamed for these issues, but in reality, they are the ones most affected. Many are growing up in environments where crime feels normal, opportunities feel scarce, and support systems are limited. But here’s the key takeaway: change is possible. By understanding the causes and working together, communities can create safer, stronger spaces for everyone.
The Reality in Our Communities
Before diving into the possible solutions, it’s important to understand what people in our focus areas are experiencing day to day. In Southampton and Manchester, local residents have shared how safety concerns, limited opportunities, and a lack of trust in authorities are shaping their communities.
Rebuilding Community Confidence in Southampton
There have been cases of anti-social behaviour in SO14, Southampton, ranging from arguments to gang-related activities. It is said that incidents tend to happen near stations, shopping centres and residential areas, making people feel unsafe to go out, especially at night. Over time, this affects the area’s reputation and weakens the sense of community in SO14.
"People are scared to go to the shop because they see suspicious people hanging outside."
- Focus Group participant from Southampton
Weakening Trust in Local Authorities
Residents think their concerns aren’t being taken seriously. Issues like vandalism take weeks or sometimes months to be fixed. This slow response makes people believe that no one cares. When incidents happen, people are said to not bother reporting crimes because they don’t think local authorities would handle the issues timely and effectively.
Not Enough Opportunities for Young People
A lack of youth clubs, meaningful activities or job opportunities can make young people feel bored and frustrated. With limited funding, many youth clubs and services have closed, leaving fewer safe spaces for young people. In a tough job market, repeated rejection can make young people feel undervalued, pushing some towards gangs as a way to find a sense of belonging.
“Boredom traps young people so they have to find something to do, and they often seek the wrong thing.”
-Focus Group participant from Southampton
Restoring Safety and Trust in Manchester
In Manchester’s Moston and Harpurhey area, there was a perception that anti-social behaviour, violence and knife crime have become so common that people barely react to it. Some residents feel safe only because it hasn’t affected them personally. We know that as a result of how this community is perceived, the community is over policed, particularly impacting of young people. The use of gang narratives have been used to stereotype and criminalise young people.
"The mindset we’re talking about is a community that understands crime happens frequently or that there are threats around."
- Focus Group participant from Manchester
How Poverty & Housing Struggles Push People Towards Crime
Most crimes were said to be driven by deeper issues like poverty and unstable housing. When people struggle to meet basic needs, it’s easy to feel frustrated. In the Manchester Focus group a participant shared, “When people don’t have enough money and their home life is tough, they turn to crime. They feel like they have no other option.”
The Role of Home Life in Keeping Young People on Track
It was suggested some young people get involved in crime because they don’t have adequate guidance or support at home. Parents juggling multiple jobs may not have time to monitor their children’s activities. Under such conditions, young people might move towards risky situations.
“A boy in my group stopped coming to the workshops. His mum didn’t push him to stay involved. Now, he sleeps all day, has lost his positivity, and spends his nights on the streets.”
- Youth Worker from Manchester
Solutions for a Safer Community
Despite the challenges, locals in these areas of Southampton and Manchester believe that real change is possible. Through better support, increased opportunities and safe spaces, stronger neighbourhoods can be built for young people to thrive.
Here are some of the potential areas that communities highlighted as ways to reduce anti-social behaviour, violence and crime:
1. More Activities & Events for Young People
If healthy pathways are offered early on, young people are less likely to take a negative route. Young people need more meaningful activities like sports, music and art events, as alternatives to gangs and crime. These activities give young people a sense of purpose, belonging, and a chance to build real skills. By putting focus on developing more community events, we can keep young people engaged and create a safer community.
2. Role Models & Neighbourhood Watch
Introducing role models who have transformed their lives can inspire young people and divert them from bad influences. Meeting someone who has turned their life around - whether they’ve left gangs, overcome hardship or built a successful career, can inspire them to make different choices.
Neighbourhood Watch programmes can also keep communities safe. When trusted locals keep an eye on crime hotspots and help stop issues from happening, it sends a clear message that anti-social behaviour and crime won’t be tolerated.
3. Offering Support to Parents
Education is important for both young people and their families. Parents need better access to education and resources to help them understand the risks of gang involvement, crime, and anti-social behaviour. This support is especially important for parents who don’t speak English as their first language, as they may struggle to find the right help. By giving parents the right knowledge, they can better support their children and guide them towards a positive path.
Community Wishes
By working together and offering the right support, the future is full of possibilities. We asked community members to write down some wishes for their neighbourhood, here’s what they said:
Thank you for taking the time to read about our Community Research findings.
This was the second article where we explored key themes, local insights and the voices that shaped our findings. You can read the first article here.
We also have a Community Research landing page where each of the full location reports are available for download.