The book considers recent trends in the local governance of crime. It examines the growing appeal to `community' and `partnerships' in criminal justice policy and the involvement of actual communities and partnerships in criminal justice practices. The book makes sense of ongoing transformations in the relations between the state, market, and civil society in the governance of crime and personal safety. It draws upon the findings of two empirical research projects, conducted by the author, in the fields of community-based crime prevention and local victim-offender and community mediation. The overall aim of the book is to answer, both theoretically and empirically, a number of interrelated questions, namely: How do we make sense of appeals to `community' and `partnerships' in criminal justice policy? What are the implications of actual involvement of `communities' and the establishment of inter-organizational `partnerships' in crime control initiatives? Is crime control an appropriate vehicle around which to (re)organize communities? Finally, if so, what sort of communities are we generating through such a focus?

an extremely comprehensive study of the changing nature of government interest in both partnership and community and how individual agencies have responded to the call * Barry Loveday Local Government Studies *
This is a fine book which contributes significantly both to our understanding of contemporary strategies of crime control, and to our attempts to make them otherwise.
This is a work of substance that makes a valuable contribution to our understanding of the present. It presents a finely grained account of an important phenomenon; a probing, nuanced critique that is supported by empirical evidence; and a sophisticated theoretical discussion that locates crime-prevention in the bigger picture of social and political change. * David Garland, British Journal of Criminology *
I can only commend this wide-ranging and thoughtful book to everyone interested in criminal justice. The book combines empirical investigation and theory, and is written in a sensitive and reflective style at a level which holds the attention and stimulates critical response in the best sense. * Mike McConville in the New Law Journal *
This book offers a forceful and extended reminder that crime prevention is not merely a mater of finding effective measures to reduce offending, but is also entangled with - and capable of telling us much about - wider issues of ethics and politics... a rich, nuanced and altogether convincing study. * Ian Loader in Social & Legal Studies *
a very elegantly written book with a solid foundation of historical research * Victor McLaren in Vista *
an important and well-written book. * Daniel Gilling in Crime Prevention and Community Safety: An International Journal *

Adam Crawford is professor of criminology and criminal justice studies at the University of Leeds. He is also Deputy Director of the Centre for Criminal Justice Studies at Leeds.