Routledge Revivals The Delinquent Solution First published in 1966, The Delinquent Solution presents a study of crime associated with the nature of subcultures. The book discusses issues such as the concept and theory of subcultures, the life of delin- quent gangs, and the English experience of delinquent subcultures. It also takes an in-depth look at the Stepney and Poplar survey on crime from 1960, analysing both statistical data and more informal observa- tions. Although the book was written over forty years ago, the issues discussed remain relevant and strong areas of interest. This Page intentionally left blank The Delinquent Solution A Study in Subcultural Theory David M. Downes Firstpublishedin1966 byRoutledge&KeganPaul Thiseditionfirstpublishedin2013byRoutledge 2ParkSquare,MiltonPark,Abingdon,Oxon,OX144RN SimultaneouslypublishedintheUSAandCanada byRoutledge 711ThirdAvenue,NewYork,NY10017 RoutledgeisanimprintoftheTaylor&FrancisGroup,aninformabusiness ©1966DavidM.Downes All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reprinted or reproduced or utilised in any form or by any electronic, mechanical, or other means, now knownor hereafterinvented,includingphotocopyingandrecording,orin any informationstorageorretrievalsystem,withoutpermissioninwritingfromthe publishers. Publisher’sNote Thepublisherhasgonetogreatlengthstoensurethequalityofthisreprintbut pointsoutthatsomeimperfectionsintheoriginalcopiesmaybeapparent. Disclaimer The publisher has made every effort to trace copyright holders and welcomes correspondencefromthosetheyhavebeenunabletocontact. ALibraryofCongressrecordexistsunderISBN:66072480 ISBN13:978-0-415-84202-0(hbk) ISBN13:978-0-203-76333-9(ebk) THE DELINQUENT SOLUTION A Study in Subcultural Theory by DAVID M. DOWNES LONDON ROUTLEDGE & KEGAN PAUL First published 1966 by Routledge & Kegan Paul Ltd Broadway House, 68-74 Carter Lane London, E.C.4 Printed in Great Britain bj Blackie and Son Ltd Bishopbriggs, Glasgow © David M. Downes 1966 No part of this book may be reproduced in any form without permission from the publisher, except for the quotation of brief passages in criticism for Lester CONTENTS preface page ix ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS xi 1. THE CONCEPT OF THE DELINQUENT SUBCULTURE I 2. DELINQUENT GANGS 12 3. AMERICAN THEORISATION OND ELINQUENT SUBCULTURES 22 I. The Focus of Attention 25 II. Structural Location 30 III. The Problems of Adjustment 34 IV. The Subcultural Solution: 42 (a) The Elimination of Guilt 43 (b) Delinquent and Alternative Responses 46 (c) Subcultural Differentiation 49 V. The Stability of Delinquent Subcultures 54 VI. Conclusions 5 6 4. EXTENSIONS AND CRITIQUES OF SUBCULTURAL THEORISATION 62 (a) * Limiting’ critiques 63 (b) cExtensive’ critiques 68 (c) eApplied’ validation 84 (d) ‘Basic’ validation 95 (e) Conclusion 99 5. DELINQUENT SUBCULTURES—THE ENGLISH EXPERIENCE IOO I. The Working-Class ‘Subculture’ 101 II. The Non-existent Gang 116 III. Delinquent Subcultures 123 IV. ‘Teenage’ Culture 129 V. Conclusions 134 v Contents 6. DELINQUENT SUBCULTURES IN STEPNEY AND POPLAR! STATISTICAL SURVEY page 137 I. Predictions on Delinquency Distribution In­ ferred from Theory 138 II. Patterns of Crime Commission in Stepney and Poplar 140 III. Patterns of Delinquent Residence in Stepney and Poplar 150 IV. Conclusions 189 7. DELINQUENT SUBCULTURES IN STEPNEY AND POPLAR: INFORMAL OBSERVATION 195 (a) ‘Gang or Group? 198 (b) Non-utilitarian 202 (c) Malice 204 (d) Negativism 205 (e) Versatility 206 (/) Short-run Hedonism 206 (g) Group Autonomy 207 Summary 207 (h) Criminal 208 (;) Conflict 212 (J) Retreatist 215 (k) IntegratedjUnintegrated Areas 223 (/) Age-level Integration 227 (m) Subcultural Integration 229 Summary 229 {n) Status Frustration 230 (0) Alienation 236 (p) Anomie 241 (q) ‘Subterranean’ Values and Leisure Goals 243 (r) * Sexual Deprivation’ 251 (s) Conclusion 253 8. SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS 255 I. Summary 255 II. Conclusions 259 {a) Work and Education 262 (1b) Leisure 267 BIBLIOGRAPHY ZJO INDEX 279 vi TABLES 1. Distribution of Offences by Borough: i960 page 141 2. Offenders residing in Stepney and Poplar by Number and Proportion within each borough committing Types of Offence: i960 154 3. Distribution of Stepney and Poplar offenders by Age and Sex: i960 156 4. Distribution of Group (c) offenders by Areas of resi­ dence, Age and Sex 15 7 5. Distribution of Offences by Age-Group and Residence: 8-12 160 6. Distribution of Offences by Age-Group and Residence: 13-16 161 7. Distribution of Offences by Age-Group and Residence: 17-21 162 8. Distribution of Offences by Age-Group and Residence: 22-25 *63 9. Delinquent Residence: ‘Natural’ Areas: 8-12 166 10. Delinquent Residence: ‘Natural’Areas: 13-16 168 11. Delinquent Residence:‘Natural’Areas: 17-21 169 12. Delinquent Residence: ‘Natural’Areas: 22-25 I7° 13. Delinquent Residence: ‘Natural’ Areas: 8-25 171 14. Location of Offences: (a) Stepney Residents, (b) Poplar Residents 175 15. ‘Multiple’ Offenders: Both Boroughs 176 16. Accomplice Rate by Borough and Age-Group 178 vii