IN-PERSON Manchester Livable Cities

Abstract

This research looks beyond the usual frameworks of policy transfer and a one model fits all approach to tackling urban violence and examines the case of London’s Violence Reduction unit and the London Borough of Tower Hamlets urban violence reduction strategies. Tower Hamlets is one of the most deprived boroughs in England & Wales and 4th in London, with a rapidly growing, young population. It has a history of territorial power struggles and for many generations has been affected by the dynamic between cultural diversity, faith, poverty and social exclusion. The political structure of Tower Hamlets and its relationship with London city hall and central government shapes the key powers of influence with elected and non-elected political officials, private sector and community activists. This research shows the dynamics of the governance processes at play in the form that the city urban violence reduction strategies take . I adopt an explanatory single case study approach using qualitative methods to address the question: ‘How are urban violence reduction policies created, adopted and implemented at the city level?’ My research looks beyond the usual frameworks of policy transfer and a global one model fits all approach to tackling urban violence and highlights the importance of local context and understanding of governance structures in the planning and decision-making processes for urban violence reduction strategies.