Drug markets, crime and community safety in Ireland : an analysis of drug law enforcement in three local drug markets

Abstract

This thesis seeks to investigate an area that has been largely neglected in academic criminological study, namely the impact of drug markets and drug law enforcement strategies on local communities. In order to develop an understanding about community impact, empirical research was carried out within three particular local communities in Ireland; two sites in urban areas and one in a suburban area. These sites varied considerably in terms of population and geographic location. The basic selection criteria were that the areas should be sufficiently varied to provide a cross section of illicit drug markets in Ireland. The electoral divisions (ED) within the study sites chosen were those where deprivation levels were high (based on proportion of over-15s unemployed, proportion of population in social class 5 [Semi-skilled] or 6 [Unskilled], proportion of households with no car and proportion of rented or local authority housing).