“Mugging is a term imported from America which refers to the street crime of robbery or theft involving the threat or actual use of violence”

In order to fully understand what is meant by the above terminology; “mugging” must be looked at within the context of society as a whole. Street crime during a period of economic depression is often classes as a ‘survival strategy’. Afro-Caribbean’s being rejected by white society created a ‘colony’ of their own where they felt at home; within white society. Those who did not leave the ‘colony’ to work indulged in semi-legal practices and small time crime.
Black youths in Britain began to be less willing than their parents to accept their position within society, causing conflict within the community between the generations. This causes the youths to leave home and drift towards petty crime. Although “few young blacks consciously choose crime as a form of political revenge against white society”.

The media were central in orchestrating public opinion against the black muggers. It was used to invoke an image of out-of-control black youths creating havoc; instilling a moral panic in society. Racism of the British press in discussing the street crime of mugging acted as a screen behind which the government could hide a deepening economic and social crisis. They were used to symbolise a threat to social stability, with the view to divide the working class on ‘racial’ grounds.

All in all this was used to justify the state increasing its power and influence through policing with the birth of ‘stop & search’.