Despite the common characterization of late-modern society in terms of mobility, fluidity, and ‘liquidity’: Criminology Essay, UCC, Ireland

Despite the common characterization of late-modern society in terms of mobility, fluidity, and ‘liquidity’, this is applied in highly contrasting ways. On the one hand, it involves an appreciation and facilitation of the globalized economy and the mobility of capital and corporate executives, and the vast tourism industry.

On the other, it involves deep concern over the ‘problem’ of mobility as represented and practiced by illegal immigrants, global criminal networks, and other ‘disreputable’ individuals and groups.

Irish Travellers are in many ways held to epitomize the ‘problem’ of mobility, such is the affront they give to the territorial governance requirements of the police and other regulatory agencies. Yet despite their characterization as innately disreputable and criminogenic, their experiences within the Irish criminal justice system have received relatively little attention. The available research highlights the negative and oppressive quality of most Travellers’ involvement with the criminal justice system.

It is largely based, though, on charting cultural representations of Travellers, or focusing on high-profile or historical events. Detailed empirical accounts of the relationship between Travellers and the police and other criminal justice agencies are available, but – ironically – these relate to the experiences of Travellers in Britain rather than in Ireland. Given the scale of the difficulties cumulatively highlighted in this research, it is clear that further sustained analysis of these issues is required.