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'Sinbin' solutions

The 'pioneer' projects for 'problem families' and the forgetfulness of social policy research

National University of Ireland, Galway

The `problem family' has been re-excavated by New Labour and located at the centre of the drive against `anti-social behaviour'. Associated with this is a plan, announced at the launch of the Respect Action Plan, to put in place a network of `intensive family support' schemes: the so-called `sinbins'. It is maintained that this is a retrogressive development and needs to be viewed in the context of debates that took place on the `problem family', in Britain and elsewhere in Europe, in the past. Examining research reports that `evaluate' the existing `sinbins' it is argued that these are lacking in reflexive hesitancy and insufficiently critical. It is also suggested that social policy researchers, frequently funded by government grants when investigating `social problems', need to retain a certain wariness and scepticism before providing research `products' which seem to largely endorse the policy and practice `solutions' that the State, committed to the maintenance of social order, has formulated.

Key Words: `anti-social families' • ill health • poverty • Respect Task Force • `social problems'

Critical Social Policy, Vol. 27, No. 2, 203-230 (2007)
DOI: 10.1177/026108306075711


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