Offender Profiling Series: Vol 3
The Social Psychology of Crime










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The Social Psychology of Crime: Groups, Teams and Networks

Lynne Johnston
Riot by Appointment: An Examination of the Nature and Structure of Seven Hard-Core Football Hooligan Groups


An understanding of the nature and structure of seven 'hard-core' hooligan groups was gained using data from criminal records, and police intelligence reports of actual sightings between individuals in each group. Smallest Space Analysis (SSA), was explored as an appropriate methodology for examining the structure of relationships in each group. Results of these SSAs provided preliminary support for the hypothesis that there is a hierarchical structure to football hooliganism. The addition of frequency contours onto each of the SSA plots, enabled the allocation of individuals in each club to one of three structural groups. Results of the analysis comparing individuals in each structural group showed that known leaders and those with a predominantly violent background, including first convictions for violent offences, were more likely to be centrally located within the SSA structure groups.

Lynne Johnston is a Research Fellow in the Department of Leisure Management at Cheltenham and Gloucester College of Higher Education. Her current research interests include sexual abuse within sport, and psychological factors in sports injury and rehabilitation. She holds a BA(Hons) in Psychology and Sport Science from Chester College, an MSc in Investigative Psychology from the University of Surrey, and a PhD in Sport Psychology from the University of Birmingham.

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