The complex services case: a doctoral view

The case of reducing fear of crime within the London Borough of Sutton is viewed through the respective lenses of four doctoral students. Each adopts a view reflecting not only their diverse academic interests but also their multi-national origins, which span both North and South America and Europe, including the former Eastern Block. Each of the four offers a slightly differing interpretation of the case, but all share a service science/logic theme, from transactional, through knowledge to social theory and networking. The four, a long with their supervisor, outline the means of moving towards a solution that supports a more measured response by the adoption of emergent rather than planned approaches which engage the community and its supporting services by empowering rather than dictating solution methodologies and outcomes.