ABSTRACT
Catholic West Belfast comprises a large, sprawling area which stretches from the Divis flats near Belfast city centre to the newer open-planned estates of outer West Belfast–Lenadoon, Twinbrook and Poleglass. Few communities have endured so much poverty and been deprived for so long of the resources necessary for a decent standard of living. The joyriding phenomenon in West Belfast has been traced back to the hijacking of cars, orchestrated by the paramilitaries during the early to mid-1970s. Whilst this may have been one initial impetus, joyriding has for many years been a popular activity, not only in West Belfast but in many deprived inner-city areas in Britain and Ireland. In 1987 42 per cent of all cars stolen in Northern Ireland were recovered in West Belfast. Joyriders in West Belfast face a dual justice system. Those apprehended by the security forces are processed through the criminal justice system.
