The media portrayal of ‘hoodies’ and whether they have been unfairly associated with anti-social behaviour will be discussed at a public lecture on 6 March.

Dr Jack Fawbert, Senior Lecturer in Sociology and Criminology at the University of Bedfordshire, will examine newspaper reports about hoodies over the past four years and track the increased interest in this group.

He said: “A search of the Daily Mirror’s website revealed that in 2004 there was only one article which used the word hoodie to describe a young thug. A year later, Bluewater Shopping Centre caused outrage by banning its shoppers from sporting hoodies and baseball caps. This was followed by Tony Blair vowing to clamp down on anti-social behaviour perpetrated by hoodies. The media seemed to seize on this and ‘hoodies’ became a commonly used term to describe young people involved in crime.

“Articles would often use the term in the headline, but there would be no reference in the story about whether the young criminal was actually wearing one, it was just presumed. Hoodies suddenly became a symbol of mischief, and sales of the clothing began to soar as young people realised by wearing them they upset people in authority.”

Dr Fawbert will compare coverage of hoodies to Stanley Cohen’s seminal study Folk Devils and Moral Panics, which examined media reports of mods and rockers in the 1960s. Cohen found these young people were demonised as violent thugs terrorising costal towns.

He added: “Since Cohen’s study the media have found folk devils in football hooligans and ravers, and hoodies are just another example. I am not denying there is a problem with some young people causing trouble, but the media’s response seems to be disproportionate to the danger.

“A moral panic can only be examined once the hysteria has died down. During my research I found there has been a shift in society’s attitude with people being more sympathetic to hoodies. This included David Cameron’s ‘hug a hoodie’ campaign and stories of respectable people being villainised for wearing them.

“In a moral panic the problem always gets over taken and it seems hoodies have been overtaken by greater evils making the headlines, such as gangs and gun crime.”

‘Hoodies: Moral Panic or Justifiable Concern’ has been organised under the ‘Bedford Talks’ series of public lectures, which includes leading authorities speaking about their areas of expertise at the University’s theatre in Polhill Avenue.

Doors open at 7pm and entry is £2 and free with concessions. To find out more about Dr Fawbert visit www.beds.ac.uk/departments/appliedsocialstudies/staff/jack-fawbert