A.C 1.2 : explain why certain crimes are unreported Flashcards
What are the personal reasons why crimes are unreported?
- fear
- shame
- lack of interest
- unaffected by a crime
Why does fear lead to crimes being unreported?
the victim may feel like there will be consequences from the assailant.
For example, domestic abuse victims may be afraid in case they do something to any children or pets etc
Why does shame lead to crimes being unreported?
Victims may feel shame or embarrassment to have had a crime happen to them.
For example, sexual assault and rape victims may feel like they are not going to be believed by friends or the media. A statistic to back this up is that 70% of women feel like the media are against women who report rape.
Why does lack of interest lead to crimes being unreported?
Someone who witnessed a crime may have a lack of interest.
For example, someone may witness someone smoking cannabis but may not report it as they are not interested in what the person is doing.
Why does unaffectedness lead to a crime not being reported?
Someone who witnessed a crime may not feel like they are affected by a crime, so they don’t report it.
For example , someone’s house being broken into, but the witness is not affected by it, so they don’t report it.
What are the cultural reasons why crime goes unreported?
- lack of knowledge or understanding
- lack of media coverage
- cultural bound crime
Why does lack of knowledge lead to a crime not being reported?
This is as people may not know that what they are doing or seeing is illegal, so they won’t report it. Furthermore, they may not know how to report a crime. For example, if someone is being bullied online, they might not know what they need to do to report it.
Why does lack of media coverage lead to a crime not being reported?
Most of our knowledge of crime is learned through media which increases people’s awareness and people may report it however ,the media doesn’t cover all types of crime.
For example , FMG doesn’t get a lot of media coverage however it is happening, and many campaigns are actively trying to stop it.
Why does a crime being culturally bound lead to a crime not being reported?
Crime in which some cultural practices may break laws.
For example, in some cultures female genital mutilation and forced marriage is okay however in the eyes of the UK law it is a crime. This may mean they are not reported as people believe that it is okay, and they may be afraid of reprisals from the community.
