Crime & Law - Responses to Crime

Question 1

Describe, in detail, two ways in which the Government has tried to tackle crime.

Answer 1

• Lowering drink driving limit, this has lead to fewer drunk offenders and road accidents. For example; lowered to 50mg per 100ml of blood.
• No knives, better lives, this campaign aims to tackle the problem of knife crime in Scotland. For example; educating school pupils on the dangers of knife crime.

Question 2

Explain, in detail, two reasons why government strategies have been effective.

Answer 2

• Drop in knife crime, in recent years Scotland has experienced a decrease in knife crime. For example; England have been looking into Scotland’s methods.
• Fewer drunk offenders, lowering the drink driving limit has resulted in fewer drunk offenders. For example; in 2019 the number of offenders under the influence had decreased.

Question 3

Explain, in detail, two reasons why government strategies have been ineffective.

Answer 3

• Alcohol crime still high, there is still a significant amount of crimes being committed under the influence. For example; 2/3 of serious assault.
• Increase in certain crimes, the number of non-sexual violent crimes has increased in recent years. For example; it rose to be 16% higher.

Question 4

Describe, in detail, two ways in which the police in Scotland have tried to tackle crime.

Answer 4

• Early intervention strategies, educating young people in schools about crime. For example; young people are more likely to report a crime if they are comfortable with the police.
• Targeted approach, they will carry out a direct plan to tackle a specific crime. For example; targeting drink driving during holidays.

Question 5

Describe, in detail, two powers of the police.

Answer 5

• Arrest, police can arrest people on suspicion of crime if they have evidence or witnesses. For example; fighting in public.
• Use reasonable force, they can use force to protect themselves. For example; they will regularly carry a baton.

Question 6

Describe, in detail, two roles of the police in Scotland.

Answer 6

• Prevent crime, launch campaigns to educate and inform the public. For example; no knives, better lives campaign.
• Protect the public, being present in situations where crime could happen. For example; attending and being present at large football events.

Question 7

Explain, in detail, two reasons why the police are effective.

Answer 7

• Early intervention, by educating young people on the dangers of crime. For example; young people are more likely to report a crime if they are comfortable with the police.
• Targeted approach, by carrying out a direct plan to target a specific crime. For example; targeting drink driving during holidays.

Question 8

Explain, in detail, two reasons why the police are not effective.

Answer 8

• Unsolved crimes, many low level crimes go unsolved each year. For example; more than half of crimes in Scotland go unsolved each year.
• Increase in certain crimes, in recent years there has been an increase in murder and assault. For example; non-sexual crimes of violence rose by 16%.

Question 9

Describe, in detail, two aims of prisons.

Answer 9

• Punishment, they will take away or restrict certain freedoms. For example; limited amount of time with friends and family.
• Protection, by locking up offenders they are keeping the public safe. For example; they have guards to monitor the prisoners.

Question 10

Explain, in detail, two reasons why prisons are effective.

Answer 10

• Punishment, they will take away or restrict certain freedoms. For example; limited amount of time with friends and family.
• Protection, by locking up offenders they are keeping the public safe. For example; they have guards to monitor the prisoners.

Question 11

Explain, in detail, why prisons are not effective.

Answer 11

• Overcrowding, most prisons in Scotland are already at full capacity. For example; there are 8,000 prisoners in Scotland.
• Cost, non-custodial sentences are much cheaper than prison sentences. For example; it costs £35,000 a year for one prisoner.

Question 12

Describe, in detail, two alternatives to prisons.

Answer 12

• Community payback orders, offenders will do a certain number of hours of unpaid work. For example; litter picking in the community.
• Restriction of liberty, offenders movements will be monitored throughout the day. For example; their movements are restricted for up to 12 hours a day.

Question 13

Explain, in detail, two reasons why alternatives to prisons are effective.

Answer 13

• Cheaper, non-custodial sentences are much less expensive than prisons. For example; it costs £35,000 a year for one prisoner.
• Overcrowding, non-custodial sentences mean that there is less demand for prison sentences. For example; most prisons are already at full capacity.

Question 14

Explain, in detail, two reasons why alternatives to prisons are not effective.

Answer 14

• Reoffending, offenders still commit crimes and breach their orders. For example; they are not always being monitored.
• Offenders may ignore, they may think non-custodial sentences are “soft” punishment and ignore them all together. For example; people are often imprisoned for ignoring non-custodial sentences.