Impacts of crime Flashcards
explain, in detail, why some people are more affected by crime by others
victims - Victims often fear that they will fall victim to further crime, leading to psychological distress and the need to take expensive security actions. For example, A PTSD charity estimates that 30% of all victims of robberies and assault suffer post traumatic stress.
businesses - Crime can have a negative impact on business, through reducing footfall, potentially leading to staff layoffs. For example, The cost of business crime in Scotland was over £5 billion in recent years.
perpetrators - For perpetrators, the economic and emotional impact of crime can be very high, particularly if they receive a prison sentence. For example, With a prison sentence, perpetrators will likely lose their job, and may be estranged from their family, friends, and community, limiting their options upon release.
explain, in detail, why some people are more affected by crime than others (groups)
WOMEN are more affected by sexual assault - Women are far more likely to be the victim of sexual assaults, including indecent exposure and unwanted touching, as they can be more vulnerable when out alone. For example, In 2019-20, 618,000 women were victims of sexual assault, compared to 155,000 men.
MEN are more affected by knife crime - Men are far more likely to be the victim of knife crime, as they are more involved with gangs whose members carry knives for protection and to assault rivals. For example, A recent UK Parliament report showed that 78% of knife crime victims in London were male.
OLDER PEOPLE are more affected by distraction burglaries - Older people can be more vulnerable and frail, and may trust people who come to their door more easily, leaving them at greater risk of distraction burglaries. For example, In 2019, the average age of distraction burglary victims in Yorkshire was 77.
explain, in detail, the impact of crime on victims
Practical hassles - Following crimes like a mugging or a burglary, replacing damaged or stolen items is stressful because it takes time and money. For example, Figures from Calder Securities show that the average burglary costs £3,030.
Severe psychological impact - Being a victim of crime can be extremely traumatic, leading to mental health issues such as anxiety or PTSD. For example, One research report suggested as many as 30% of crime victims suffer from PTSD.
Increase in insurance premiums - Insurance companies consider victims of crime to be a higher security risk, leading to increases in their premiums. For example, Figures from Go Compare show that car insurance can rise by as much as £600 for people who have had their cars stolen.
explain, in detail, the impact of crime on perpetrators
Negative impact on employment - A lifelong criminal record can lead to stigma, with employers being unwilling to trust and recruit an ex-offender. For example, Most people sent to prison lose their job; 90% of people leaving prison are unemployed, and may turn to crime to raise funds.
Negative media coverage - Some crimes attract the attention of the media; being exposed in newspapers/online, or even on TV, can lead to stigma and embarrassment. For example, Rameez Hamid stole £50,000 from his employer, the Santander bank, with the story being covered by the BBC and other news outlets.
Having a court case hanging over them - Court cases can take months to happen, and due to the Covid-19 pandemic, many offenders had to wait even longer for their case to be heard, causing psychological distress as they awaited their fate. For example, There was a 45% increase in court delays during the Covid-19 pandemic.
explain, in detail, the impact of crime on perpetrators
Decrease in community pride - Excessive crime can lead to an area becoming run down, due to low-level crimes such as vandalism or fly-tipping, causing people to dislike living in the area. For example, Over one quarter of all property-related crime in Scotland involves damaging buildings through vandalism.
Economic impact - Crime such as theft leads to increasing costs for local businesses, which may be forced to increase prices, layoff staff, or close down. For example, In 2022, shoplifting cost Scottish shops about £90 million.
Decreasing house prices - Crime in a community can lead to people moving away, lowering house prices and causing people to lose money. For example, In a recent poll, 47% of people in the UK said they would not buy a house in a high crime rate area.
explain, in detail, the impact of crime on wider society
High expense for the Government - Increasing levels of crime lead to more demand for prison places, increasing costs and diverting money from other services. For example, The total cost of UK prisons in 2022 was about £6 billion.
Effects on national tourism - Excessive crime can lead to countries having a negative reputation, causing less tourists to visit and spend money. For example, Visit Britain recorded a 740,000 drop in tourists to London at a time of increasing knife crime.
Attracting further crime - If a society has a reputation for criminal activity, it can attract more criminals looking to make money illegally, leading to an increase in crimes such as human trafficking. For example, There have recently been many arrests of people involved in illegally smuggling people into the UK on small boats.
