Crime

Crime

1. Crime is an action done by a person, or a group of people, that goes against the law.

2. Types

   • Non-Sexual Crimes of Violence: Robbery, Murder, assault, Knife crime
   • Sexual Offences: Rape, Prostitution, Domestic violence, Sexual assault
   • Crimes of Dishonesty: Fraud, Theft, White collar (Committed by person of high social status), Blue collar (Committed by someone who is in a low paid job)
   • Fire Raising/ Vandalism: Vandalism, Grafitti, Arson
   • Other Crimes: Alcohol crime, Drug crime, Traffic crime, Anti-social behaviour

3. Why some Crime might not be reported

   • Shame/Embarrassment: (usually rape/ men dont want to be seen as weak)
   • Fear: Scared things may happen again (hate crimes, domestic violence)
   • Oblivious: May not realise a crime was committed (breach of peace, telemarket scams)
   • Importance: Some may think it wasnt important enough (minor crimes: vandalism, pickpockets, hate comments etc.)
   • Police - People believe that the police wont do anything because its small or not enough evidence

4. Causes of Crime

   • Peer Pressure: A person is pressured into doing something because everyone around them is doing it, may feel scared or want attention/ to fit in. Normally crimes such as shoplifting or drug/alcohol crimes are a result of peerpressure
   • Poverty: Some people can not afford basic goods and may turn to crime to meet their needs. This can result in crimes such as theft being committed. They may also commit crimes such as joy riding or vandalism as a result of boredom. In 2913, 29% of people were unable to afford 3 or more basic necessities
   • Social Exclusion: A person feels disconnected from society, may be due to unemployment or discrimination. People may commit crimes such as theft in order to try and fit in in our materialistic society, or participate in gang crime to get a sense of belonging
   • Poor role models: A person may have absent, abusive or addicted parents which can have a major negative impact on a persons upbringing. This can lead to a child believing there isnt a problem with crime and committing crimes often
   • Lack of Education: People may not value their education which can lead to an unsuccessful future and lead a person into the poverty cycle
   • Alcohol & Drugs: In 2009, 80% of all crimes had alcohol or drug misuse as the root cause. When under the influence people may commit crimes such as assault, drink driving, breach of peace as they arent thinking about the consequences of their actions

5. Youth Crime

   • Common Crimes Committed: Anti-social behaviour, Vandalism, Traffic offences, Theft, Gang crime, Assault, Misuse of drugs and alcohol, breach of peace etc.
   • Reasons: Opportunity (Get involved in things they dont normally have the option to eg. riots), Peer-Pressure (Friends persuade you to join in eg. drug/alcohol crime, gang crime), Lack of good role models (Not been brought up in a stable loving environment eg. Gang Crime), Boredom (Resort to criminal activity for entertainment eg. Alcohol/ Drug crime, Joyriding), Thrill (Resort to criminal activity for a buzz eg. Riots, Joyriding, Robbery), Lack of Opportunity (Resort to criminal activity because they have nothing else to do eg. Gang crime), Greed (Want to take part in a materialistic society eg. Theft of technology

6. London Riots

   • 6 - 11 August 2011, 5 deaths, 200+ injuries, London, Bristol, Manchester, Birmingham, Liverpool and Nottingham
   • Mark Duggan was shot by police with association to thuggary and drug crime, however it is also believed to be a race crime as there was no evidence for Mark to be shot
   • Causes: Consumerism (Shopping riots caused by greed), Technology & Social Media (Used to organise criminal activity), Social Exclusion (live in social deprivation and want a sense of belonging), Spending Cuts (Police spending cuts were ongoing so rioters thought they were less likely to be caught), Racism (Too many innocent people have died to due police brutality)

7. Knife Crime

   • Preventing it: MAV (Medics Against Violence. Talk about personal experiences), NKBL (No Knives Better Lives. Youth program works with local partners) PSNPU (Police Scotland National Partnership Unit. Works to build safer communities)
   • Key Statistics: In 2009/10 Glasgow accounted for all knife crime in Scotland. In 2011/12, 200 people were killed in Scotland by sharp instruments. In 2009/10 there were 2949 days spent in hospital dealing with assault/ injuries from a sharp object. 38% of Scottish youths had

8. Impact of Crime

   • Victims: Can have physical, emotional and mental (PTSD) affects. Can be scared to leave their home, visit certain area. It could have a major affect on their career.
   • Criminals: Criminal record, can lose belongings, lose friends and family, turn to poverty cycle and more crime
   • Business: Large costs (£5bn spent in 2012 to provide businesses with security) Business loses money and employees lose jobs
   • Country: Expensive, High crime rates, Treat victims (2010 NHS spent £2bn)
   • Community: Lose trust, be scared, be disappointed, damage could be caused

9. Police

   • Police Scotland: Created in 2013 because there were financial challenges. Meant there was only one police force, one commissioner
   • Chief Constable -> Deputy Chief Constable -> Assistant Chief Constable -> Chief Superintendent -> Superintendent -> Chief Inspector -> Sergeant -> Constable
   • Duties: Maintain law & order, detect change, prevent crime, protect the public
   • Powers: Stop and question anyone acting suspicious, arrest & charge a person with reliable evidence, issue fixed penalty notices (fines), search a person suspected of carrying something, detain a person at the police station for 24 hours (14 days for terrorism0
   • Preventing Crime: Physical Prevention (on foot/ in a car - goes to areas with high crime rates), Public Education (Schools, Leaflets, Online)
   • Approaches: CCTV (Record and Identify crime), Zero Tolerance Campaigns (Very strict law enforcement), Community Involvement (Officers hold local events and attempt to build a layer of trust within the community), Community Policing (Officers become closely involved with the local public & community)

10. Court Systems

    • Scottish Courts: Justice of the Peace Court (least authorative), Sheriffs Court, High Court (of Judiciary) (most authorative)
    • Procedures: Solemn Procedure (For serious offences. Sheriff or High Court. Conducted with a jury) Summary procedure (Less serious offences. Justice of the Peace Court, occasionally Sheriffs. No jury)
    • Verdicts: Guilty (Proven to have committed accused crime), Not Guilty (Did not commit accused crime), Not Proven (Not enough sufficient evidence to prove guilty or not)
    • Justice System Journey: Opportunity to plead guilty -> Court -> Sentencing -> Serving Sentence -> Completing the Sentence -> Post Sentence

11. Childrens Hearing System

    • Why might a child be referred: Committed an offence, Misusing drugs/ alcohol, Beyond parents control, Not attending school (without reasonable excuse), Victim of an offence (needs support), Risk of Moral danger (poor role models)
    • Referral to Reporter: Investigation (Interviews, gather evidence etc.) -> No further action OR Extra support (Social Worker, Counselling etc.) OR Referred to Childrens Hearing Panel
    • Childrens Hearing Panel Outcomes: No further action required (Problem has gone away), Supervision Requirement (Child stays in family home but a social worker regularly visits to monitor progress, renewed every year until 18y/o) or Child is Removed from Home
    • Benefits: Protects child from dangerous situation, Provides care & rehabilitation, Provides safety, Prevents criminal activity (early intervention), Not scary/ intimidating
    • Negatives: Often staff changes, Can be scary, intimidating, Make people feel sad and anxious (make problems worse), Soft option (40% of cases deal with criminal acts, no punishment/ prevention)

12. Prison Alternatives

    • Fines, Community Payback Orders (Community Service), Restriction of Liberty Orders (Electronic Tags)
    • Fines: Sum of money paid by a convicted person to the court. if not payed can result in prison sentence. Community Payback Orders: A range of tasks a convicted person has to complete eg. Manual unpaid work, participate in treatment, supervision. Restriction of Liberty Order: An offender is restricted to a specific place (own home/temporary home) for a max of 12 hours. People get tagged if there behaviour acts as a possible danger to themselves or others