Law & Crime

Law & Crime

1. Types of Crime

   • non-sexual crimes
     • homicide
     • attempted murder
     • robbery
     • down by 17% between 10/11 & 11/12
   • sexual offences
     • attempted/rape
     • sexual assault
     • prostitution
     • increased by 10% between 10/11 & 11/12
   • Crimes of dishonesty
     • housebreaking
     • shoplifting
     • fraud
     • down 1% in 11/12
   • fire-raising, vandalism etc
     • decreased by 8% in 11/12
   • Other crimes
     • drugs
       • up 2% in 11/12
     • handling an offensive weapon
     • crimes against public justice

2. Knife crime

   • strongly linked with gang crime and booze culture
     • some carry them to fight other gangs
       • some feel safer
       • peer-pressure
     • some carry them out on friday/saturday when binge drinking.
   • Statistics
     • Glasgow accounted for 1/3 in 09/10
     • 35 killed in 2010, representing 44% of total homicides
     • 09/10, 2949 occupied days in acute hospitals
     • Secondary costs
     • criminal justice costs
   • Mandatory sentencing for carrying a knife
     • FOR: 1.Education campaigns on their own won't work. 2.Act as a deterrent. 3.Suitable punishment
     • AGAINST: 1.Prisons will become too full. 2.Will lead to further crime. 3.Not all circumstances are the same.

3. Alcohol

   • costs of alcohol abuse '10
     • crime = £727.1m
     • health-care = £268.8m
     • social care = £230.5m
   • Legislation
     • Alcohol (Scotland) Act
       • banned quantity discounts in off-sales.
       • People buy more
       • Restrictions on where promotions can be placed
     • Alcohol and Minimum Pricing (Scotland) Act
       • 50p minimum price per unit of alcohol
       • estimated 5.5% cut in drinking
       • some 'problem' drinks will not increase in price e.g.buckfast
     • Reasonableness Test
       • no responsible person would assume someone is over 18
       • ask for ID
       • Failure can mean £5000 fine/3 months prison
     • Test purchasing scheme
     • Licensing (Scotland) Act
       • If prices are reduced they must remain the same for 3 days
   • Young People
     • 35% drink to excess by early teens
     • binge drinking
       • peer drinking
       • rebelliousness
       • school performance
       • age
       • sibling drinking
     • risks of underage drinking
       • underage sex
       • drug-taking
       • hepatitis
       • obesity
       • cancer

4. Causes of Crime

   • Individualist theory
     • lack of ones own values
     • Individuals choose to commit crime so should face the consequences.
     • Deterrence
   • Collectivist theory
     • social issues must be addressed
     • celebrity culture and dropping out of mainstream society
   • Greed
     • white collar crimes
     • serious organised crime
     • Human Trafficking
   • Poverty
     • Glasgow most deprived & highest crime rate
   • Family Life
     • substance/alcohol abuse
     • neglectful parents

5. Police Scotland

   • branches
     • specialised departments (underwater,dogs)
     • uniformed
     • Criminal Investigation CID
     • Traffic
       • enforce road traffic laws, traffic management & road safety
     • community relations
   • crime prevention
     • Physical presence
     • Public education
   • duties
     • maintaining public order
       • football etc
     • Counter-terrorism
       • work with Westminster
     • Emergencies
     • evidence in courts
   • UK Wide Bodies
     • British transport police
     • Ministry of Defence

6. Courts

   • High Court
     • serious crimes
       • murder, rape
   • Sheriff Court
     • solemn/summary procedures
   • JP Courts
     • minor crimes/offences
   • UK Supreme Court
     • Can become involved in Scottish Cases
       • The Nat Fraser case

7. Young People

   • Children considered for prosecution in court for murder assault etc
   • Reporter decides if child sent to children's panel
     • Beyond control of parents
     • missusing alcohol/drugs
     • not attending school

8. Children's Panels

   • Members are volunteers but trained and carefully selected.
     • 3 Present (male&female)
   • Possible Actions
     • social worker to supervise
     • Child to go to foster family/care home
     • electronic tagging
     • counselling

9. Young Offenders

   • Polmont holds young offenders 16-21
   • Max 830 prisoners
   • Described as most violent prison due to overcrowding