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Issue Description
Although statistics show that crime is now affecting fewer people and violent crime has fallen 50% since its peak in 1995, a common perception still exists that crime is increasing. The recent UK riots have not helped this image. This books looks at some of the causes and effects of the 2011 riots, at the continuing problems of gang, gun and knife crime, at effective justice measures for those convicted of criminal offences and at the debate surrounding the age of criminal responsibility. It also looks at the capital punishment debate, which has recently come to the fore once more.
The information comes from a wide range of sources and includes government reports and statistics, newspaper articles, features, magazine articles and surveys, literature from lobby groups and charitable organisations.
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Key Facts
- There is a clear pattern from the British Crime Survey (BCS) of crime reaching a peak in 1995 with a subsequent decline, with overall BCS crime down by 50 per cent since 1995. (page 3)
- 50% of young people surveyed think the cause of the riots was mindless violence: the rest say boredom (13.5%), lack of provision/interest in young (13.2%), lack of morals (10.6%), gap between rich and poor (6.6%) and youth unemployment (6%). (page 10)
- If you get a ‘suspended’ prison sentence you don’t go to prison immediately, but serve your sentence in the community. If you break any conditions, or commit another crime, you will go to prison to serve your sentence. (page 19)
- New plans for community sentences propose four days of hard manual labour, improving public areas by clearing up litter, cleaning graffiti and maintaining parks and other green spaces. The fifth day will be spent looking for full-time employment. (page 20)
- Over 17% of the UK population between the ages of 18 and 52 have a criminal conviction. (page 26)
- The minimum age of criminal responsibility in England and Wales was set at ten in the 1963 Children and Young Person’s Act. Previously the 1908 Children Act set it at seven. (page 30)
- More people think that sentencing should be based on the emotional and psychological maturity of the offender rather than on their age. (page 33)
- Figures held by the Ministry of Justice revealed that an average of five under-18s per day are found guilty of carrying knives by the courts – and in the past decade, the number of 12-year-olds convicted of ‘having an article with blade or point’ in a public place doubled, while the number of 11-year-olds convicted has risen fourfold. (page 34)
- There have been a total of 1,226 executions in the US since 1976. (page 38)
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Table of Contents
Chapter 1 Crime Trends
Crime on your street revealed, Crime ‘affecting fewer people’, Crime in England and Wales 2009/10, Troublesome youth groups, gangs and knife-carrying in Scotland, Riots and rationality, Young people must be consulted on causes violence, Over 500 young people tell the Jack Petchey Foundation what they think about the rioting, Are criminals programmed to offend?.
Chapter 2 Crime Prevention
Reporting a crime, Ending gang and youth violence, Schools at the sharp end of knife crime education, Why ex-offenders should be given a role in cutting youth crime.
Chapter 3 Criminal Justice
Types of prison sentence, Changes to community sentences, New sentences to ‘restore clarity and common sense’, FBI-style crime agency to lead fight against drug gangs, Breaking the cycle, Prejudged: tagged for life, Restorative justice after the riots?, Children ‘not facing harsh riot sentences’, From playground to prison, T2A alliance calls for sentencing reform, ‘Jail is not a deterrent’ in preventing knife crime, Are we ready for gangbos?, Our dedication to the death penalty, As Britain debates the death penalty again, studies from America confirm that it works.
