Crime & the LawTHE IMPACT OF CRIME

How does crime impact people and communities?

Task 1You are going to brainstorm some of the topics / areas YOU think might relate to

the effects of crime in the UK...

WHO

WHERE

WHAT

WHY?

Task 1• WHO (People, groups?)

• WHERE (Areas, communities?)

• WHAT (organisations, services?)

WHY? For all elements of brainstorm, why, how / in what way do you think

they are affected?

The Impact of Crime: Learning Intentions

1) Understand the impact that crime has on;• Victims• Criminals• Businesses• Local Communities

2) Know some Scottish examples of the impact of crime.

The Effects of Crime in the UKThere are social and economic effects

of crime on individuals, communities, businesses and public

services• Individuals – perpetrators and victims• Groups – elderly, young, social classes,

genders, ethnic groups• Communities – affluent, less affluent,

rural, urban• Businesses, Private Sector, Public

Services, Tax Payer

The Victims

In Scotland, on average we have around a 17% chance of being the victim of some sort of crime. That means that 1 in every 6 adults will be the victim of some sort of crime over the course of a year.

The most common type of crime that people fall victim to is theft or damage to property.

Your chances of being involved in more serious or violent crime are much lower.

However…

We do not all have equal chances of being a victim of crime. Some groups are far more likely to become victims of crime.

Think: Which groups of people do you think are more likely to be victims of crime?

More likely to be victims

Young People

25% of people aged 16-25 were victims of crime.

Men

People in Poverty

People in Urban Areas (Big towns and cities)

Victims of crime can suffer a range of different things, for example;

• Physical harm

• Loss or damage to property

• Fear and distress – Victims of crime tend to report that this is the worst part of their experience.

The Impact

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hey6Q7CIlZ8http://www.educationscotland.gov.uk/crimeandlaw/types/impactofcrime/victims.asp

The Criminals

As we know, people commit crimes for a wide variety of reasons.

The consequences to the criminal of committing a crime can be serious and long lasting.

Task: What problems do you think a convicted criminal would have in their life?

Problems for the Criminal

• Imprisonment. Losing their freedom and being separated from their friends and family.

• Trouble getting a job. Many employers will not hire someone with a criminal record. Some jobs do not allow people with criminal records (e.g. teaching)

• The vicious cycle. Many criminals end up reoffending and often find themselves in a life of crime.

Task

Read pages 107 & 108. Answer the following questions;1) Explain what is meant by the term repeat

victimisation.2) Why are women less likely to be victims of

crime?3) List the problems faced by convicted

criminals.

Businesses

Crime also has an impact on businesses.

The likes of shoplifting and fraud cost businesses in Scotland Billions of pounds every year.

Cyber crime such as identity theft is also another major issue that businesses have to contend with.

Local Communities

Crime can also have a significant negative on communities as a whole. (Example – Glasgow)

Areas of high crime often become isolated. People who live in these areas often become stigmatised.

As a result they may not have the same life opportunities as others.

The economic cost of crime

• £124 billion a year in the UK!• If we reduced crime, this money could be

better spent on hospitals and schools.

Task

Read the rest of pages 108 & 109. Answer the following questions;

1) How much does crime cost businesses in Scotland. Why is the cost so high?

2) Describe the impact that crime has on Scotland as a whole.

Extension task

• Read pages 21-23 of “Social Issues” textbook• Note down the impact of the crime committed

in each case study

Examples of crime

• http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-33847293

• What do you think the impact would be on:– The school– The pupil– The teacher

ExamplesWe will be heading to the computer room B17.

Your task is to research specific examples of how crime has affected victims, criminals, Businesses and communities. Make sure your examples are from the UK.

Extension – you could look at a case study related to where drugs and alcohol have been a cause of crime.

• You can work on this in pairs – in the next lesson I will ask you to share an example of crime with the class.

• Be prepared to explain the impact this crime has had!

Example 1 – Victim

What happened –

The impact -

Example 2 – Criminal

What happened –

The impact -