Sociologists believe that there was a post-war crime explosion due to the dramatic increase in crime rates after World War 2. From 1945 to 1992 there was an 11 fold crime increase in England and Wales. This increased from an estimation of 500000 in 1945 recorded offences to 5.6 million by 1992. However, its possible that with the new technological advances in society and improvements in the CJS, that these recordings are being performed at better standards rather than it mainly being focused on a tremendous rising.
Gender and Victimisation in Post Modern Society
Even in our post modern era, males are still largely over represented in crime statistics showing reliable evidence that men are more likely to perform crime than women.
· Social Trends 2011 suggests that 82% of offenders are males. (Official Stats)
· Prison Reform Trust 2012 suggests that 95% criminal inmates are males. (Registered Charity Taking on Stastistics)
Studies performed by Myhill and Allen 2002 suggest women are victims of male sex crimes.
· 20% of women are victims of sexual intimidation
· 10% are victims of rape
Age and Crime
The youth seem to be more likely to commit crime. Crime varies with age but with the increase of delinquent youth subcultures, improper socialisation, thrill seeking and glamorisation of crime by the media it seems the youth are now more fascinated by it.
· Social Trends 2005, suggests 16-24 year olds are 10 times more likely to be cautioned/found guilty of criminal offences.
Spatial Distribution
Crime trends seem to largely fall on the special distribution of the environment to society’s members. In locations of society that are in more poverty where spatial distribution in more condensed crime rates tend to be higher. However in locations where spatial distribution is less condense and more open crime rates tend to be lower.
· Simmons et al 2002 research studies suggests that householders in urban council estates/high unemployment are 6.5 times more likely to be crime victims than those in affluent rural communities.
· Nicholas et al 2007’s more recent research suggest that householders in “hard pressed areas” are nearly twice as likely to be victims of violence rather than those from “wealthy achiever areas.”
Leniency of Crime
The CJS tends to be more lenient to certain types of offenders. This largely applies to the young and often at times females if you were to perceive it in the perspective of the chivalry thesis. For example:
White Collar Crime (Sutherland 1949)
This is crime that is financially motivated and non violent for illegal monetary gains. For example tax evasion, fraud, health and safety violations, illegal sales practices and false advertising.
Ethnicity and Crime Trends
Crime trends tend to vary amongst those from different ethnic groups. Ethnic minority groups such as Blacks and Asians are largely at the risk of:
• Blacks/Asians being burgled 50% higher than whites
• Blacks/Asians being robbed 100% higher than whites (Clancey et al., 2001:12)
• Blacks being homicide victims 450% higher than whites
• Asians being homicide victims 150% higher than whites (Home Office, 2006: 7)
Racially motivated crime tends to be more occurring amongst ethnic minority groups as well. For example ethnic minorities are largely vulnerable in this context:
• Pakistanis/Bangladeshis are 3-times more likely than whites to be victimised
• Indians are 2.5-times more likely than whites to be victimised (Bowling & Phillips, 2002: 3)
Hidden Figure of Unrecorded Crime
Traditionally there have been 2 kinds of main problems with the Official Crime Statistics. These are non reported crimes and non recorded crimes. If crimes occur but aren’t reported this affects the reliability of data about the true amount of crime that is taking place. Also if crimes aren’t recorded when they are reported then this also affects the reliability of the statistics. Looking in detail of the recording of these issues:
· Chaplin et al 2011 research suggest that 62% of crimes go unreported.
· Walker et al 2006 research suggests that of the crimes that do get reported a large 30% go unrecorded. This partial reporting/recording of crime means that OCS only reflects a proportion of overall offences.
In order to tackle this problem of reliability, the introduction of the NCRS in 2002 gradually improved recording rates. Although, recent surveys have not indicated rates of non-recording.
Crime Class and Corruption
Many Criminologists believe there is an over representation of crimes of the powerless. These include people who are marginalised, ethnic minorities, the socially excluded and youths. The systematic organisation of the criminal justice system fails to show a fair representation of the powerful or those in authority. For example there Box 1983 explains how there is an invisibility of corporate, state crime and while collar crime. These crimes are largely performed by those in power and often go undetected. Official Statistics seem to publish more about crimes being performed by the powerless or lower class stereotypes.
Moving on, police crime tends to be performed in England and Wales and there is evidence it goes unnoticed or isn’t taken seriously. When members of the public complain there seems to be a culture that protects the officers who at times abuse their power and authority.
· Official Statistics in 2010/11 suggest 51% of complaints against the police service or one the fellow officers are not investigated.
· Official Statistics in 2010/11 suggest 88% of investigated complaints against the police service are not substantiated.
· Official Statistics in 2003/04 suggest 9% of substantiated complaints led to misconduct proceedings.
· Official Statistics in 2003/04 suggest only 1% of substantiated complaints led to criminal proceedings. (Cotton, 2004)
Victimisation Surveys
Victim surveys get closer to the “dark figure of unrecorded crime”. This is because they allow victims to state the crimes inflicted to them at an anonymous form where they aren’t recorded by the police. However there are still problems with the reliability because a large proportion of victims don’t want to take part in them due to fear and danger. Some examples of crimes that still go unreported using this method of investigation is as follows:
· Domestic Violence
· Rape
· White-Collar Crime
· Paedophilia
· Corporate crime
Postmodern Exaggeration of Crime and Deviance
Criminologists have largely come to a consensus that the “post war crime explosion” is an over exaggeration for many reasons due to:
· Increased public awareness of media/interest in crime. It has also been largely glamorised in films as the norm of stereotypes.
· Household Insurance
· Improved Transport/Communications
· Feminism and Women’s Employment
· Increased Technical Efficiency/Professionalism of Police
· Increased Police Numbers (Farrell 1992, Social Trends 2007)
Now data gathered about crime is more accurate due to the technological advances and the professionalism of the police investigating crimes. Crime is also glamorised and the public want to be aware of it due to media interests.
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