| The UK, and much of the world is currently in | | | | sufficiently, meaning they are generally more |
| recession. Crime is generally considered to rise during | | | | disgruntled with the world. People may also become |
| tough financial times, but in which ways and why? | | | | more hostile towards each other. In particular those |
| As we know, unemployment increases dramatically | | | | who are struggling may be angry towards those who |
| during a recession. Businesses struggling or going | | | | are not. There has been a recent example of this in |
| under cause a spate of redundancies, meaning a large | | | | Ireland, where there were instances of violence |
| increase in unemployment. This inevitably leads to | | | | towards some Romanian immigrants. The reason for |
| more cases of depression, which can lead to higher | | | | this was attributed to some being angry that the |
| crime. The most obvious cases are drugs and alcohol. | | | | immigrants had taken "their" jobs, although they |
| People suffering from depression often turn to drugs | | | | were jobs local people hadn't applied for at the time |
| and alcohol for refuge. Increase in drug taking (a | | | | of the vacancies. |
| crime itself) leads to more drug related crime. Drug | | | | Family break ups are sometimes more likely to occur |
| dealing will become more rife if demand is higher, and | | | | during a recession. Debt can cause stress within the |
| crime's such as theft may be committed to feed | | | | family and lead to marriages breaking up. The break |
| drug habits. It is also more likely that people will | | | | up of parents can have an effect on children. |
| commit crimes, such as those involving violence, if | | | | Although they mostly focus on those from low |
| they are intoxicated by drugs or alcohol. | | | | income one parent families, (usually where only one |
| A recession leads to more debt. If people spiral into | | | | parent is financially responsible) statistics show that |
| debt they are liable to become more desperate. This | | | | children from single parent families are 75% more |
| particularly increases crimes such as theft. People are | | | | likely to become a drug addict. They also show these |
| more likely to steal so they can pay off their debts. | | | | children are 70% more likely to finish school without |
| They may also turn to other illegal ways to make | | | | any qualifications. This is significant as a high |
| money if they feel that there are no legitimate ways | | | | percentage of crime is shown to be committed by |
| of earning. | | | | those with a poor education. |
| Violence is another area that can increase during a | | | | There are many different aspects of a recession |
| recession. People are more liable to get angry when | | | | that can result in an increase in crime. Some are in |
| times are tough, and therefore are more likely to | | | | obvious ways, such as theft to pay off debts, while |
| turn violent. People may be angry with their employer | | | | others are less so involving a chain of events that |
| who has made them redundant, or the government | | | | may cause crime. |
| because they don't feel that they are being helped | | | | |