Figures printed today show that Britain has the worst violent crime record of anywhere else
in the UK. Furthermore, we also have a worse rate for all
violence than the USA and even South Africa. We also have the second highest overall crime rate of the EU, a higher murder rate than other Western European countries, the fifth highest robbery rate and the fourth highest burglary rate.
Figures are based on the number of each crime per 100,000 people. In the UK, the rate of crime is 2,034 per 100,000. Compared to the US (466) and Australia (92), this figure is shocking. The next worst in the EU is Austria with a rate of 1,667 per 100,000.
The soaring rate of violent crime has been attributed to the government's failure to tackle social problems, which has lead to a rise in anti-social behaviour and crime. In response to these figures, the Home Secretary has suggested that a website be set up which will allow the public to look up information such as how many people within a certain radius of their home have ASBOs. How reassuring that the action taken to reduce crime rates is not to remove the criminals, but instead to scare people into staying indoors by telling them just how many yobs are outside waiting on their doorstep. Not.
Criminologists responded to the figures by suggesting rates in the UK only seem high due to differences in how crimes are measured and reported. They also say rates are not comparable as there are 'degrees of violence'. But violent crime is violent crime, be that armed robbery, murder or domestic violence. On the bright side, there are fewer murders in the UK than, say, South Africa. But on the flip side, there must be significantly more other violent crime for the UK to come out, ashamedly, on top of this list.
A website is not going to be the solution. Schooling is going to be the solution. By inspiring kids to learn and have ambition to be something great, they will be less likely to resort to a life of crime. The challenge will be making them see that there is more of their much demanded respect attached to BSc than ASBO.