Social Causes of crime

• Peer pressure


  Social reason for crime where people 'fall into the wrong crowd' and feel pressured into committing crimes they know are wrong
• Crimes committed due to peer pressure

  • Theft
• Drugs and alcohol


  Social cause of crime where dependency leads to committing crimes to fund addiction
• Crimes committed due to drug/alcohol addiction

  • Theft
  • Shoplifting
• Lack of education


  Social cause of crime where lack of education or failure at school leads to long-term unemployment and potential crime
• As of 2023, more than half (51%) the number of people in prison in the UK have the reading age of 11 or lower
• Gang culture


  Social cause of crime where joining a gang can lead to criminal acts as part of the culture
• Gang-related crimes


  • Killing
  • Knife crime