1.3

• The Ripple Effect


  • Based on the idea of a pebble being dropped in a pond
  • The ripple can occur for many different crimes
  • The unreported crime (the 'pebble') may not affect just the victim but could spread across society and other secondary victims
• Cultural Consequences


  • Forced marriages
  • Honour crimes
  • Serious physical risk in retaliation for 'grassing' or 'snitching', including experiences of serious physical assault, rape or other sexual harm where a young person has reported to the authorities in defiance of group norms
  • FGM- 20,000 girls per year thought to be at risk
• Decriminalisation


  • Some acts widespread in society BUT are still against the law
  • Some crimes considered harmless, victimless and so not worthy of reporting
  • Underreporting can lead to view that it is not a 'real crime'
  • Campaigns may then be brought about to decriminalise these crimes
  • Decriminalise = treated as a minor offence
  • Penalty would be minor such as fine/warning
  • Example: Prostitution
• Legislation


  • Some countries have gone one step further and made certain criminal offences legal
  • Example: legalisation of cannabis (US States/Amsterdam)
• Police prioritisation


  • The Police have a priority to some crimes over others
  • Limited resources
  • Local population concerns take priority
  • The media may sway certain types of crimes to be considered over others
  • Home office priorities filtered down to the police
  • This means that some crimes receive lower priority
  • Once the public are aware that the Police are not prioritising these crimes it means they are less likely to report
• Unrecorded crime


  • The Police must first know a crime has been committed before they can record it
  • If people do not report the crime (up to 90% of crime is brought to Police attention by the public) they can not record or investigate it
  • Even if crime is reported they may decide not to record due to: Disbelief/ lack of evidence, Victim refuses to press charges, Considered too trivial/not a priority warranting investigation, Save police resources
  • This can lead to the Dark Figure of Crime
• Crime statistics in Sandbach and Crewe


  • Anti Social Behaviour
  • Bicycle Theft
  • Burglary
  • Criminal Damage and Arson
  • Drugs
  • Other Crime
  • Other Theft
  • Possession of Weapons
  • Public Order
  • Robbery
  • Shoplifting
  • Theft from the Person
  • Vehicle Crime
  • Violence and Sexual Offences
• Norms and values


  • Society will inevitably change
  • Norms and values will change as a result
  • Laws may be left 'outdated' in light of these societal changes
  • Many things once deemed unacceptable and 'really criminal' may now be acceptable
• New Technology


  • New opportunities for criminals
  • Wide range of media now available
  • Illegal downloading is prime example of a crime which will generally go unreported- not a 'real crime'
• Acceptance of disorder


  • Residents may just come to accept these sort of crimes- may feel helpless so stop reporting
  • Police therefore not aware so nothing done to tackle these crimes
  • If police are not aware then these crimes will go unreported
  • If not dealt with then could become the norm and may attract further crime- downward spiral
  • Petty crimes go unreported, such as drunkenness and graffiti
• 'Broken windows' Theory


  • Theory of Wilson and Kelling
  • If minor crime goes unreported, this will eventually lead to more serious crime
  • 'Broken windows' stands for various signs of disorder and lack of concern for others in a neighbourhood
  • Leaving broken windows unrepaired and tolerating disorder sends signal that nobody cares and area falls into decline- a magnet for delinquent behaviour
  • To halt this process we must implement twofold strategy: Improve areas of disorder without delay and, have zero tolerance for further disorder