Types of Crime

Crime and Law

Type of Crime Description Examples

White-Collar Crime

Blue-Collar Crime

Corporate Crime

Crime of Hatred

Cybercrime

Domestic Abuse

Crime Involving Fire

Violent Crime

DescriptionCarried out by businesses or corporations, or a person acting on behalf of a corporation.

Involves a computer or a network including exploitation of the internet. Issues becoming more high profile today.

A pattern of behaviour which involves the abuse by one partner against another; can take many forms,

Deliberately using fire to intentionally and maliciously set fire to buildings, wild-land areas, vehicles or other property with the intent to cause damage.Professionals who work in trained services and sales (offices) – not manual labour. Often hidden crimes that go unnoticed / reported

The offender uses or threatens to use violent force upon the victim - act can be the objective (murder) as well as being means to an end (robbery)

Member of a working class who performs skilled or unskilled labouring jobs i.e. – construction. More obvious in society.

When an offender targets their victim because they are a member of a social group (i.e. race, religion, sexuality)

Examples of Crime – show your understanding

Sort the following examples into the correct type:

Illegal use of a firearm

Verbal racist abuse Violence towards spouse

Computer hacking Burglary Tax Avoidance

Dealing in illegal substances

Shoplifting Copyright theft

Identity theft Homicide Assault

Vandalism Graffiti Mugging

Driving without a licence

Selling alcohol to people under 18

Mis-selling insurance

Online Tax fraud Online Banking Fraud Kidnapping

Key Definitions

Other types of crime include:o Knife Crimeo Gun Crimeo Human Traffickingo Anti-Social Behaviouro Drug Crime

Who Commits Crime?The idea that every group in society is equally likely to commit a crime is incorrect. Statistics show that some groups of people are more likely to commit crime than others. People are more likely to commit crime if they are:

Younger. The peak age for committing crime is 19 and 20 for males and 26-30 for females. For offences (minor crimes e.g. breach of the peace) the peak age is lower for both males and females.

Male. The majority of crime (80%) is committed by men. Almost all violent crime is committed by men.

Living in a city (or urban) area. The majority of crime happens in city areas, particularly in city centres at weekends or in areas with poorer quality housing.

Activity 1

Scott AndersonAged 19Lives in the Gorbals, Glasgow

Laurie StrachanAges 80Lives in Seafield, West Lothian

Morgan KenyonAged 28Lives in Leith in Edinburgh

Steven Hailstones Aged 45Lives in Linlithgow, West Lothian

Which of the following people is most likely to commit a crime and least likely to commit

a crime? Give a reason for both of your choices.

Causes of Crime - Explanations• Causes of crime are complex and often

involve linking many factors together to get a better understanding

To avoid stereotyping, prejudice and discrimination

• Some of the main issues that can be linked to today’s society are:

• Poverty – especially in current economic climate – recession

• Long Term Unemployment• Social Environment• Mental Health Problems• Influence of Alcohol and Drugs

Cycle of Poverty

The Causes of

Crime

SOCIAL CAUSES

Lack of belonging

Lack of pride in Community

Poor Housing

Lack of self-

esteemExclusion

from schoolPeer

Pressure

Economic Causes

Social Exclusion

Unable to claim benefits

Recession

Poverty

Geographical

Area of deprivatio

n

Densely populated area

Lack of facilities

Upbringing

Lack of positive role

modelsPhysical Abuse

Family members

involved in crime

Culture

Greed Importance attached to

material belongings

Activities1. Create a detailed spider diagram

illustrating the main causes of crime. Use pages 104 – 107 of ‘National 4/5 Modern

Studies Leckie and Leckie’ book to complete this.

2. Collect a copy of the table on the next slide – you must complete this table in detail as this

could potentially be an exam question.

Examples and Explanations for CrimeCause of Crime Explanation of why this leads to crime Example of type of

crime…

Family Background

Peer Pressure/Gang culture

Poor Environment - Geography

Economic circumstances -Poverty

Circumstances – social exclusion

Greed

Alcohol / Drugs

Re cap

Causes of Crime

Family Background

The main causes of CrimeP –

A –

P –

E –

R –

S –

PovertyArea (geographical location)Peer Pressure

Education (lack of it)

Role Models

Social Exclusion

Poverty

• The areas of Scotland which have large cities tend to have higher rates of crime.

• Strathclyde – which contains Glasgow has the highest level of crime in Scotland – 700, per 10,000 people

• Dumfries and Galloway has the lowest levels of crimes – 400, per 10,000 people.

• Glasgow is the most deprived city and local authority area in Scotland.

• 1 in 3 Glaswegian children lives in a household where no one works compared to the Scottish average 1 in 5.

• More than ¼ of all serious assaults were committed in Glasgow.

• 170 gangs in the Glasgow area compared to 169 in London (over 6 times the size!)

Area or Geographical Location• Inner cities e.g. Birmingham, Liverpool, Glasgow breed crime• Crime acceptable e.g. joy riding/vandalism• Criminal Sub Culture (Where people grow up believing crime

to be normal). In Glasgow schemes – gangs/ Saturday night booze and blade culture.

• Some areas have high unemployment - causes crime as some steal to make basic needs.

• Inner cities have a high drop out / truancy rates from school • Run down inner city areas lack of facilities – boredom –

vandalism/joy riding etc.

Peer Pressure

• Friends are involved in crime• Encourage or pressure others into crime• Less likely to commit a crime e.g. vandalism,

take drugs etc. if your peers don’t do it• Gangs – commit crimes to get into/as part of a

gang e.g. theft, joy riding• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RVOlwxvx

hbY

Education

• Lack of education no qualifications/poorly paid job Poverty

• Truancy opting out Social Exclusion not involved in

society / no peers to encourage you to reject crime.

• Leads to boredom more likely to get involved in petty crime e.g. vandalism

Role Modelso Negative role models or a lack of positive oneso Celebritieso Family

o UK Government estimates that there are 120,000 troubled families whose children are at a high risk of repeating their parents’ criminal lifestyles

o Lack of love, addictions to alcohol/drugs and an atmosphere of tension/violence are key causes of crime.

o Where a young person is deprived of strong role models, strong relationships and happiness from an early age may well be a key cause of crime.

1. Copy the following statement: “People are responsible for their own behaviour

and have only themselves to blame if they get involved in criminal activities”

(a) Explain why some people might AGREE with this statement and why some people might DISAGREE. (2

paragraphs for each – Use PEE)

(b) In your conclusion – state whether you agree or disagree and why

(c) Do drugs lead people into criminal activity? Or are those who use drugs already prone to such activity? Discuss.

Activities

Drugs and Alcohol

• Cause of crime?• An indirect link?

• Survey – 7 out of 10 accused of murder had been drinking or on drugs

• Nearly 7,000 of Scotland's prisoners were drunk at the time of committing the offence.

Activities Modernity Scotland Textbook pages 80-81 –

“Alcohol and Crime”

• What are the consequences of alcohol abuse (cost)?

• Describe, in detail, new laws (Acts) the Scottish Government have passed relating to

Alcohol in recent years.

• Explain arguments FOR and AGAINST the acts – do they do the job

2010 Int 2 KU

The why question

!

How to answer a question like this

• 8 marks = 4 paragraphs• PEE in every paragraph• Explain questions expect you to say Why

something happens. (You should have because in your answer)

• If you get more than four paragraphs done, add another reason why.

One reason some people commit crimes is due to economic issues such as poverty.Poverty can leave people unable to afford or take care of everyday needs such as food, clothing and shelter as well as luxuries and technology. Therefore they may feel the need to turn to crime to make money, such as drugs or organised crime, or steal items they cannot afford.

Another economic reason people may commit crimes is due to long term unemployment…

Example of one reason…

• Many young people turn to crime as a result of social exclusion. They may have been left out of certain aspects of society because of a number of factors including poverty, unemployment, lack of education or positive role models and even the area they live in. (Introduction)

• Young people who have had a poor education are more likely to offend than those who are well-educated. (P) The lack of qualifications means they are more likely to have low-paid jobs or be unemployed, meaning little or no money for things like technology or fashion items. (Exp) They may turn to shoplifting, for example, to get the items they feel they should have. (EG)

People who live in poor areas are often tempted into a life of crime. (P) Poorer areas tend to have few facilities and young people, in particular, can become bored. (EXP) Boredom can sometimes tempt people to get involved in activities which are not legal. They might even join a gang and engage in anti-social behaviour such as street fighting with other gangs. (EG)• A lack of positive role models can often lead young people

into criminal behaviour. (P) If a child’s parents or older siblings have no respect for the law or other people’s property, he or she will grow up with the same attitude. (EXP) As a result, the child will be more likely to get involved in things which are illegal such as vandalism. (EG)

• Peer pressure is another factor which can lead to criminal behaviour amongst young people. (P) They may be persuaded or led by others into taking illegal drugs, for example. (EXP) Addiction could lead to further criminal activity such as stealing money or goods to sell, to pay for more drugs. (EG)

• Poverty, more generally, can lead people to commit crimes. (P) Sometimes people living in a poor area or suffering long-term unemployment will not even have money to buy essentials. (EXP) For example, they may be forced into shop-lifting food to feed their family. (EG)

• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_8T9LiPqw5w