When I say that crime per capita has increased 47 times over in the past century, people often reply that reporting of crime has increased. This idea is widespread. I am afraid I have yet to see it cogently argued, with evidence. I would be glad to see the argument put properly. (Norman Dennis once wrote a pamphlet saying that the idea was wholly untrue.)

In the meantime, there is some evidence suggesting the very opposite. The latest such evidence of this comes from the Federation of Small Businesses:

Small businesses have so little faith in the legal system that they no longer bother reporting crimes that cost them £19billion a year.

They think thieves and vandals are let off far too lightly, according to a survey published yesterday.

Four out of ten fail to report crimes because they do not believe police take them seriously enough, says the Federation of Small Businesses.

The findings reflect growing anger at shoplifters being let off with onthespot fines, half of which go unpaid.

Under the latest Government proposals they will escape punishment altogether if they agree to say sorry.

This suggests that there is serious under-reporting of crime that is happening right now. It seems to me highly unlikely that small businesses did not report so many crimes in, say, the 1950s. But it would be interesting to see any evidence on the issue.

Posted by James Bartholomew • Indexed in Behaviour & Crime

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