Perception of Crime Trends

This page focuses on the discrepancy between public perception of crime rates and actual crime statistics. It highlights how media influence on criminal cases can lead to a false belief about the prevalence of crime in society.

The text notes that the general public perception is that crime is on the increase. This belief is often fueled by high-volume media reporting of crime stories. However, research suggests that crime rates are actually decreasing.

Quote: "Excluding fraud and computer misuse offences, there were an estimated 5.9 million incidents of crime experienced by adults aged 16 and over based on Crime Survey for England and Wales (CSEW) interviews in the year ending March 2017. This is a decrease of 7% from the 6.3 million incidents estimated in the previous year's survey."

This data from the Crime Survey of England and Wales (2017) demonstrates a consistent downward trend in crime rates. The previous year's survey also showed a 6% fall in the number of incidents against adults.

The impact of this misperception of rising crime rates can be significant. It can lead to increased anxiety and stress among the public about becoming victims of crime. This highlights the powerful influence of media representation on public perception and emotional well-being.

Highlight: The discrepancy between perceived and actual crime rates demonstrates the significant impact of media representation on public perception of crime.

The text also introduces "The Good Childhood Report" by the Children's Society (2017), which found that concerns about local crime are affecting the well-being and happiness of millions of children in the UK. This report, based on a survey of 3,000 10- to 17-year-olds and their parents, revealed that two in five teenagers worry about anti-social behavior and other crimes in their area.

This finding underscores the far-reaching consequences of media representation and public perception of crime, extending beyond adults to impact young people's sense of security and overall well-being.

Changing Public Attitudes and Concerns

This page delves into how media representations can shape public attitudes towards specific types of crime and influence government and policing priorities. It explores the concept of Islamophobia and its impact on public perceptions of terrorism.

Definition: Islamophobia is defined as a dislike of or prejudice against Islam or Muslims.

The text highlights how public concerns about different types of crime can change over time. For instance, recent terrorist attacks in cities like London, Manchester, and Barcelona have heightened public concern about terrorism. This shift in public attitude can lead to concrete policy changes, such as raising the national threat level.

Example: Following the Manchester attack in May 2017, the UK government raised the threat level from severe to critical in response to public concerns.

The concept of amnesty is also introduced in the context of changing public attitudes towards specific crimes.

Vocabulary: Amnesty refers to officially pardoning or giving confirmation that no criminal action will be taken, often used in the context of surrendering illegal items without facing prosecution.

The text provides an example of how concerns about knife crime can result in a knife amnesty, allowing people to surrender illegal knives without facing criminal charges.

The impact of media on criminal activities and investigations is evident in how these changing public attitudes can influence policing strategies and government priorities. This demonstrates the complex interplay between media representation, public perception, and law enforcement practices.