Rising crime: a vicious circle
Crime rates are rising across the world. But there
is no single cause - such as human greed -
propelling them upwards. Instead, the growing
crime rate can only be understood as part of a
much larger, and ever increasing, vicious circle.

Governments spend more on Police and the Army.
. Between 1971 and 1981 there was a 213% increase on arms spending across the world.

Source: UN Second Crime Survey 1985

More money spent on armies and police means less money available for welfare.

In the UK between 1979 and 1983:
. housing was cut by 5 per cent
. education was cut by 6 per cent
. overseas aid was cut by 20 per cent.

Source: Labour Party Research Dept.

As the gap between rich and poor increases, more of the poverty stricken turn to crime.

Source: Lea and Young, What Is To Be Done About Law and Order? 1984

Source: UN Second Crime Survey, 1985

The number of people imprisoned dropped in the 1940s and 1950s, but is now increasing.

Source: Australian Institute of Criminology 1985

In a survey about crime the public was asked: Have behaviour problems increased over the past 5 years? They answered:

Source: UN Social Defence Research Institute 1984