Topic 1.2

 Topic 1.2 - Explain the reasons that certain crimes are unreported

Reasons for unreported crimes-

Crimes can only be investigated and solved if they are reported to the police. However, there are many reasons why crimes go unreported like a person may be unaware that they are a victim of a crime. On the other hand, they may be well aware they are a victim but may have personal, social or cultural reasons in which they are not reporting the crime

Personal reasons- 

Fear- The victim of the crime may feel and be concerned that there might be retaliation if they report the crime to the police. Also, if the victim is aware and knows the offender personally they may be afraid of them reporting the crime leading to further actions against them. They may also fear the possible consequences for their families and the people close to them.

Shame-If you are victim of a crime it may cause embarrassment or shame. The victim may feel shame on admitting a crime has happened due to how it makes them feel or appear to other people. This could be a reason why they do not report a crime to the police. 

Disinterest- Witnesses may be disinterested. An example of this is if a someone witnesses teenagers drinking alcohol in a local park they may feel unconcerned about the offence being committed, so they do not bother with reporting it.

Not affected by the crime- This is similar to being disinterested. A person may not feel personally affected by a particular crime so they may not feel the need to report the crime to the police. 

Social and cultural reasons-

Lack of knowledge- People may not know a particular action is against the law and classed as a crime. They may also not know who to report the crime to. 

Complexity-Some crimes are very complex and it could be difficult to tell whether a crime has been committed like white collar crimes.

Lack of media interest- Most of our knowledge is gained through the media coverage. This increases peoples awareness and may make witnesses and victims of the sorts of crimes covered by the media more likely to report them to the police. On the other hand, crimes that are not in media spotlight may not get reported to the police. If the media does not sensitise their audiences to a given type of crime, the public will be less vigilant or anxious about it and less likely to notice it so it is less likely to be reported if it is not noticed.

Lack of current public concern- If crime is not causing public concern then people are less likely to be reported. An example of this is the attitudes towards the use of cannabis over the years.

Culture bound crime- Cultural practices of some groups may break the law. An example of this is genital mutilation and forced marriage. Such practices are criminal they are still linked to the culture and customs of some communities, this may mean they are not reported to the police. For some members of the community this may be because they do not see anything wrong with their actions and activities. On the other hand, some people may fear retaliation from their own communities if they do report the crime. People who are outside the community may feel that they should not interfere in other peoples culture.

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