Social Issues in the United
Kingdom
Crime
Cycle 1 – What is Crime?
CONNECT
Who is this?
What is happening?
Learning Intentions
Have an understanding of what will be
expected over the course of the year and
during this topic
 Be able to give a definition of what crime
is
 Be able to explain different types of
crimes with examples

Course Descriptor
Option 2: Crime and the Law
In the crime and the law context, learners will focus on the
causes of crime, the impact of crime on individuals and society
and the role of individuals, the police, the legal system and the
state in tackling crime.
Overview of Crime and the Law in Scotland and the UK.
With reference to different types of crime, eg personal and property and
different groups affected by crime:
♦ Evidence of extent of crime such as official reports and academic
research.
♦ Causes of crime, such as poverty/deprivation, social exclusion, family
influence, peer pressure, alcohol/ drug misuse.
♦ Consequences of crime on individuals/ families, communities
Exam Questions:
This is just a small sample. A document with potential exam questions is
on the school web page.
Why people commit crime
1.
‘People commit crimes for different reasons.’ Explain
why people commit crimes.
2.
‘Some parts of Scotland have higher crime rates
than others.’ Explain, in detail, the reasons why some
parts of Scotland have higher crime rates than others.
3.
Social exclusion and poverty often lead to youth
crime. Explain, in detail, why social exclusion and poverty
often lead to youth crime.
What is Crime?
Democratically elected MPs make laws that
apply to the whole of the UK and MSPs
make laws that apply to Scotland. A crime
is any act which breaks these laws.
Types of Crime
Crime Group
Definition
Number of Crimes
recorded by the
police in Scotland
2011-2012
Non-sexual crimes of
violence
Murder, attempted
murder, serious assault,
robbery, other
9,533
Sexual Offences
Rape, attempted Rape,
sexual assault,
prostitution, other
7,359
Crimes of dishonesty
Housebreaking, theft,
shoplifting, fraud, other
154, 337
Fire raising,Vandalism
etc
Deliberately setting fires
and damaging property
75,201
Other
Handling a weapon, drug
offences, traffic crime,
public disorder, other
67, 756
Independent research:
Serious organised crime
 White Collar Crime
 Blue Collar Crime
 New Crime

PLEASE WRITE A DEFINITION AND GIVE
AN UP TO DATE EXAMPLE
SERIOUS ORGANISED CRIME
Organised crime groups can span the world and use the money they make from things like
pirate DVDs to fund more serious crimes like human trafficking.
WHITE-COLLAR CRIME
Crime committed for financial gain by someone in a position of trust. Examples of this
type of crime are fraud, embezzlement, bribery, insider trading, money laundering and cyber
crime.
BLUE COLLAR CRIME
Blue Collar Crime is committed by people in unskilled jobs or who or unemployed. Most
likely to be housebreaking, shoplifting or vandalism.
NEW CRIME
Cyber bullying and hate crimes are new crimes and these are on the rise.
Crime in Scotland
The Scottish Crime and Justice Survey
(SCJS) measures recorded crime in Scotland
annually.
 Young males are most like to be victims of
crime
 Higher number of victims in poor areas
 E.g. 1019 crimes committed in Glasgow
2011-12

Perception of Crime
Go...
30 seconds to:
Write down 1 thing you
have learned today.