Economic crises likely to trigger rise in crime – UNODC

The current economic crises is likely to spark a  wave of crime around the world, a UN study says.

Crime may peak during economic crises, the  new report released by the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) February 3, 2102 says, using data recorded by the police in 15 countries during the global financial crisis of 2008-2009.

In eight of 11 countries undergoing economic upheavals, a link between economic factors and crime could be clearly established, said the UNODC.

According to the report “Monitoring the Impact of Economic Crisis on Crime”, during periods of economic stress, “the incidence of robbery may double, and homicide and motor vehicle theft also increase.”

“The presence of youth gangs, the availability of weapons and potential targets, drug and alcohol consumption and the effectiveness of law enforcement all play a significant role in enabling or restraining overall crime levels,” the report states.

Covering a 20-year period, including the “peak” years 2008 and 2009, the UNODC study analyses monthly crime and economic data taken from Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Italy, Jamaica, Latvia, Mauritius, Mexico, the Philippines, Poland, Thailand, Trinidad and Tobago and Uruguay.

The report was prepared as part of the United Nations Global Pulse initiative on monitoring the impact of crises on vulnerable populations.

By Ekow Quandzie