AC 1.2 - Reasons for Unreported Crime
Crime may not be reported for several reasons, including personal, social and cultural reasons, with
many individual reasons falling under each of these categories, such as fear or reporting a crime,
feeling ashamed, having a lack of knowledge or the crime being considered culturally bound.
In terms of personal reasons, a victim may feel fear by reporting a crime. This fear can come from
many things, one of which might be that of retaliation by the person or people who committed the
crime, or someone they know. For example, in a gang, there are repercussions, and you would likely
be punished by one gang member if you reported another. As a result, witnesses and victims choose
to keep quiet about it for fear of their safety. This is also common within the police – as to not
become a target of gang crime, for example, a police officer might not record or might disregard a
gang related crime.
A social or cultural reason a crime may not be reported would be due to a witness or victim’s lack of
knowledge. As an example, prostitution is looked down upon by many, but is not illegal in the United
Kingdom. It is, however, illegal in most of America. For this reason, someone in the US may not
report it to the police if they were to see prostitution on the streets, as they may not know whether
or not it is legal in their state, particularly as it is perceived as a victimless crime. A witness or victim
might refrain from reporting a crime as they don’t want to report something that is not illegal or feel
embarrassed by seeming unknowledgeable.
A second personal reason that a crime could not be reported is a witness might be disinterested in
the crime or feel that the crime does not affect them. This could apply to littering, where someone
may feel that a piece of rubbish on the floor simply doesn’t affect them or may diffuse the
responsibility of reporting it, expecting someone else to report it instead. A victim might not see the
perpetrator’s actions as wrong – this is especially true in instances of hate crime, where since some
agree with these committed the crime, they do not perceive it as wrong.
Another social or cultural reason crimes are not reported is the lack of media interest and public
concern. Raised awareness means a crime is more likely to be reported, evidenced by the
widespread attention of the #MeToo movement, which had been widely unnoticed for over a
decade. It wasn’t until an actress with a large following used the hashtag that it garnered attention
from the public and media. As a result, more victims of sexual assault came forward and shared their
stories as they learned they weren’t alone. If not for the sharing of the hashtag, many reports of
sexual assault and harassment would not have been made.
Crime may not be reported for several reasons, including personal, social and cultural reasons, with
many individual reasons falling under each of these categories, such as fear or reporting a crime,
feeling ashamed, having a lack of knowledge or the crime being considered culturally bound.
In terms of personal reasons, a victim may feel fear by reporting a crime. This fear can come from
many things, one of which might be that of retaliation by the person or people who committed the
crime, or someone they know. For example, in a gang, there are repercussions, and you would likely
be punished by one gang member if you reported another. As a result, witnesses and victims choose
to keep quiet about it for fear of their safety. This is also common within the police – as to not
become a target of gang crime, for example, a police officer might not record or might disregard a
gang related crime.
A social or cultural reason a crime may not be reported would be due to a witness or victim’s lack of
knowledge. As an example, prostitution is looked down upon by many, but is not illegal in the United
Kingdom. It is, however, illegal in most of America. For this reason, someone in the US may not
report it to the police if they were to see prostitution on the streets, as they may not know whether
or not it is legal in their state, particularly as it is perceived as a victimless crime. A witness or victim
might refrain from reporting a crime as they don’t want to report something that is not illegal or feel
embarrassed by seeming unknowledgeable.
A second personal reason that a crime could not be reported is a witness might be disinterested in
the crime or feel that the crime does not affect them. This could apply to littering, where someone
may feel that a piece of rubbish on the floor simply doesn’t affect them or may diffuse the
responsibility of reporting it, expecting someone else to report it instead. A victim might not see the
perpetrator’s actions as wrong – this is especially true in instances of hate crime, where since some
agree with these committed the crime, they do not perceive it as wrong.
Another social or cultural reason crimes are not reported is the lack of media interest and public
concern. Raised awareness means a crime is more likely to be reported, evidenced by the
widespread attention of the #MeToo movement, which had been widely unnoticed for over a
decade. It wasn’t until an actress with a large following used the hashtag that it garnered attention
from the public and media. As a result, more victims of sexual assault came forward and shared their
stories as they learned they weren’t alone. If not for the sharing of the hashtag, many reports of
sexual assault and harassment would not have been made.
