AC1.2 reasons why crimes go unreported
Domestic abuse
Personal reason: Fear - the victim of domestic abuse might fear what the offender
might do in retaliation for the victim reporting the act. They may also worry about
their children as they might be taken into care. - unknown consequence.
Social/cultural reason: Lack of knowledge – the victim may not realise they have
been a victim of domestic abuse as sometimes it is psychological and emotional
abuse.
Hate crime
Personal reason: Fear – is someone is getting bullied at school for being
homosexual, the victim might not report it to a teacher because they don’t want to
get bullied even more than they already are.
Social/cultural reason: Lack of public concern - if the crime isn’t causing an issue for
the public, then they are unlikely to report it.
Honour crime
Personal reason: Fear - the victim may fear things getting worse if they speak to the
police and the offender finds out. Unknown consequence if the offender finds out
they have been reported.
Social/cultural reason: Culture bound crime - in some cultures certain crimes are
accepted. The victim is afraid in case something will happen to them.
Moral crime
Personal reason: Disinterest – some people are disinterested in a crime and
therefore don’t report it, these are normally crimes such as under-age drinking, this
is a victimless crime which may lead to disinterest. Another example may be if they
see a drug deal from afar. - because they aren’t involved and don’t have much
information in it, they may just choose to ignore it.
Social/cultural reason: Lack of knowledge – people may not know who to report to or
how to report it. Somone may not know that what happened is a crime. 29% of
crimes go unreported due to how the witness doesn’t think it’s a crime.
State crime
Personal reason: Not affected - you might not realise that you have been affected by
a crime or that a crime has occurred against you.
Social/cultural reason: Complexity - because the crimes are committed or ordered
by state agencies e.g. governments. This means that they are well hidden and
thought though meaning it would be difficult to report it.
Technological crime
Domestic abuse
Personal reason: Fear - the victim of domestic abuse might fear what the offender
might do in retaliation for the victim reporting the act. They may also worry about
their children as they might be taken into care. - unknown consequence.
Social/cultural reason: Lack of knowledge – the victim may not realise they have
been a victim of domestic abuse as sometimes it is psychological and emotional
abuse.
Hate crime
Personal reason: Fear – is someone is getting bullied at school for being
homosexual, the victim might not report it to a teacher because they don’t want to
get bullied even more than they already are.
Social/cultural reason: Lack of public concern - if the crime isn’t causing an issue for
the public, then they are unlikely to report it.
Honour crime
Personal reason: Fear - the victim may fear things getting worse if they speak to the
police and the offender finds out. Unknown consequence if the offender finds out
they have been reported.
Social/cultural reason: Culture bound crime - in some cultures certain crimes are
accepted. The victim is afraid in case something will happen to them.
Moral crime
Personal reason: Disinterest – some people are disinterested in a crime and
therefore don’t report it, these are normally crimes such as under-age drinking, this
is a victimless crime which may lead to disinterest. Another example may be if they
see a drug deal from afar. - because they aren’t involved and don’t have much
information in it, they may just choose to ignore it.
Social/cultural reason: Lack of knowledge – people may not know who to report to or
how to report it. Somone may not know that what happened is a crime. 29% of
crimes go unreported due to how the witness doesn’t think it’s a crime.
State crime
Personal reason: Not affected - you might not realise that you have been affected by
a crime or that a crime has occurred against you.
Social/cultural reason: Complexity - because the crimes are committed or ordered
by state agencies e.g. governments. This means that they are well hidden and
thought though meaning it would be difficult to report it.
Technological crime
