AC 1.2- reasons for not reporting crime
Personal reasons
One of the personal reasons for unreported crime is lack of involvement of
the person, as they have not been directly involved (physically or
emotionally) or affected by the crime. The crime committed may also be
seen as normal in some areas; therefore, it will go unreported. The types of
crime this reason comes under are moral crimes, for example, underage
drinking and smoking, as the victim is typically the offender who is extremely
unlikely to report the crime. Another personal reason is shame,
embarrassment, and fear, as the victim may feel like they could have
avoided the crime if they had taken different actions, or the crime is too
'irrelevant' to be reported. An example of a crime where the victim may feel
humiliated is cyberbullying, especially in young children, because of the fear
that their devices will be confiscated at home. This leads to many
cyberbullying cases going unreported.
Social reasons
One of the social reasons for not reporting crime is lack of media interest, as
many people will rely on the crime’s popularity as to whether they should
report it or not. If the media coverage of the crime is low, many people are
unlikely to report due to an apparent lack of public concern. The types of
crime this reason comes under are moral crimes due to the offences often
being hidden from families and the media due to a want of privacy. Another
reason for not reporting crime socially is lack of knowledge, as people may
not know how to report the crime and do not realise the act can be
prevented. An example of a moral crime for lack of media interest is
vagrancy, as homelessness tends to be a lack of concern in the field of the
media, as is so common.
Cultural reasons
One of the cultural reasons for not reporting crime is fear of their family or
community, as there could be consequences coming from those sides if the
crime comes out as reported. The crimes committed can be seen as
acceptable or normal in the culture and will therefore go unreported. The
types of crime these reasons fall under are forced marriage and FGM. These
crimes are seen as standard procedure because of cultural differences, and
those who are not fully bound to the culture will be fearful of reprisals from
the family and community. Another reason for not reporting crime culturally
Personal reasons
One of the personal reasons for unreported crime is lack of involvement of
the person, as they have not been directly involved (physically or
emotionally) or affected by the crime. The crime committed may also be
seen as normal in some areas; therefore, it will go unreported. The types of
crime this reason comes under are moral crimes, for example, underage
drinking and smoking, as the victim is typically the offender who is extremely
unlikely to report the crime. Another personal reason is shame,
embarrassment, and fear, as the victim may feel like they could have
avoided the crime if they had taken different actions, or the crime is too
'irrelevant' to be reported. An example of a crime where the victim may feel
humiliated is cyberbullying, especially in young children, because of the fear
that their devices will be confiscated at home. This leads to many
cyberbullying cases going unreported.
Social reasons
One of the social reasons for not reporting crime is lack of media interest, as
many people will rely on the crime’s popularity as to whether they should
report it or not. If the media coverage of the crime is low, many people are
unlikely to report due to an apparent lack of public concern. The types of
crime this reason comes under are moral crimes due to the offences often
being hidden from families and the media due to a want of privacy. Another
reason for not reporting crime socially is lack of knowledge, as people may
not know how to report the crime and do not realise the act can be
prevented. An example of a moral crime for lack of media interest is
vagrancy, as homelessness tends to be a lack of concern in the field of the
media, as is so common.
Cultural reasons
One of the cultural reasons for not reporting crime is fear of their family or
community, as there could be consequences coming from those sides if the
crime comes out as reported. The crimes committed can be seen as
acceptable or normal in the culture and will therefore go unreported. The
types of crime these reasons fall under are forced marriage and FGM. These
crimes are seen as standard procedure because of cultural differences, and
those who are not fully bound to the culture will be fearful of reprisals from
the family and community. Another reason for not reporting crime culturally
