Fears of Credit Crunch Crimewave Hit UK

Crime in the UK -- Britain faces a "credit crunch crime wave", http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/crime/britain-unprepared-for-recession-crime-wave-opposition-claims-1513417.html
"ministers were warned yesterday after figures showed increases in burglary, theft and knife robberies. Conservatives and Liberal Democrats said there was "clear evidence" the recession was leading to increases in offences, while Jacqui Smith, the Home Secretary, insisted the Government was working to prevent the downturn leading to rises in criminality. Last week The Independent revealed many police forces were reporting sharp increases in some offences as the recession started to bite in the final three months of 2008, with burglary and robbery doubling in some areas. Yesterday's Home Office figures, which cover July to September, gave the first official indications that the economic downturn has coincided with signs of rising crime."

Fears over credit crunch crime wave, http://www.thisissouthwales.co.uk/news/Fears-credit-crunch-crime-wave/article-637092-detail/article.html
Excerpts, "SOUTH Wales may not escape a "credit crunch crime wave", despite figures released yesterday which show crime has fallen. Nationally, rises in burglary and theft prompted the Tories and Liberal Democrats to issue a warning that crime would continue to rise as long as the economy was failing, despite there being a reported three per cent reduction in crime overall in the UK.
On Tuesday, the Chief Constable of South Wales, Barbara Wilding, said burglaries, robberies and domestic abuse cases were the most likely to rise."

Fears of credit crunch crimewave, By Ben Parsons, Crime Reporter . The Argus, 10:00pm Friday 23rd January 2009; http://www.theargus.co.uk/news/4072644.Fears_of_credit_crunch_crimewave/
Excerpts, "Desperate families are stealing food from shops as the recession drives people to crime. Frozen food, bread and meat are being snatched from the shelves, prompting fears a credit crunch crimewave is already hitting Sussex. At the end of 2008 robberies in the county were up nearly a quarter on the year before, with burglaries also on the rise. The figures have prompted calls for more police on the streets and a plan to deal with a rise in stealing as the economy worsens. The most shocking examples in recent weeks have come from Lewes, where police have seen a 40% rise in shoplifting compared with last year. Officers reported many of the culprits are simply people stealing food to feed their families.