NationStates Jolt Archive


Northern Ireland has developed world's lowest crime rate

Nadkor
19-09-2005, 16:44
THE country with the lowest level of crime in the developed world is Northern Ireland, according to a United Nations report.

Just 15% of people living in the province have been victims of crime, while levels of robbery and sexual assault are the lowest of 21 developed countries.

The study, based on telephone interviews with victims of crime, found that only one in 1,000 in Northern Ireland has been robbed or sexually assaulted.

Poland reported the greatest proportion of robberies and Austria has the most sexual assaults. Australia recorded the largest total number of crimes.

Despite boasting the best total crime figures in the developed world, Northern Ireland still has one of the worst records for crimes of violence. People in the province are twice as likely to be victims of violent assault than in America.

According to the study, almost 36,000 people from Northern Ireland are attacked each year. They include non-sexual crimes of violence and serious assaults.

England and Wales recorded the second highest number of assaults, while Northern Ireland was in joint sixth place.

Violent crime was highest in Scotland where levels per head of population are comparable with crime-ridden cities such as Rio de Janeiro. The attacks have been fuelled by a “booze and blades” culture in the west of Scotland, which has claimed more than 160 lives in the past five years.

The level of knife crime in Glasgow is similar to that in the most violent eastern European cities. The worst offenders are males aged between 15 and 25. Since January this year there have been 13 murders, 145 attempted murders and 1,100 serious assaults involving knives in the west of Scotland.

The problem is exacerbated by sectarian violence with casualty wards reporting higher admissions following Old Firm matches.

David Ritchie, an accident and emergency consultant at Glasgow’s Victoria Infirmary, said the UN figures were a “national disgrace”.

“I am embarrassed as a Scot that we are seeing this level of violence,” he said. “The politicians must do something about this problem. This is a serious public health issue and the people that are encouraging us to eat greens and avoid chips should be encouraging us not to knife each other. Violence is a cancer in this part of the world.

“I’m sure the justice minister will come up with some platitude about needing more information. What more information do they want? We are bottom of the league, do something.”

Detective Chief Superintendent John Carnochan, head of the Strathclyde police violence reduction unit, said the problem of violence, particularly in the west of Scotland, was “chronic”.

“Controlling licensed premises and restricting access to drink will not stop the violence. However, it will reduce it,” he said.

“In the same way, limiting the sale of knives will not solve the violence problem, but will reduce it.”

According to the study by the UN’s crime research institute, 3% of Scots had been victims of assault, compared with 1.2% in America and just 0.1% in Japan, 0.2% in Italy and 0.8% in Austria. England and Wales had the second highest number of assaults with 2.8%, while Northern Ireland had 2.1%.

Northern Ireland had the joint lowest level of robberies with Japan, the joint lowest level of sexual assaults with Japan and Malta and was 17th in the league table for property crime.
The Times (http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,2091-1785801,00.html)

I find this quite funny, personally, considering our reputation.
Carnivorous Lickers
19-09-2005, 17:13
Thats great news. It also speaks volumes. Putting the obvious struggles with Britain, I would read this as the Irish people being largely peaceful in the average day-to-day life. Ireland never struck me as a place with a high amount of street violence. I've never been there and sadly, I dont know much about it -yet.
Definately on my list of places I want to visit some day.

Dont the Irish have high-above average education levels as well? I remember hearing something along those lines recently. that may have a lot to do with it as well.
Nadkor
19-09-2005, 17:20
Dont the Irish have high-above average education levels as well? I remember hearing something along those lines recently. that may have a lot to do with it as well.
Yea, we have one of the top education systems in the world. Top 10 (I think) according to the UN.
New Independents
19-09-2005, 17:21
Thats great news. It also speaks volumes. Putting the obvious struggles with Britain, I would read this as the Irish people being largely peaceful in the average day-to-day life. Ireland never struck me as a place with a high amount of street violence. I've never been there and sadly, I dont know much about it -yet.
Definately on my list of places I want to visit some day.

Dont the Irish have high-above average education levels as well? I remember hearing something along those lines recently. that may have a lot to do with it as well.

The Irish and the Northern Irish aren't the same thing. Northern Ireland is not full of Irish people struggling with Britain. It is full of Northern Irish people struggling with each other. The nationalists and the republicans are both Northern Irish. While many people may get along peaceably in NI, lots of them are violently active. I think the low level of street crime may have a lot to do with the high level of organised crime.
New Granada
19-09-2005, 17:28
The moral superiority of the peope of the United Kingdom is demonstrated!

God Save the Queen!
Swimmingpool
19-09-2005, 17:28
I think the low level of street crime may have a lot to do with the high level of organised crime.
I agree.

On a side note, what is with all Americans gushing enthusiasm about Ireland? If they're not actiually claiming to be Irish (and they usually are) they place this country on a pedestal above others. Why?
Carnivorous Lickers
19-09-2005, 22:04
I agree.

On a side note, what is with all Americans gushing enthusiasm about Ireland? If they're not actiually claiming to be Irish (and they usually are) they place this country on a pedestal above others. Why?


Thats great! I would never "claim to be Irish" though there is an O'donell in my wood pile two generations ago.

Did it ever occur to you that your people seem to put their best foot foward? Besides the IRA publicity and maybe the weather-I dont hear a lot of bad coming out of that place. I grew up in a twon of predominantly Irish people-who to many Irish exchange students that I went to school with & played soccer with.
We also dont hear a lot of Irish people bashing the US. And so many people in the US have Irish ancestors.

So-maybe we dont know a ton of your facts and statistics, but what we do know makes your country appealing.
I wouldnt put it on a pedestal, but would count it as a place worth visiting and learning more about.
Swimmingpool
19-09-2005, 22:08
We also dont hear a lot of Irish people bashing the US. And so many people in the US have Irish ancestors.
That's another thing. Americans are always surprised to hear how very anti-Bush Irish people are when they come over here. It's like when Americans think of Europe they only think of France. Which is just what the Gaullists wanted... the bastards. ;)

I suppose I came across as complaining. I just get the feeling that most Americans think of Ireland more like an amusement park than a place where people actually live.

But as Oscar Wilde (I think) said, "the only thing worse than being talked about, is not being talked about." :)
Laenis
19-09-2005, 22:10
Again, it's Northen Ireland - part of Britain. Not Ireland itself. Though I imagine Ireland came high in the list of low crime rates as well.
New Granada
19-09-2005, 22:10
Again, it's Northen Ireland - part of Britain. Not Ireland itself.


Which is why they have such a low crime rate :)
Carnivorous Lickers
19-09-2005, 22:16
:p That's another thing. Americans are always surprised to hear how very anti-Bush Irish people are when they come over here. It's like when Americans think of Europe they only think of France. Which is just what the Gaullists wanted... the bastards. ;)

I suppose I came across as complaining. I just get the feeling that most Americans think of Ireland more like an amusement park than a place where people actually live.

But as Oscar Wilde (I think) said, "the only thing worse than being talked about, is not being talked about." :)

Maybe- I dont care what their politics are, though.

Just a compliment to your country. I dont think of it as an amusment park.
I dont think of France much at all since I've been there.

I've had some experience with a few Irish guys that worked for me 10 yrs ago-Irish as in just moved here at the time. Both of them smoked several packs of cigarettes a day, every other word was "F--k" or "C--t" and they really complained about absolutely everything. Really, really cynical whiners. And really, really hardcore drinkers. I wont stereotype-I also had a Polish
guy that drank every night-starting in the early afternoon. And way too much.

I dont think they were the most accurate representatives of your country though. How good could they be, to have chosen to move to the US, right?
:p
Eichen
19-09-2005, 22:17
I agree.

On a side note, what is with all Americans gushing enthusiasm about Ireland? If they're not actiually claiming to be Irish (and they usually are) they place this country on a pedestal above others. Why?
I'm hardly Irish, but we do love the Irish here. Perhaps it's their own historical struggle for independance that we relate to.

Oh, and they have really sexy accents. We like that.
Michaelic France
19-09-2005, 22:19
Maybe, just maybe, it has to do with the guard towers watching the streets (I've never been there myself, but a friend of mine went to Belfast).
New Granada
19-09-2005, 22:19
I agree.

On a side note, what is with all Americans gushing enthusiasm about Ireland? If they're not actiually claiming to be Irish (and they usually are) they place this country on a pedestal above others. Why?


I only like the northern irish, and only then because they're british.
Aylestone
19-09-2005, 22:27
Whilst I applaud the lowest overall crime rate in N.I. I do also feel obliged to point out that the countries with the least violent crime are the following:
1. Japan
2. Italy
3.Portugal
4. Austria
5. Netherlands (slightly surprising)/Switzerland
[Ref: Sunday Times 18th September, News Section, page 17]

Mind you, I did used to live in N. Ireland, and to be quite honest I never really felt in any kind of danger... of course the fact that N. Ireland has one of the highest concentrations of policemen, secret service personel and armed forces might have helped...
Agolthia
19-09-2005, 23:12
Maybe, just maybe, it has to do with the guard towers watching the streets (I've never been there myself, but a friend of mine went to Belfast).
Yeah, therse loads of guard towers over here in belfast, millions, u can't walk with your eyes shut for fear of walking into them. :rolleyes:
Nadkor
20-09-2005, 01:13
Maybe, just maybe, it has to do with the guard towers watching the streets (I've never been there myself, but a friend of mine went to Belfast).
Guard towers watching the streets?

Maybe a few outlook posts in police stations in dangerous areas (for them), but no, there aren't guard towers watching the streets of Belfast.