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.
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.