Out of the Mouths of the Babes

In a new survey young people describe their experiences of crime and suggest possible causes and solutions.

Young people are just as worried as their parents by the cases reported in the media and by crime which they suffer themselves, according to a new survey by criminologists. In fact, youngsters could be said to have more reason to fear violent crime because they are its most common victims.

A team of researchers from the Institute of Criminology at Cambridge University carried out the survey on two large council estates near Birmingham. They questioned 307 youngsters who were aged between 13 and 17 about crime, its causes and possible solutions.

According to Kate Painter, who organized the research, the findings contradict the view of some public figures that juvenile crime is increasing. She says the findings show that very few teenagers are involved in stealing cars, burglary, robbery and assaults.

The 148 boys and 159 girls questioned were from families with high levels of unemployment. A high percentage had single parents and most were still at school.

Strict rules were observed to encourage those questioned to answer honestly. All were questioned with their parents’ permission but parents had to be out of the room during interviews. Answers to questions about varieties of crime committed were put in unmarked envelopes to keep the respondents anonymous and discourage them from boasting.

Two out of every five boys and girls had played truant from school, a quarter regularly smoked and about 7 out of 10 had drunk alcohol. Roughly a fifth said they had taken money from home and a smaller percentage had shoplifted.

Thirty-three per cent of the boys, and 26 per cent of the girls, said they had hit and injured somebody in a public place. Only one per cent had broken into a house or shop. Three per cent, girls as well as boys, had take vehicle and driven it away. Seven per cent had used a weapon in a fight, twice as many carried weapons for protection.

But what came through strongly was the large number of youngsters who had also been victims of crime or the threat of crime. Fifteen per cent had been stopped by male drivers they did not know asked to get into their cars. Similar numbers had been followed by a stranger in a car or on foot. A fifth said they had been assaulted in the street.

When asked why youngsters they knew committed crimes, 79 per cent cited boredom and 58 per cent said offenders had no sense of right and wrong. A lack of leisure facilities was blamed by half and 44 per cent blamed parental neglect.

More police officers on foot patrol was the most popular solution reducing juvenile crime, and was suggested by nearly 7 out of 10. Sixty-five per cent said there should be more discipline and supervision by parents.

In fact, the majority of those surveyed revealed the presence of caring parents. Seven out of 10 were taken by parents and 61 per cent said their parents wanted to know where they were and what they were doing at times. Eighty-five per cent said they could talk to their mother or father about anything that troubled them.

Three-quarters had never been hit by either parent but were shouted at or threatened for wrongdoing, whereas 16 per cent were hit sometimes or often. Sixty-nine per cent said their parents explained to them why certain things were wrong.

Ms Painter says that the findings still need proper analysis and will not be published for another year. But we can already see that there is consensus among young people and adults about strategies for preventing crime and why young people offend.

Are our kids out of control? The answer is no, but there is a substantial minority of children who are neglected. You can deduce from that that those children are more likely to get involved in crime if there is nobody checking up on them.

“In the past, 18- to 21-year-old working-class kids got jobs and married. The best antidote to crime is a steady job and a steady relationship.”

6. Say, what these figures relate to:

79%, 7 out of 10, 307, 26%, 148, 159, 44%, 58%, ¾, 2 out of 5, ¼, 61%, 69%.

7.Complete the following sentences.

1)Youngsters are worried by the criminal cases reported in the media because…

2)The findings show that…

3)The youngsters questioned were encouraged…

4)There is consensus among young people and adults about…

5)There is a substantial minority of children who…

6)Those children are most likely…

8.What are the possible causes of teenage crime experience? What are the possible solutions?

9.Insert the following words in the sentences below.

1)He is serving two _ prison sentences.

2)I kept telling him I wasn’t interested in his offer, but he was _.

3)There is still no _ improvement in the economic situation.

4)The boy came up before the _ on a charge of theft.

5)She was held in police _ for six hours.

6)Don’t _ his abilities.

7)They were released from _ without being charged.

8)Their claims should be treated with great _.

9)Make the windows _ before leaving the house.

10)The _ of the committee on child care are due to be published soon.

11)The bus service to country areas is being _.

12)The situation poses a _ threat to peace.

13)The army launched a major _ against the rebel town.

14)They’re going to _ him for murder.

15)The young offender was put on _ for two years.

16)One of the _ has escaped.

17)He declared that he was not _ for his wife’s debts.

III 1.You are a politician (policeman, judge, psychologist, sociologist). Suggest measures to deal with young offenders, relying on your own experience.

2.Write a short essay on the topic “Are our kids out of control? ”.

3.Additional tasks.

a)Spot the lies.