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Middle classes 'admit petty' crimes
25/06/2007
While solicitors in Britain and Northern Ireland often have to deal with cases where a tradesman has been negligent or where a business has been found wanting, they may not realise that their clients are possibly in breach of the law themselves.
Research has shown that nearly two-thirds of people in the UK regularly commit petty crimes, with some people committing multiple offences.
Some 82 per cent of people aged between 25 and 65 with 'middle-class backgrounds' reported that they had been the victim of a crime, such as a tradesman charging for work that was not carried out.
But researchers at Keele University also found that 61 per cent of people admitted to committing a least one offence, such as tax avoidance, adding items to insurance claims, stealing items from work or failing to pay their TV licence.
Of the people who confessed to a crime, 62 per cent had committed up to three crimes and a further ten per cent said they had nine or more offences.
"Although the middle classes are engaging in this type of behaviour, they are also eager to blame when they find themselves victims of such behaviour," said the report. "Consumers are sheep and wolves - easy prey and preying on others. Offending and victimisation are as closely and intricately linked at the core of society as at its margins."
"Contempt for the law is as widespread in the centre of society as it is assumed to be rampant at the margins and amongst specific marginal groups," said Professor Susanne Karstedt, one of the researchers. "Neither greed nor need can explain why respectable citizens cheat on insurance claims or in second hand sales - and do not hesitate to discuss their exploits with friends in pubs."
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Research has shown that nearly two-thirds of people in the UK regularly commit petty crimes, with some people committing multiple offences.
Some 82 per cent of people aged between 25 and 65 with 'middle-class backgrounds' reported that they had been the victim of a crime, such as a tradesman charging for work that was not carried out.
But researchers at Keele University also found that 61 per cent of people admitted to committing a least one offence, such as tax avoidance, adding items to insurance claims, stealing items from work or failing to pay their TV licence.
Of the people who confessed to a crime, 62 per cent had committed up to three crimes and a further ten per cent said they had nine or more offences.
"Although the middle classes are engaging in this type of behaviour, they are also eager to blame when they find themselves victims of such behaviour," said the report. "Consumers are sheep and wolves - easy prey and preying on others. Offending and victimisation are as closely and intricately linked at the core of society as at its margins."
"Contempt for the law is as widespread in the centre of society as it is assumed to be rampant at the margins and amongst specific marginal groups," said Professor Susanne Karstedt, one of the researchers. "Neither greed nor need can explain why respectable citizens cheat on insurance claims or in second hand sales - and do not hesitate to discuss their exploits with friends in pubs."
Contact us for legal advice
