Lawless Britain

Bicycles are stolen. Phones are seized in the street. E-bikes ride on pavements and through red lights. People steal from shops. It seems that Britain has become more lawless. Some commentators claim that this is because the perception of crime has risen. Others say the increase is real

Shoplifting has increased in recent years, especially since the pandemic. Bicycle and phone theft are common in dense cities because they are quick, low-risk, and profitable. E-bike and e-scooter misuse is highly visible. This is a real change, especially in petty and opportunistic crime.

One claim is that policing is stretched thin. Police forces have fewer officers per capita than a decade ago in many areas. They claim to prioritize serious crime, such as violence and terrorism, over lower-level offences. That means that things such as bike theft or minor shoplifting often receive limited follow-up. This creates a perception, and sometimes a reality, of low consequences, which can encourage repeat offending.

There are low-risk, high-reward crimes. Crimes such as phone snatching or shoplifting are attractive because they take seconds, evidence is hard to gather, and items can be resold quickly. When offenders believe that they are unlikely to be caught, these crimes increase, even without a broader collapse in morality.

Cost-of-living pressures can push some people toward theft. That said, not all crime is driven by hardship, because retailors and police claim that organized groups are a large part of shop theft. 

Technology has changed both crime and awareness. E-bikes and scooters make it easier to commit fast snatch thefts and escape. Social media spreads videos of crime instantly, making incidents seem more common than they statistically are. 

There is some degree of public tolerance and enforcement gaps. Some behaviours, such as pavement riding are in a grey area of enforcement. When rules are not consistently enforced, norms can erode, and people copy what they see others getting away with.

Compared to the 1990s, overall crime is still lower in many categories. What has changed is the type of crime being committed. There is more theft and anti-social behaviour, and less traditional burglary in some areas. Everyday disorder and petty crime feel more visible.  Enforcement is inconsistent, and public confidence in policing has taken a hit.

People feel themselves to be potential victims. Almost everyone knows of someone whose phone has been stolen, or who has had to take emergency action to avoid being hit by cyclists riding on pavements or shooting red lights. Many have seen brazen shop thefts, and some retailers have instructed staff not to confront those stealing. The perception is real, as is the feeling that people ‘are getting away with it.’

There is also concern that police are available to visit the homes of those accused of ‘inflammatory’ speech online, but not to investigate or apprehend people stealing computer bags in pubs and restaurants. The fact is that people want lawbreakers to face justice, and the police and the courts are unable to deliver that. This all adds up to the feeling that Britain is lawless, certainly more so than it was.

Madsen Pirie