Extent of Increasing Knife Crimes in the UK

Knife Crimes are
Increasing
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Table of Contents
TITLE: To identify the extent to which knife crimes are increasing in the UK..............................4
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................4
Background..................................................................................................................................4
Aims and Objectives....................................................................................................................5
Rationale......................................................................................................................................5
Significance..................................................................................................................................6
Scope of the study........................................................................................................................6
Research structure........................................................................................................................7
CHAPTER 2....................................................................................................................................7
LITERATURE REVIEW................................................................................................................7
Theme 1: Identification of reasons of increasing knife crimes in the UK ..................................7
Theme 2: Degree to which knife crimes has increased................................................................9
Theme 3: Ways of decreasing knife crimes and protecting people...........................................11
CHAPTER 3 RESEARCH METHODOLOGY............................................................................13
Research philosophy..................................................................................................................13
Research strategy ......................................................................................................................13
Research approach.....................................................................................................................14
Research design.........................................................................................................................14
Data collection methods.............................................................................................................14
Sampling method.......................................................................................................................15
Data analysis .............................................................................................................................15
Ethical consideration..................................................................................................................15
Validity......................................................................................................................................16
RECOMMENDATION.................................................................................................................27
CONCLUSION..............................................................................................................................28
Reflection.......................................................................................................................................29
REFERENCES..............................................................................................................................31
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TITLE: To identify the extent to which knife crimes are increasing in the UK.
INTRODUCTION
A crime refers an unlawful act which is punishable by a state and others which has
authority to give punish to those who commit crimes. There are different types of crimes which
can spoil someone's life (Mumtaz, Visaria-Shah and Komath, 2019). Some types of crimes
include: kidnapping, sexual assault, property crime, robbery, knife crime etc. All are different
types of crime but all these crimes can spoil and disturb someone's life to the great extent. In the
context of knife crime, it can be said that it is a type of crime which is being done with knife or
which involve a knife. It is the big crime which is increasing because it is the easiest way for
criminal to threaten someone with a knife as a weapon. There are several reasons has been
identified which is increasing knife crimes in London, UK. One of the main reason which is
being identified is lack of opportunities as well as social deprivation. Other main reason which
lead to knife crime to the great extent is inequality. It has also identified that almost 9 in every
type of 10 crimes involve a knife crime in England and Wales. At a point of knife and sharp
instruments, criminal commit other types of crimes in order to fulfil their needs such as:
Robbery, murder et. When they feel that they are not getting enough opportunities which can
satisfy their needs and dreams than they commit crimes with knife. It is one of the main reason
as why knife crimes are increasing in mainly UK, England and Wales. In the context of knife
crimes, it can also be said that this increasing rate is putting pressure on police force protecting
people and make aware about it (Shepherd, 2019). It is hurting life of people to the great extent.
Background
This present study is based on the UK. UK is made up of England, Scotland, Wales and
Northern Ireland. England and Wales are 2 main countries which are mainly affected by knife
crimes or it can be said that these are countries where knife crimes are increasing to the great
extent. As per the report, it is stated that London has the largest proportion of knife crimes.
Almost 35% knife offence recorded happened in the capital. This highest rate of knife crimes in
this city is hurting lives of people and putting pressure on the government as well as police to
protect people of the UK (Yalçın Sarıbey and Hannam, 2016).
This study is also going to show the extent to which knife crimes have been increased in
the UK and its all regions. With the different points of views of authors, all information relevant
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to the topic knife crimes, can get in an efficient manner. This information will help researcher in
accomplishing the main aim of this study which is to identify the degree of increasing knife
crimes in UK as well as different strategies to decrease it. It will also discuss some reasons as
why criminals commit this knife crimes. Reasons differ from each other. It depends upon the
type of crime as some criminals rob house and bank at a point of knife, some commit murder and
some commit other crimes (Straw and et.al., 2018). So, the reason of committing crimes and
using knife in crimes differ from each other. Further, this study will also discuss research
methodology which helps researcher in getting information related to knife crimes, selecting the
best way and source of information in order to accomplish aim.
Aims and Objectives
Aim
“ To identify the extent to which criminals are increasing knife crimes in the UK”.
Objectives
 To identify reasons of increasing knife crimes in the UK.
 To identify degree to which knife crimes has increased.
 To identify ways of decreasing knife crimes and protecting people.
Research questions
1. What are some reasons which lead to knife crimes in the UK to the great extent?
2. What degree
3. Which strategies and ways can decrease knife crimes and protect people against this?
Rationale
One of the main reason of selecting this topic is to provide each and every information to
people about knife crimes which are increasing rapidly. By getting information they can make
changes in the security policies and strategies to decrease it. By making aware to people about
the ratio and data to which knife crimes are increasing and has increased, can make them able to
protect themselves in an efficient manner. It will also help polices and the government to make
changes in their policies and providing better security to people (Kirchmaier, Machin and Villa-
Llera, 2020). This research does not only will collect data and information which shows the
extent to which knife crimes are increasing but also it will discuss reasons that why criminals are
committing crimes. By getting this information this study can help police and the government to
satisfy needs of criminals and stop them from doing such types of unlawful and illegal acts. By
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providing better education to them all these crimes can be reduced. Reason of selecting UK for
knife crime is it is one of the country who is affected to knife crimes to the great extent so, the
aim is to protect their people.
By conducting research and getting relevant data making use of questionnaire and others,
all people can also be aware about ways to protect themselves and understand human behaviours.
There are several ways and strategies by which people can understand intention of criminals and
other people which can protect them against becoming the victim of crimes. So, the overall aim
of selecting this topic and country is to protect people and develop strict regulations which can
decrease knife crimes in the UK.
Significance
Gun and knife crime have become a common crime because it is increasing to the great
extent. Knife crimes are increasing and it is affecting many lives of people. There are several
people in the UK which have been affected from knife crimes. Some people have ended up their
life in hospital. It can be said that it is devastating personal effects on them, their families and
their friends as well. It has increased to a extent which has increased a fear in people of the UK
and even in children as they pick up a knife to feel safer, and they do not even know that
carrying a knife can make them more likely to get into serious danger. All are these
consequences and impacts of knife crimes which are increasing in the UK, England and Wales.
So, the main benefit of conducting this research is to make people safe against these crimes by
providing actual data as well as reasons of this crime to police and the government. Protecting
people and providing better education to children is one of the main aim by which UK can make
it a well-developed country (Middleton and Shepherd, 2018). Other importance of conducting
this study on the topic of knife crimes is to educate criminals and give them proper education and
change their mind that by doing such types of unlawful acts they cannot satisfy their needs.
Scope of the study
The present study is based on the UK and its regions in which knife crimes are increasing
so. This study will help at commercial level as people and businessmen can identify reasons and
extent to which knife crimes are increasing. By getting these information they can protect
themselves against crimes. So, the main scope and importance of this study is it can help all local
people of the UK to the great extent in order to develop strategies and put pressure on the
government to make strict regulations to decrease crimes. This research will also lead to identify
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strategies of understanding human behaviours by which people can know the intention of people
and criminals as well.
Research structure
This study is conducted in total 6 chapters in order to get effective information and make
the study successful. By dividing all elements according to chapter, viewers can analyses the
whole study effectively. First chapter is introduction which will give description of the main
topic knife crimes are increasing as well as aims and objectives on which basis further chapters
are dependent. Next chapter, chapter 2 is literature review in which all objectives will be
discussed in a detailed manner by different points of view of authors. Chapter 3 is research
methodologies in which the form of collecting information, sources of information and other
will be described in an efficient manner. Chapter 4 is data analysis and discussion in which
researcher will make use of primary and other sources like questionnaire and interview as per the
suitability of the topic. Chapter 5 is conclusion and recommendations in which as per the
above chapters, some ways will be recommended in order to decrease knife crimes and
protecting people of the UK. Last chapter, chapter 6 is reflection.
CHAPTER 2
LITERATURE REVIEW
Theme 1: Identification of reasons of increasing knife crimes in the UK
In the context of knife crimes, it can be said that there is a sharp rise in specially in
England and Wales. There are several reasons which are increasing knife crimes in the UK,
England and Wales. According to the Walsh, (2018) one of the main reason in the UK as why
people are committing this crime to this extent is lack of opportunities. Due to inequality, and
lack of diversity, people are being discriminated. Some people from working class and middle
class background feel that they are being discriminated In offices and other places they feel that
they have lack opportunities as others. It decreases their morale and put pressure on them to
commit some crimes. There are several people who stated and strongly believe that lack of
opportunities and social deprivation is one of the main reason which put pressure on them to
commit crimes and perform unlawful acts. It is also said by an author that it does not mean that if
people are from middle class and working class background they are allowed and going to carry
a knife. But still when people get frustrated and feel such things than without willingness, they
commit such type of acts It is also stated that after committing such kind of unlawful acts, they
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regret on it but there is no mean to cry over a split milk. So, from this point of view of author it
can be said that social deprivation and lack of opportunities or inequality is one of the main
reason of increasing knife crimes in the UK.
In addition, Staniforth, and et.al., (2019) stated that personal safety has become very
important for people of the UK. They feel unsafe and that is why they carry knife with them in
order to protect themselves against such type and other types of crimes. There are 13-18 years of
child who also carry knife as they think that by carrying such types of sharp tools and knives,
they can protect themselves and can increase fear among other people. They exactly do not know
that it is the big crime and if they do such kind of acts, they will be punished. Due to lack of
knowledge and as per the published news in articles and newspaper they carry such elements.
And if they feel unsafe a little than they fear other people by these and unknowingly they commit
such acts. Children do not know that if they carry such tools than they are more likely to be a
victim of knife crimes at their own. However, despite this more people seem to be making the
decision to carry knives. It is also stated that many people especially young people and children
end up their life being stabbed by their own weapon. Many people stated that they were
protecting themselves with the help of knives and trying to increase fear among others but by this
they ended up their life by their own.
Some authors Humphreys and et.al., (2019) argued views of others and said that its all
depend upon the government, strict rules and police. So, as per them one of the main reason of
increasing knife crimes in the UK is not having enough police. In this context, it is also stated
that London losing approximate 3,000 police officers and more than 3,000 PCOs and
approximate 5,000 police staff. All these numbers are reported to be down rapidly to total of
26,800 in the capital. So, it can be said that this is one of the main reason that police numbers in
London have been cut and due to this people keep knives with them as no one are there to check
them and scan them. It is perhaps no coincidence that knife crimes has increased at the very same
time as these police numbers in the UK have been cut. In addition, they also said that this reason
lead lack of discipline in the country. Nowadays, young people are committing many crimes as
compare to old people because they learn from their elders and from their role models. At some
point they also feel that there is no one who can support them and parents are also becoming so
soft to them they even do not teach them what is the right and what is the unlawful act and if
they do unlawful acts they will be punished so strictly and hard.
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It is also stated Fenwick and Fenwick, (2019) that increment in clubs for younger is also
becoming the reason of increasing knife crimes. Parents do not resist and stop their children from
going clubs and due to these children meet with other people and youngsters. When they talk and
interact than they think negative. Nowadays people often think that all negative things are
happening to them and when all these types of people meet with each other than they think about
performing such kinds of acts, and they push each other to commit crimes. So, it can be said that
freedom, liberty, changing thinking, lack of police officers, lack of opportunities is some reason
of increasing knife crimes in the UK, England and Wales.
Theme 2: Degree to which knife crimes has increased.
It is stated and often read in articles and newspaper about rise in knife crimes in the UK
and England. It is increasing day by day or year by year. Some reasons are revealed and some are
still not disclosed yet. But the question is why they are increasing and to the what extent they are
increasing. According to the Rise of Knife Crimes in England and Wales, (2019) it is stated that
approximate 43,516 knife crimes are recorded in the 2019-year ended till march. As compare to
year ended 2014 March, there is 80% increment in knife crimes. In the year of 2014, knife
crimes were approximate 23,945 and now it has increased approximate 19571. From this data, it
can clearly be said there is a huge rise in knife crimes in UK, England and Wales. It is also stated
that it is not an actual data as there are several cases who are unrevealed yet. So, from this data,
we can clearly say that knife crimes in the UK are increasing to the great extent. Out of 44 police
forces, almost 43 recorded as a rise in knife crimes in 2014. In addition, is is also said about the
age group who became victim of knife crimes are that there are people mainly with aged 19 or
over have become victims of this crime.
In addition, Winder and Griffiths, (2017) stated that purpose of criminals of using knives
was not only murder as it differs. In many cases in which criminal made use of knives were
assault and robbery. In England and Wales, it is stated that knife crimes are increasing but one of
the main crime which is increasing which involve knife is robbery and assault. Rather, these
crimes, only few were threats of murder and rape. So, from this data, it can be said that lack of
opportunity and income source is one of the main reason which put pressure on criminals to use
knives and act unlawful acts. From the robbery and assault, it can also be said that there is a
requirement to change mind of people that by doing this, they can not become rich. About half of
total knife crimes as almost 21,700 crimes which involve knives were assault which caused
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