BRITAIN’S soft touch on crime is costing the economy up to £250billion a year, a report warns today.
Former Home Secretary Sajid Javid has backed calls to toughen sentences, increase prison capacity and automatically deport foreign offenders.
GettyBritain’s soft touch on crime is costing the economy up to £250billion a year, a report warns today[/caption]
AlamyThe total cost of crime to businesses is put at £38billion, with shoplifting and other forms of stealing being most significant[/caption]
Analysis by the Policy Exchange think tank says lawlessness is wiping off around ten per cent of GDP annually.
It includes roughly £170billion in direct crimes and a further £80billion from people changing their behaviour to avoid being targeted.
Crimes against individuals are estimated to have the highest burden at £63billion and include offences such as theft and forms of violence.
The total from businesses is put at £38billion, with shoplifting and other forms of stealing causing the most significant cost.
Public sector crimes like fraud are put at £31billion, “victimless crimes” like tackling drug use at £15billion, anti-social behaviour at £15billion and other justice spending at £7billion.
While admitting the total cost was hard to estimate, the research drew on numerous government sources and academic studies.
The authors want a tougher approach to stop criminals acting with impunity and reverse the trend of soaring crime, including harsher sentences and more jail cells.
In the past ten years, shoplifting has increased by 51 per cent, robberies 64 per cent and knife crime 89 per cent.
Ex-Tory Chancellor Mr Javid said: “Restoring that trust, and the rule of law on which prosperity relies, must be a priority for the Government.
“Without it, our society will suffer.
“Our prospects for economic growth will suffer.
“And the costs of that will fall squarely on the British people.”
Former Bank of England chief economist Andy Haldane said the findings were a “wake-up call” to all political parties on the true and rising economic costs of crime.
AlamyBritain’s soft touch on crime is costing the economy up to £250billion a year, a report warns today[/caption] Published: [#item_custom_pubDate]
