Home > Will the Covid-19 pandemic reduce the crime rate?
In accordance with the latest UK government guidelines, all RMP colleagues are now working from home until further notice. Despite not being able to meet with you in person, we are very much open for business and you can reach all our teams by phone, email or social media as we continue our mission to deliver the best service possible for you and all of our clients.
Thank you for your understanding and support as we do our bit to help mitigate the risks associated with COVID-19 in these extraordinary times.
Take care and stay safe from all at RMP
on
Will the Covid-19 pandemic reduce the crime rate?
In difficult times it is always uplifting to try and find a glimmer of hope and the possibility of a reduction in the crime rate – even a short lived one – could be such a glimmer. Although, at this early stage it remains prudent to be keep an open mind about the eventual long-term impact on crime numbers.
Across the country there are signs that social distancing is having a dramatic impact on reported crime. Backing up reports following the initial days of the lockdown, the latest update from the National Police Chief’s Association, on 15 April 20201, showed a 28% overall drop in the crime rate, and a 37% reduction in more serious crimes such as rape and burglary. These figures suggest that the early first estimates of a 20% drop in crime2 during the lockdown appear to be likely to be not only achieved, but surpassed.
However, this positive news is tempered by the impact the virus is having on police resources. Police forces across the UK are seeing significant absenteeism as staff are either self-isolating or suffering from Covid-19 at home. The Metropolitan Police Federation estimates that nearly 20% of the forces’ officers are off sick or self- isolating due to the virus3. Chief Superintendent Paul Griffiths of the Police Superintendents’ Association told the Home Affairs Select Committee in early April that up to 13% of officers were off sick due to the virus4. With reduced police numbers and the important policing job of maintaining social distancing a priority, perhaps staff absence will be an invitation for crime levels to grow?
While the pandemic is bringing good news about crimes committed away from home, the enforced lockdown is raising the stakes for crimes that take place behind closed doors. It’s predicted that levels of domestic violence in homes could rise throughout the quarantine period. During the first week of April 2020, The National Domestic Abuse helpline has seen as 25% upsurge in calls, while its website has seen anextraordinary 150% increase in visits5.
With families being confined to their homes, it will come as no surprise if we see the numbers of reported domestic crimes and those seeking help dramatically rise during the course of the pandemic. It is too early yet to say what the full impact of the pandemic and the lockdown will be on the numbers and categories of recorded crime. Careful monitoring of the statistical evidence and the eventual impact via court proceedings will be needed in the weeks and months ahead.
Published Date: 22nd April 2020
Disclaimer
This note is not intended to give legal or financial advice, and, accordingly, it should not be relied upon for such. It should not be regarded as a comprehensive statement of the law and or market practice in this area. In preparing this note we have relied on information sourced from third parties and we make no claims as to the completeness or accuracy of the information contained herein. It reflects our understanding as at 14th April 2020, but you will recognise that matters concerning Covid-19 are fast changing across the world. You should not act upon information in this bulletin nor determine not to act, without first seeking specific legal and/or specialist advice. Our advice to our clients is as an insurance broker and is provided subject to specific terms and conditions, the terms of which take precedence over any representations in this document. No third party to whom this is passed can rely on it. We and our officers, employees or agents shall not be responsible for any loss whatsoever arising from the recipient’s reliance upon any information we provide herein and exclude liability for the content to fullest extent permitted by law. Should you require advice about your specific insurance arrangements or specific claim circumstances, please get in touch with your usual contact at Risk Management Partners.
Disclosure
Risk Management Partners Limited is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. Registered office: The Walbrook Building, 25 Walbrook, London EC4N 8AW. Registered in England and Wales. Company no. 2989025
Source:
1 https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-52298016
2 https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2020/mar/26/coronavirus-crisis-leads-to-precipitous-drop-in-recorded3 3https://www.standard.co.uk/news/london/police-staff-sick-self-isolating-coronavirus-a4396016.html
4 https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2020/apr/06/police-absences-may-lead-to-rise-in-suicides-mps-told
Related Articles
Duty of Care
Managing wellbeing and mental health is critical for the education system where the provision of support services has often been lacking.
Making the 2020s about long-term partnerships between insurers and local authorities
The decade about long-term partnerships
Better collaboration for better infrastructure in the 20’s
The last 25 years have seen the completion of some spectacular infrastructure projects, what does the next decade hold?
Back to the Future: from floppy disks to 5G
Twenty-five years of digitisation has transformed the role of technology in the workplace for public sector organisations.
Sign up to receive the latest from RMP
Short Form Privacy Notice
Risk Management Partners Limited is the data controller of any personal information you provide to us or personal information that has been provided to us by a third party. We collect and process information about you in order to arrange insurance policies and to process claims. Your information is also used for business purposes such as fraud prevention and detection and financial management. This may involve sharing your information with third parties such as insurers, reinsurers, other brokers, claims handlers, loss adjusters, credit reference agencies, service providers, professional advisors, our regulators, police and government agencies or fraud prevention agencies.
We may record telephone calls to help us monitor and improve the service we provide. For further information on how your information is used and your rights in relation to your information please see our privacy notice at https://rmpartners.co.uk/privacy-policy. If you are providing personal data of another individual to us, you must tell them you are providing their information to us and show them a copy of this notice.
