15 yrs of age & over
15 yrs of age & over
1980
1981
Persons Prosecuted
3,744
4,070
1980
23,699
1981
26,053
Average Population
81,200
93,100
3,630,300 3,766,000
Prosecution Rate
46.11
43.72
6.53
6.92
(Figures for 1st half of 1982 not available.)
5
It will be noted that the prosecution rate for unemployed persons is substantially higher than that for the population as a whole for the same age group.
6
It may be concluded that an increase in the number of persons unemployed does not necessarily lead to a corres- ponding increase in their involvement in crime, i.e. the highest level of unemployment was recorded in March 1981 yet the involvement in crime by unemployed persons during the 1st quarter 1981 was the lowest recorded for the year.
Offences Committed by Unemployed Persons
7
Table C below shows the offences committed by unemployed persons for the period in question.
Table C: Number of Unemployed Persons Prosecuted
1980
1981
First Half 1982 (annualised)
Miscellaneous Theft
858
900
1,030
Preventive Crime
735
756
888
Robbery
413
349
344
Pickpocketing
143
185
236
Burglary
242
255
232
Theft from Vehicle
63
81
110
Snatching
70
57
48
All Crime
3,977
4,294
4,608
G.S. 166
CONFIDENTIAL #2