Explain the reasons why certain crimes are unreported
Rape
Rape is when a person intentionally allows themselves to form any sexual activity without the
other persons’s concent. For example attempting to have sexual intercourse without the other
person giving consent. Victims of rape may choose not report this crime due to range of social
and personal reasons. For example, the victim may have fear of reprisal and often be reluctant
to speak up about being raped to the authorities because they believe there might be potential
consequences for themselves or their family. Moreover, the victim may feel embarrassed about
what happened and therefore feel shame about the incident, and wouldn’t want people to know
their vulnerabilities. Victims also fear that society will look down on them due to their “shameful”
behaviour. The victim may not also want to experience the trauma again by reporting it to the
authorities and making a case, all why feeling emotionally and physically unstable. Additionally,
the victim may not want to get the offender in trouble, especially if the offender was someone
close to the victim, like their partner, and believe they brought it on themselves. Also, the victim
may not be aware that they have been raped. For example if the victim is in a relationship and
asked their partner to stop but they didn’t. In addition to this, there is also social reasons why
victims do not report rape. For example, as there is lack of public concern on sexual assault
crimes, the victim feels the offender will be let of easily without being convicted.
Domestic abuse
Domestic abuse is any act or abusive behaviour that is targeted at a partner or family member
that is used to gain or maintain power and control over them. There’s lots of social and personal
reasons why domestic abuse does not get reported. For example, the victim may feel fearful
that the situation will become worse if they report it and fear the safety for their children. Some
victims may rely on their offender for financial support and fear of being financially unstable and
becoming homeless and therefore not report it for long term reasons. Moreover, the victim may
feel embarrassed by what happened and feel shame of admitting the abuse was occurring. This
can make the victim worry that they will not have much support from friends and family.
Additionally, the victim may not want the offender to be prosecuted as they might still be
emotionally attached to them and still have affection and loyalty towards them. Due to lack of
public concern, the victim may worry that the victim wouldn’t be taken seriously and the offender
will be easily let off without being convicted or charged. The trial can also take a long time and
become complex, in which many victims just drop the charges and the offenders are let off
without being prosecuted. An example is Clare Woods.
Vandalism
Vandalism is when an individual intentionally damages property belonging to other people, this
is also called criminal damage. Vandalism goes unreported because it is usually considered
someone else's problem unless the damage is against their own property, so many people are
disinterested as it does not concern them and they are not affected by what happened.
Consequently, people don’t feel like they are responsible for the crime, also if the damage is in
the form of graffiti, people feel it is not worth reporting to the police as it will not be taken
Rape
Rape is when a person intentionally allows themselves to form any sexual activity without the
other persons’s concent. For example attempting to have sexual intercourse without the other
person giving consent. Victims of rape may choose not report this crime due to range of social
and personal reasons. For example, the victim may have fear of reprisal and often be reluctant
to speak up about being raped to the authorities because they believe there might be potential
consequences for themselves or their family. Moreover, the victim may feel embarrassed about
what happened and therefore feel shame about the incident, and wouldn’t want people to know
their vulnerabilities. Victims also fear that society will look down on them due to their “shameful”
behaviour. The victim may not also want to experience the trauma again by reporting it to the
authorities and making a case, all why feeling emotionally and physically unstable. Additionally,
the victim may not want to get the offender in trouble, especially if the offender was someone
close to the victim, like their partner, and believe they brought it on themselves. Also, the victim
may not be aware that they have been raped. For example if the victim is in a relationship and
asked their partner to stop but they didn’t. In addition to this, there is also social reasons why
victims do not report rape. For example, as there is lack of public concern on sexual assault
crimes, the victim feels the offender will be let of easily without being convicted.
Domestic abuse
Domestic abuse is any act or abusive behaviour that is targeted at a partner or family member
that is used to gain or maintain power and control over them. There’s lots of social and personal
reasons why domestic abuse does not get reported. For example, the victim may feel fearful
that the situation will become worse if they report it and fear the safety for their children. Some
victims may rely on their offender for financial support and fear of being financially unstable and
becoming homeless and therefore not report it for long term reasons. Moreover, the victim may
feel embarrassed by what happened and feel shame of admitting the abuse was occurring. This
can make the victim worry that they will not have much support from friends and family.
Additionally, the victim may not want the offender to be prosecuted as they might still be
emotionally attached to them and still have affection and loyalty towards them. Due to lack of
public concern, the victim may worry that the victim wouldn’t be taken seriously and the offender
will be easily let off without being convicted or charged. The trial can also take a long time and
become complex, in which many victims just drop the charges and the offenders are let off
without being prosecuted. An example is Clare Woods.
Vandalism
Vandalism is when an individual intentionally damages property belonging to other people, this
is also called criminal damage. Vandalism goes unreported because it is usually considered
someone else's problem unless the damage is against their own property, so many people are
disinterested as it does not concern them and they are not affected by what happened.
Consequently, people don’t feel like they are responsible for the crime, also if the damage is in
the form of graffiti, people feel it is not worth reporting to the police as it will not be taken
