Nigel Farage, former UKIP leader, recently declared that British streets “are becoming more dangerous” as petty crime begins to escalate. He largely attributes this spike to online fraud and shoplifting. His claim comes as the UK continues to grapple with the realities of crime statistics and public safety amidst the ongoing crime wave. Data from the Crime Survey for England and Wales (CSEW) indicates a long-term decline in incidents of theft, criminal damage, and violence since the mid-to-late 1990s.
Farage’s comments point to an emerging theme in some political discourse, depicting crime as a surging epidemic. This story is mostly not corroborated by actual, official crime statistics. This should make one question the accuracy of this claim, and more importantly, what is fueling these misleading proclamations. The difference between police-recorded crime statistics and those from the CSEW adds a further layer of complexity. This may be why many think of the CSEW as the more dependable source for crime data.
The Reality of Crime Statistics
The CSEW has been a reliable tracker of crime across England and Wales since the early 1980s. Its data shows a long-term, decades-long drop in crime across the country. This comprehensive survey collects data directly from local residents through more than 12,000 face-to-face interviews. It’s not reliant on police reporting—which has been widely documented for their variability and are never formally adopted as national statistics.
Farage was widely condemned in recent weeks when he dismissed the CSEW’s findings as being “based on completely false data.” He has still failed to produce any data to back that assertion. This dismissal raises concerns about the credibility of his statements and whether they are politically motivated rather than factually based.
“Many break the law just by entering the UK, then commit further crimes once here—disrespecting our laws, culture and civility. The only acceptable response is deportation.” – Nigel Farage
His remarks strike a chord with a growing refrain in British political discourse. This tendency was particularly pronounced under Margaret Thatcher, as fears over crime were amplified in order to mobilize public support. The politicization of crime fears, explored by Stuart Hall and his colleagues in their seminal work “Policing the Crisis,” illustrates how political figures can leverage societal anxieties for electoral gain.
The Context of Crime in Britain
Fage’s rhetoric rides historical fears that have lingered for decades. Those who grew up during the James Callaghan era in the mid-to-late 1970s reported heightened anxieties about street robbery, while Thatcher’s generation was marked by a sharp increase in property crime, leading to long-standing fears about burglary.
The combination of these historical trends with current issues such as overcrowding in prisons adds another layer to the conversation about crime in Britain. In line with the Tories, Farage has promised to address prison overcrowding. His focus on crime as a national emergency may steal attention from those stats that better reflect an ugly, complicated reality.
More recently, increases in particular crimes like online fraud have garnered concern. Not to mention that overall crime rates are still at historic lows compared to the last decades. This is an important difference to note in order to understand the larger trend affecting crime across Britain today. The fear of crime may have taken hold of them, just as it has many Americans, warping public perception and inviting disastrous policy error.
Implications for Policy and Public Perception
The politicization of crime is a major concern for policy formulation and public perception. When political figures like Farage emphasize fears of rising crime without substantiated evidence, it can lead to increased anxiety among citizens. This fear can subsequently influence voter behavior and policy decisions, often prioritizing punitive measures over more effective crime prevention strategies.
Additionally, the gap between what people think crime is and what it actually is highlights the importance of effective communication when it comes to crime data. Policymakers should be wary of these narratives. They need to ground their responses to crime in solid statistics and not give in to fear-mongering, reactionary rhetoric.
