Types of Crime

Crimes against the person

criminal acts which threaten, harass or injure a person, depriving them of rightds and freedoms.

eg. assault, kidnapping, murder, domestic violence, stalking

Crimes against property

unlawful interference, damage or theft of a person’s belongings, vehicles buildings, possessions or intellectual property

eg. graffiti, vandalism, breaking and entering, arson

Victimless crime

acts that are consensual and participants are willing to partake, but are still against the law.

eg. drug use and distribution, prostitution, human smuggling

White collar crime

illegal or unethical actions by businesses that involve economic, personal or environmental harm.

eg. fraud, corruption, embezzlement, illegal dumping of wastes, scamming.

Hate crime

criminal acts committed against a person or group because of inherent (protected by law) characteristics such as race, sexuality and gender, motivated by prejudice.

eg. vandalism of religious buildings, massacres/shootings targeted towards social groups, terrorism, harassment.

Organised crime

ongoing criminal ats between groups of people to earn money or exert control.

eg. pyramid schemes, cartels, mafias, terrorist groups, trading of weapons, drugs people and organs.

-some resort to this type of crime for absolute power, others for financial stability.

“Crime is a social phenomenon”

• it takes significant effort and time to recognise why it happens.

• crime is created by those it affects- it wouldn’t be social if it didn’t involve others.

• crime is deeply rooted in the social fabric of society- influenced by various factors and committed by people with complex backgrounds.

Dark figure

the gaps and biases in crime data and statistics

• location?

• type of crime?

• population may have increased

• laws may have changed

• police required to record minor offences which would otherwise be dismissed

International crime

crimes that violate the UN charter (international law) and affect people around the world

*also refers to activities that involve people/groups from multiple countries, or crimes which cross multiple borders

eg. human trafficking, drug trafficking, cyber crime, terrorism

Transnational crime

crime which involved more than one country- people in different locations, and have effects around the world.

• committed in more than one country

• planned/controlled in one country, then implemented elsewhere

• organised by people/groups who operate/live international

• committed on one country, but has big impacts elsewhere