1. Describe, in detail, two different types of crime in the UK
Describe, in detail, two different types of crime in the UK. (4) One type of crime is Blue-collar crime- people who do manual labour, for example a carpenter or plumber, are referred to as “blue collar workers”. Blue collar crime is more likely to involve physical force, either through breaking and entering or assault. Another type of crime is White-collar crime – people who work in offices and in sales roles are referred to as “white-collar workers”. White collar crime includes fraud, bribery and money laundering.

2. Explain, in detail, three factors which cause crime in the UK
Explain, in detail, three factors which cause crime in the UK. (8) Drug addiction can cause crime. Drug addicts need to pay for their drugs and may steal to fund their habit and are more likely to be arrested for crimes such as burglary, shoplifting, robbery or handling stolen goods. Areas with high rates of drug problems are more likely to have high levels of crime. Crime is also caused by poverty and low income. Many people in the UK suffer from poverty and need money to make ends meet. Some may turn to crime to pay bills, food and buy clothes. Some areas of the UK like Glasgow have higher levels of poverty and crime is higher in these places. Some people are pressured into committing crime by their friends and other young people, especially if they are members of a gang and want to share in having an identity, like a recognisable street name or signs. This is known as peer pressure. For example, being accepted and having a reputation is important to some gang members, who readily commit crime to prove themselves.

3. Explain, in detail, three social reasons for crime
Explain, in detail, three social reasons for crime. (8) One social reason for crime is peer pressure. Young children are easily influenced and may be pressurised into committing a crime. Young people may become involved in crime in order to be accepted as part of a gang. For example, they may be asked to vandalise an area or set fire to a building in order to be accepted into a gang. Another social cause of crime is family background and lifestyle. Young offenders are less likely to be living with both of their parents and have less discipline and boundaries. This can lead to them hanging around streets and being more likely to drink alcohol and take drugs, and it has been shown that this behaviour can lead to them being involved in crimes such as theft, property damage and violence. A final social cause of crime is a lack of education. Most prisoners in Scottish jails lack qualifications and skills. This makes it harder to find a job and a steady income. As a consequence they may turn to crime in order to make ends meet. For example, in some parts of Glasgow a lack of education is linked to higher levels of crime.

4. Explain, in detail, three reasons why crime is higher in deprived areas. (8) Crime is higher in deprived areas because there is more poverty. Poverty may cause pressure and force people to turn to crime. People may be desperate and need to provide for their family and resort to crime. In some parts of Glasgow like Pollock crime is higher due to poverty. Another reason crime is higher in deprived areas is down to a lack of facilities. Youth crime may be a big problem as there is nothing to do and this may cause boredom. As a result some young people may commit crime in order to make their lives more exciting. In some parts of Dundee youth crime is an issue due to a lack of youth clubs. The final reason why crime is higher in deprived areas is because there is more unemployment. This means that some people may be stuck in a cycle of crime that it hard to escape from. Some people may turn to crime because they need to buy drugs as this can also be linked to unemployment. In some parts of Aberdeen there are less jobs and crime is higher in these areas.

5. Describe, in detail, two consequences of crime on communities
Describe, in detail, two consequences of crime on communities. (6) Communities with high crime rates will gain a negative reputation. People may start to stereotype individuals from areas of high crime, leading to social problems and a lack of opportunities in that area. For example, the provision of local services will suffer as businesses will not want to set up in areas with high crime rates, which will limit employment opportunities. Another impact of crime on communities is the Broken Windows Theory. If crime is high in an area then perhaps no-one cares about crime and it continues to increase. If vandalism happens a lot in one area then it is accepted by people and it becomes a major problem. This theory can lead to people leaving an area. In addition, high levels of vandalism may also lower house prices in an area. For example, in richer parts of Dundee house prices are higher because there is less crime in these areas.

6. Describe, in detail, two consequences of crime on wider society
Describe, in detail, two consequences of crime on wider society. (6) One consequence of crime on society is higher insurance premiums. Higher levels of crime may result in increased insurance payments for families across the UK. For example, the price of car insurance may increase if car crime increases. Furthermore, if there are higher number of burglaries then the cost of home insurance may also increase. Another consequence of crime on society is increased levels of tax. If crime increases then the government may need to increase tax and this affects people in the UK. The government may also have to spend less taxes on education and health if crime becomes even more of a major problem. UK taxpayers also cover the cost of prisons and police and this is a huge expense. Overall, the huge costs created by crime takes money away from other key public services in the UK.

7. Explain, in detail, two reasons why some people are affected by crime more than others. (6) Some people are more affected by crime if they are the victim of a crime. Victims of assault may be fearful that it could happen again and may be afraid to leave their home. They may also have alarm systems fitted in their home, at a cost, in order to try and feel more secure. Being a victim of crime could change your life forever and affect an individual mentally for the rest of their live. Some people are also more affected by crime if they are prosecuted for committing crime. Offenders may lose their home and income if they are sent to prison. In addition, committing a crime many result in the break-up of families. Once released from prison the offender may find it hard to gain a job due to having a criminal record. They could mean they turn to crime again in order to survive.

8. Describe, in detail, the adult court system in Scotland
Describe, in detail, the adult court system in Scotland. (8) Within the adult court system in Scotland there are various courts that deal with a range of crimes and offences.   Firstly, the Justice of the Peace Courts in Scotland (formerly known as District courts) deal with minor offences such as breach of the peace and driving offences. In these courts there is no jury or judge and sentencing powers are limited to a max fine of £2500 and 60 days in prison.   Secondly, the Sheriff Courts in Scotland deal with a range of crimes that vary in seriousness. A Sheriff Court has a full time judge but no jury for less serious offences – this type of case is known as a ‘summary procedure’. However, for more serious offences such as serious assault (beatings, slashings etc) there is a jury. This type of case at a Sheriff Court is known as a ‘solemn procedure’. The sentencing powers Sheriff Court’s have are max £10,000 fine and 12 months prison for summary and unlimited fine and 5 years prison in solemn cases. Thirdly, we have the High Courts that deal with the most serious of crimes such as murder, rape and armed robbery. The High Court always has a judge and a jury and sentencing powers are unlimited.

9. Describe, in detail, two different ways that Scottish courts can punish people. (6) Scottish Courts have the option to convict criminals and send them to prison. The Sheriff Court can sentence someone for up to five years. However, if the Sheriff feels this is an insufficient penalty they can refer the case to the High Court where a life sentence is possible. Scottish Courts can also issue criminals with a range of non-custodial sentences. One such example is Community Service. This is where the offender is made to complete work in the community – this may range from cleaning parks or painting local youth clubs. The offender needs to turn up and commit to Community Service – if they don’t then they may be sent to prison.

10. Explain, in detail, two reasons why the Children’s Hearing System is better than Adult Courts. (6) One reason why the hearing system is better is because it tries to understand why the child committed the crime. It listens to the child and it aims to find the best solution for the child. In comparison, the court system is there to punish and may fail to take into account the reasons why the child committed the crime. Another reason the hearing system is better is because it is less intimidating for the child. The child can attend a panel meeting with their family and this makes the process easier. There is also no jury in a children’s panel meeting and this again places less pressure on the child.

11. Describe, in detail, two ways the Children’s Hearing System can help young people in Scotland. (6) The Children’s Hearing System helps young people by providing a relaxed atmosphere where young people can discuss their offending behaviour. It is less intimidating than going to an adult court and they will get help and support from school, social workers and the police to change their behaviour. It offers a safe environment to discuss issues and problems. The Hearing System can also help young people by making recommendations. These recommendations can help a young person turn their life around. They have the power to remove at risk children from their homes and move them somewhere safer. The Hearing System can also suggest the child move school. All of the above solutions are made to help the child improve their lives.

12. Describe, in detail, two powers held by the Children’s Hearing System in Scotland. (6) One power held by the Children’s Hearing System is that they can remove at risk children from their homes. They can ask a child to attend a panel meeting, discuss issues with them and move them to a new home. This could have the effect of changing the child’s behaviour and possibly make them less likely to commit crime. Another power they hold is the decision to pass the case onto the courts. If a child commits a serious crime then then that could be passed onto the adult court system. The Children’s Hearing System can also refer the child to secure accommodation if it feels the child is in danger or mentally unwell.

13. Explain, in detail, two reasons why criminal courts are effective in tackling crime. (6) One reason courts are effective in tacking crime is because they have the power to send people to prison. Prison is the ultimate punishment for offenders and should stop people from committing crime. The High Court has the power to issue an unlimited sentence and fine and this should act as an effective deterrent to crime. Another reasons courts are effective in tackling crime is because they can issue certain offenders non-custodial sentences. These may be more effective in cutting crime. For some criminals going to jail is not the correct option and may lead to more re-offending. However, giving a drug addict the punishment of a substance abuse treatment programme may result in less crime. In addition, issuing a community sentence order may give an offender the chance to gain new qualifications and this could help break the cycle of crime.

14. Describe, in detail, two ways the Government can tackle crime in the UK. (6) The Scottish Government has tried to tackle crime by making drink-drive limits clearer by reducing the maximum limit, this means that there should be fewer road traffic accidents, deaths and injuries. People are less likely now to drink at all if driving given that the legal limit has been lowered from 80mg to 50mg of alcohol in every 100ml of blood. The Scottish Government has also increased the number of police officers in the community and this should result in a reduction in crime. The government has promised to move back office police staff into the community and have more police ‘on the beat’. This is called community policing as more police officers are involved in cutting crime in local areas.

15. Explain, in detail, two reasons why the government is effective in reducing crime. (6) The Scottish Government introduced a tougher drink drive limit in Scotland. This has had the positive impact of cutting road crime and drink-driving in Scotland. People are now far less likely to drive if they had consumed alcohol. The government has sent out a strong message to those who drink-drive – even one drink can make you over the limit. Bring caught drink-driving could result in the loss of job and income. The Scottish Government has also aimed to cut knife crime in Scotland. It has aimed to achieve this by allowing schools, police and social workers to work together in order to reduce knife crime. The police and social workers have spoken to children in schools and warned them of the dangers of carrying a knife. It has also tried to target repeat offenders who carry knives. Overall, this partnership has resulted in less youths carrying knives.

16. Describe, in detail, two ways in which the police can tackle crime in the UK. (6) Crime prevention is one way the police can tackle crime in Scotland. This can be achieved by offering crime prevention advice to local people to make the area they live in more safe and secure. For example, the police might work with community organisations to prevent car theft by attending local meetings to offer advice on car protection and security.   Protecting the public is another way the police can tackle crime in Scotland. This can involve stopping and searching individuals who the police feel are suspicious. For example, if they believe that a person may become involved in serious violence and that stopping and searching them could prevent that, or if it is believed they are carrying a knife or dangerous weapon without good reason.   .

17. Explain, in detail, three reasons why the role of the police is important in cutting crime. (8) The police can educate the public about the consequences of crimes, such as knife carrying or drink-driving. They can inform people of the punishments they may receive if they commit a crime and this can help to cut crime. For example, local police may visit schools and inform pupils of the dangers of speeding or drug taking. All of this is crucial as it may help to reduce crime. The police can also lower crime by attending major events. The police have the job of maintaining public order and may manage large crowds at demonstrations and sporting events. For example, at Scotland football games the police have the important job of ensuring that supporters are not drunk, violent or racist. These actions are important because they create public safety and could lead to less violent crime. The police can also reduce crime by monitoring and having a presence on Scotland’s roads. They can use speed cameras to catch people speeding. People are less likely to commit traffic crime if they know that the traffic police are monitoring Scotland’s roads. These actions are important because they could result in less deaths and injuries on Scotland’s roads.  

18. Explain, in detail, two reasons why prisons are effective (6) Prisons are effective because the public are kept safe as the criminal is locked away and punished. If the offender is given a long prison sentence then it reduces the risk of further crime. In addition, the victim of crime is satisfied as the criminal has been given a jail sentence. This means that the victim will not see the offender for a long time. Prisons are also effective because offenders gain the chance to learn new skills and qualifications in prison. Rehabilitation of criminals can be effective and can lead to a cut in re-offending. Offenders are given the chance to attend workshops and gain new skills. For example, they may gain mechanic qualifications when in prison. This could lead to a reduction in crime when released as they have a greater chance of finding a job.  

19. Explain, in detail, three reasons why the use of prisons can be criticised (8) One reason prisons can be criticised is because for some criminals prison is not the best option. It can lead to more problems inside prison and this could also lead to future re-offending. For people with mental health issues and drug problems going to prison is not the best option and could lead to crime when released. Another reason prisons can be criticised is because re-offending rates are too high. Roughly two-thirds of offenders re-offend upon release and this can be blamed on problems inside prisons. Overcrowding is a major issue inside Scottish prisons and this makes it harder to rehabilitate offenders. In addition, drugs are a major issue inside Scottish prisons and this makes it harder for prisons to be effective and meet their aims. A final reason prisons can be criticised is because they are very expensive to run. It is estimated that the average prisoner costs £40,000 a year to look after. Many politicians believe that this is a waste of money and our prison system is broken. Some non-custodial sentences are perhaps cheaper and more effective at reducing crime.  

20. Explain, in detail, three reasons why alternatives to prison are used
Explain, in detail, three reasons why alternatives to prison are used. (8) One reason alternatives to prison are being used is because many prisons don’t have enough staff or money to run effective rehabilitation programmes which means that some offenders are released with the same addictions they had when they went in to prison. For some offenders attending a drug treatment programme may be the better option. Another reason prison alternatives are used is because many politicians believe that prison is a waste of money and leads to criminals re-offending. Electronic tagging may be more effective because the criminal can still keep their job but be under curfew at night. This may cut re-offending. A final reason alternatives to prison are used is because Community Service Orders have been very successful in reducing reoffending as they make the offender pay something back to the community. This can change the negative feelings many offenders have and give them back some pride and self-esteem which will make them less likely to commit another crime.

21. Describe, in detail, two advantages of non-custodial sentences
Describe, in detail, two advantages of non-custodial sentences. (6) One advantage of using non-custodial sentences is that they are more appropriate for some types of offences where the offender poses no harm to the community. If they commit a less serious crime then it will also save money as a prison sentence costs more. Another advantage of non-custodial sentences is it makes offenders take responsibility for their actions and compensate (give something back) to the community. They may be less likely to re-offend as they have seen what they have done and may learn valuable lessons and gain new skills.

22. Describe, in detail, two disadvantages of non-custodial sentences
Describe, in detail, two disadvantages of non-custodial sentences. (6) One disadvantage of non-custodial sentences is the fact that some people believe these type of sentences are seen as a ‘soft’ option – that they don’t deter criminals. Prisons are tougher and a harsher punishment. The UK public want to see offenders punished and believe that prison is the best way to achieve this. Another disadvantage of non-custodial sentences is people can re-offend when given community programmes. People may not turn up to community sentences and this makes them less effective. Some offenders many not be committed to learning new skills as this could lead to re-offending.