UK Crime Costs Economy £250 Billion Annually, Report Finds

A think tank analysis links rising crime rates to austerity measures, calling for £5 billion in criminal justice investment and tougher sentencing reforms.

• The Policy Exchange report estimates crime costs the UK economy 10% of GDP annually, with direct costs at £170 billion and behavioral impacts adding £80 billion.
• Shoplifting, knife crime, and robberies have surged since 2015, with shoplifting at its highest level in 20 years and public order offenses up 192%.
• The report attributes rising crime to reduced police numbers, court backlogs, lenient sentencing, and prison overcrowding resulting from austerity-era cuts.
• Recommendations include building 53,000 new prison places, hiring more police officers, adopting tougher sentencing for prolific offenders, and using new crime-fighting technologies.
• Proposals also include automatic deportation for foreign offenders, reformed sentencing laws, and increased accountability for police chiefs in crime hotspots.

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