October 25, 2007: Report Links Social Injustice And Crime

The experience of social injustice is concentrated among the poorest and most vulnerable, according to a report just published by the Centre for Crime and Justice Studies at King's College London. Victims of crime living on low incomes are substantially more likely to experience a range of civil legal problems.

The report, `The problems of everyday life', offers a detailed picture of the nature, pattern and impact of people's experience of civil justice problems, along with information on crime victimisation. It explores the nature and degree of connections between social exclusion, criminal victimisation and the experience of civil justice problems.

The report, authored by Dr Vicky Kemp, Professor Pascoe Pleasence and Dr Nigel Balmer of the Legal Services Research Centre, presents findings from a survey of more than 5,000 adults in households in England and Wales. The 2004 English and Welsh Civil and Social Justice Survey (CSJS) is conducted by the Legal Services Research Centre, the independent research arm of the Legal Services Commission.

The survey had responses from 5015 adults in private households in England and Wales and covers around 100 different problems types, grouped into 18 distinct problem categories: discrimination, consumer, employment, neighbours, homelessness, rented housing, owned housing, money/debt, welfare benefits, divorce, relationship breakdown, domestic violence, children, personal injury, clinical negligence, mental health, immigration, unfair police treatment.

The findings show:

• a strong association between criminal victimisation, social exclusion and people experiencing a broad range of civil justice problem. The `socially excluded' appears to be at particular risk.
• socially excluded victims were substantially more likely to experience civil problems than non-socially excluded non-victims, with 60 per cent of the former group reporting problems compared to 28 per cent of the latter group.
• Multiple victimisation and social exclusion are associated with a dramatic increase in vulnerability to civil justice problems.
• The sense of powerlessness and helplessness often experienced by people who face such problems.

One of the report's authors, Professor Pascoe Pleasence, Head of the Legal Services Research Centre said:

'Importantly, the Civil and Social Justice Survey looks at crime victimisation in the context of people's broader experience of social and legal problems. So, we were able to explore the interrelationship between victimisation, social exclusion and everyday rights related problems. Socially excluded victims of crime were particularly likely to experience rights problems also. This has important implications and again illustrates the necessity of addressing social problems in a way that recognises their interconnections, rather than in an ad hoc manner.'

Will McMahon, policy director of the Centre for Crime and Justice Studies said:

`This survey highlights the links between vulnerability, poverty and social injustice. By looking at the challenges faced by the socially excluded, it becomes clear that experience of social injustice is a day to day reality for a substantial section of the population. While all the main political parties have placed a huge emphasis on tackling crime, the far more widespread experiences of injustice have often been overlooked.'