How does inequality affect crime?
Although people from all sections of society commit crime, there is a clear link between poverty and crime. There is a wealth of evidence to show poverty is one on the main causes of crime as those with a low income may turn to crime to get what they need. In 2021/22, Scottish Government statistics showed that 31% of the people arriving into prison were from the 10% most deprived areas in Scotland.
Deprived areas tend to have higher crime rates, and this suggests that poverty can lead to crime. For example, crime rates are higher in Dundee City, Glasgow City and Aberdeen City than East Dunbartonshire, East Renfrewshire, and the Orkney Islands.
| Local authority | Recorded crimes per 10,000 population (2022-2023) |
| Dundee City | 849 |
| Glasgow City | 789 |
| Aberdeen City | 651 |
| Scottish average | 582 |
| East Dunbartonshire | 254 |
| East Renfrewshire | 239 |
| Orkney Islands | 228 |
| Local authority | Dundee City |
|---|---|
| Recorded crimes per 10,000 population (2022-2023) | 849 |
| Local authority | Glasgow City |
|---|---|
| Recorded crimes per 10,000 population (2022-2023) | 789 |
| Local authority | Aberdeen City |
|---|---|
| Recorded crimes per 10,000 population (2022-2023) | 651 |
| Local authority | Scottish average |
|---|---|
| Recorded crimes per 10,000 population (2022-2023) | 582 |
| Local authority | East Dunbartonshire |
|---|---|
| Recorded crimes per 10,000 population (2022-2023) | 254 |
| Local authority | East Renfrewshire |
|---|---|
| Recorded crimes per 10,000 population (2022-2023) | 239 |
| Local authority | Orkney Islands |
|---|---|
| Recorded crimes per 10,000 population (2022-2023) | 228 |
Most prisoners in Scotland are from poor socio-economic backgrounds with underlying causes of offending related to substance misuse, mental health and abuse. The Scottish Prison's Commission has found that around one in nine young men from the most deprived communities will spend time in prison before they are 23 years old.
According to the Scottish Prison Service 17th Prisoner Survey (carried out in 2019), prisoners identified many factors that they felt contributed to their committing an offence, some of which relate directly to poverty and deprivation:
- Unemployment - 16%
- Financial difficulties - 15%
What other factors are linked to poverty?
Other factors that are often linked to poverty and deprivation also featured, such as accommodation type, alcohol and drug misuse, neighbourhood and a lack of support in the community.