THE UK is a nation of ‘habitual petty law breakers’, according to a new study, as figures show nearly 60 per cent of UK adults admit to committing an offence in the past year.
In shocking statistics published by the national law firm, Stephensons, nearly three in every five respondents admitted to breaking one or more ‘everyday crimes’, despite 97 per cent insisting they were ‘law abiding citizens’.
Driving offences, including driving over the speed limit (35 per cent), eating or drinking at the wheel (21 per cent) and using a mobile phone while driving (10 per cent) were all in the top five results.
14 per cent said that they regularly broke the law by illegally downloading or streaming music, films or games, while 11 per cent said that they were guilty of dropping litter.
How do you compare? Take the Stephensons 2016 Crime Survey here
Others suggested that a lack of obvious victim to the crime was the key driver behind their breaking the law (47 per cent), while only 57 per cent admitted they had ‘no excuse’. Less than a third of respondents said they regretted breaking the law, while 39 per cent said they committed a crime because they believed they wouldn’t get caught.
Sean Joyce, Head of Regulatory and Criminal Justice at Stephensons said: “These findings show, that no matter how much we might like to believe otherwise, many of us are systematically breaking the law on a regular basis.
“While the majority of the crimes admitted to may seem ‘minor’ to most of us, the extent to which the rules of our society are being flouted on a regular basis means millions are running the risk of prosecution, fines and even a custodial sentence.
“Often, the fact that these ‘minor crimes’ are committed so often – and by so many – is seen as a justification, meaning the perpetrators rarely feel any sense of guilt or remorse associated with other more ‘serious’ crimes.”
ENDS
Media Information
Robert Davies, Public Relations Executive
robert.davies@stephensons.co.uk
01942 774026