United Kingdom Peace Index

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The United Kingdom Peace Index (UKPI) is a measurement of the United Kingdom's cities by their peacefulness. Created by the Institute for Economics and Peace, the creators of the Global Peace Index and the United States Peace Index, the United Kingdom ranked 29/158 on the Global Peace index for 2012. The UKPI was released in April 2013 and provides a comprehensive measure of the levels of peacefulness within the United Kingdom from 2003 to 2012. Peace is defined as the absence of violence or the absence of the fear of violence. The UKPI also provides an analysis of the socio-economic factors associated with peacefulness, as well as an estimate of the economic benefits that would flow from increases in peace.

Contents

Findings of the report

The index found that the rate of homicides per 100,000 people in the UK had fallen from 1.99 in 2003, to one in 2012. Further, it found that the violent crime rate was down by about one quarter (from 1,255 per 100,000 people in 2003, to 933 in 2012), [1] with the southeast of the country as the most peaceful place to live (Broadland in Norfolk received the highest rank). In Scotland, Glasgow was rated least peaceful and the Orkney Islands as most peaceful. In Northern Ireland, Belfast was worst and Castlereagh was best. [2] The report finds Wales as "easily" the most peaceful of the nations of the UK. [3] In terms of other categories of crimes, public disorder offenses fell by 29%, while weapons crimes fell by 34%. [4] The index found that 25 per cent of British citizens expect to become a victim of crime, while only 4 per cent actually experience it. [5] Despite the high rate of perceptions of crime, the country experienced the largest drop in violence rates of any European country over the last decade. [6] The report notes that "there is no commonly accepted explanation by criminologists for the fall in violence in many of the world's regions including the US, Western Europe, Eastern and Central Europe, as well as the UK," and that "many of the more common theories" are not backed by statistical evidence. For example, while the global financial crisis has seen many countries suffer severely in economic terms and while levels of peacefulness increased, the idea that violent crime goes up when the economy goes down is not backed by the evidence. [7]

The UKPI reinforces findings from the United States Peace Index: access to employment, health, and education provides protection from the poverty and has significant impact on reducing violence and improving economic activity. [8] The study found that violence costs the U.K. 124 billion pounds ($189 billion) a year, more than 7 percent of gross domestic product. [9] The authors of the index have stated that a 9% reduction in violence in the UK would be equivalent to the total cost of the London Olympics. [10]

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Crime in the United Kingdom describes acts of violent crime and non-violent crime that take place within the United Kingdom. Courts and police systems are separated into three sections, based on the different judicial systems of England and Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland.

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Gun-related violence is violence committed with the use of a gun. Gun-related violence may or may not be considered criminal. Criminal violence includes homicide, assault with a deadly weapon, and suicide, or attempted suicide, depending on jurisdiction. Non-criminal violence includes accidental or unintentional injury and death. Also generally included in gun violence statistics are military or para-military activities.

Global Peace Index Measures the relative position of nations and regions peacefulness

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Crime in Singapore

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Institute for Economics & Peace Global think tank

The Institute for Economics and Peace (IEP), chaired by technology entrepreneur Steve Killelea founder of IR, is a global think tank headquartered in Sydney, Australia with branches in New York City, Mexico City and Oxford. IEP develops conceptual frameworks to define peacefulness, providing metrics for measurement, uncovering the relationship between peace, business, and prosperity, and seeking to promote understanding of the cultural, economic, and political factors that drive peacefulness. IEP works in partnership with the Aspen Institute, Economists for Peace and Security the United Nations Global Compact, Center for Strategic and International Studies and Cranfield University. It also collaborates with the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, the Commonwealth Secretariat, UNDP and UN Peacebuilding Support Office.

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United States Peace Index

The United States Peace Index (USPI) is a measurement of American States and cities by their peacefulness. Created by the Institute for Economics and Peace, the creators of the Global Peace Index, it is said to be the first in a series of National sub-divisions by their peacefulness. The USPI was created first due to plentiful data and a large amount of diversity between states for level of peace. The United States ranked 88/158 on the Global Peace index for 2012. The U.S. index was released on 6 April 2011 and the second edition was released on 24 April 2012.

The Mexico Peace Index (MPI) is one in a series of National Peace Indices produced by the Institute for Economics and Peace (IEP). The MPI provides a comprehensive measure of peacefulness in Mexico, the fifth edition of the MPI was released in 2017. The report is released in both Spanish and English, and analyzes the economic benefits that would occur from increases in peace, and provides an estimate relating to the economic impact violence has had on Mexico.

Crime drop

The crime drop or crime decline is a pattern observed in many countries whereby rates of many types of crime declined by 50% or more beginning in the mid to late 1980s and early 1990s.

Sustainable Development Goal 16 The 16th of 17 sustainable development goals to promote peace, justice and strong institutions

Sustainable Development Goal 16 is about "peace, justice and strong institutions." One of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals established by the United Nations in 2015, the official wording is: "Promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, provide access to justice for all and build effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels". The Goal has 12 targets to be achieved by 2030. Progress towards targets will be measured by 23 indicators.

References

  1. ↑ "UK Peace Index highlights rate of fall in violent crime". BBC News. 24 April 2013. Retrieved 13 May 2013.
  2. ↑ "London is Scariest Place to Live in Britain" . Retrieved 13 May 2013.
  3. ↑ "UK Peace Index says South Wales is most peaceful urban area". BBC News. 24 April 2013. Retrieved 13 May 2013.
  4. ↑ "Gangs, grog, guns and GDP". The Economist. 24 April 2013. Retrieved 13 May 2013.
  5. ↑ Cooper, Charlie (24 April 2013). "Violent crime falls rapidly as UK becomes more peaceful place". The Independent. London. Retrieved 13 May 2013.
  6. ↑ Dugan, Emily (24 April 2013). "Fall in violent crime: Britain - land of law and order". The Independent. London. Retrieved 13 May 2013.
  7. ↑ "The riddle of peacefulness". BBC News. 24 April 2013. Retrieved 13 May 2013.
  8. ↑ "The UKPI reinforces findings from the US Peace Index that improving access to employment, health, and education provides protection from the worst effects of poverty and has a significant impact on reducing violence, thus improving general economic activity. A close correlation between levels of violence was also found with the number of single-parent households, high rates of teenage pregnancy, and low secondary school completion in both the US and UK. A close correlation between levels of violence was also found with the number of single-parent households, high rates of teenage pregnancy, and low secondary school completion in both the US and UK". The Wall Street Journal. 24 April 2013. Retrieved 13 May 2013.
  9. ↑ "U.K. Gun Curbs Mean More Violence Yet Fewer Deaths Than in U.S." Bloomberg. Retrieved 13 May 2013.
  10. ↑ "Westminster, One Of UK's Most Expensive Boroughs, 'More Violent Than Birmingham'" . Retrieved 13 May 2013.


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