The Crime Paradox

Crime is a national obsession - it dominates our politics, our headlines and our fears. Politicians promise tougher sentences, while pundits warn of 'no-go areas' and moral decline. But the evidence tells a different tale: harsher punishments or more officers on the beat don't necessarily deter offending. So why do crime rates rise and fall? Why - in countries all over the world - do the statistics follow the same patterns? And how can we actually make our streets safer?

With years of in-depth analysis at the highest levels, leading researcher Nick Morgan cuts through the myths and media hysteria to tell the captivating story of the hidden forces that shape crime.