UK vs US, violent crime meme

[guardian]

31. some numbers

From a quick google search

Britain has a higher crime rate than any other rich nation except Australia, according to a survey yesterday.

According to the figures released yesterday, 3.6 per cent of the population of England and Wales were victims of violent crime in 1999 - second only to Australia, where the figure was 4.1 per cent.

Scotland had a slightly lower rate of violence, at 3.4 per cent.

In the U.S., only 2 per cent of the population suffered an assault or robbery.

One in 40 people in England and Wales had their cars stolen in 1999, the highest rate in the 17 developed countries examined.

Just one in 200 Americans suffered a car theft while in Japan there was only one per 1,000 of the population.

The chances of becoming a victim of any crime in England and Wales were second only to Australia.

England and Wales are among the countries 'most pressured by crime', the report concludes.


The two countries had the equal highest number of crimes per head of population of all 17 states. There were 58 incidents for every 100 inhabitants in England and Wales - the same as Australia. The study said the size of the sample meant first place in many categories came down to statistical accident, suggesting that for many areas of crime Britain may actually be worst in the world.

Shadow home secretary Ann Widdecombe said: 'It's no wonder the people of England and Wales have more chance of becoming victims of crime when there are over 2,500 fewer police, violent crime is soaring and 30,000 convicted prisoners have been let out before serving even half their sentences.