Crime: How To Solve It - and Why So Much of What We're Told Is Wrong

by Nick Ross

In a whirlwind demolition of dozens of misconceptions about crime, Nick Ross proposes what is arguably the most radical re-think of crime policy since the dawn of policing. Setting conventional thinking on its head, Crime challenges everything we take for granted, showing why the criminal justice system has little effect on crime rates, how policing has been hijacked to serve the needs of lawyers, and how ‘facts’ about crime are continually manipulated to serve the needs of politicians and the media.

Crime is the result of twenty years’ experience working with victims and police, and ten years’ research to find out what makes crime rates ebb and flow. This is a major work that explodes fallacies and entreats us to be more sceptical. Crime will delight those who come to it with an open mind and infuriate ideologues from the left, right and centre.

Genres: Nonfiction, Crime

384 pages, Hardcover

First published May 23, 2013

Reviews

[Literary Ames]

The author's abhorrent views on rape and the biased way in which he interprets data in the following article proves this book cannot be trusted to give an accurate picture of crime in the UK: It's heresy, I know. But not all women are victims. And not all rape is rape: It is a view that will outrage many, but Crimewatch creator NICK ROSS insists it is a debate we must not flinch from

[livvy]

after 3 years I’M FINALLY FREE! i lost this book so many times I cannot count and some of his views on different area like rape/victims of rape made me want to scream and never read this again but i committed and i’m glad it’s over

[DR ANDREW N PAPANIKITAS]

As someone familiar with the concept of public health as more thuan a metaphor, this book was a refreshing read. Yes there are a few statements that are hard to read but the underlying message is one that prevention of crime helps the victims of crime most. The discussion of rape is hard to read but the reflection on alcohol as the most prevalent self (and ‘other’) administered date rape drug is one that higher education, parents and partygoers should heed. The book comes with a bonus access to the author’s online notes. It is quite polemical so nice to agree and disagree with.

[Sami Rahman]

Got this book for free when I studied my MSc where he was the chair of the UCLinstitute:

it promises a groundbreaking analysis but falls disappointingly short with it's overly simplistic solutions and repetitive arguments. The book is riddled with sweeping generalisations and lacks the depth and empirical support needed to substantiate its bold claims.

The author offers little more than a superficial critique of crime-solving strategies, making it a frustrating and uninformative read. Lastly, the date of publish - full of victim blaming of rape victimd