Covid-19, Society and Crime in Europe (Studies of Organized Crime, 21)

This volume analyzes the development of the reactions to Covid-19 by governments, the public and the crime patterns in 16 European countries. All countries are members of the European Union and share common European norms and values, but the Covid-19 pandemic can serve as an example of how these norms and values are interpreted differently with regard to people’s trust in public institutions, governmental control strategies, dealing with fear, anxiety and other emotional responses to the new virus, crime patterns and law enforcement priorities to prevent and combat them. The volume provides empirical data based on available statistics, media analysis and qualitative data from interviews and observations, and examines the similarities and differences in crime patterns and the consequences for local communities and law enforcement priorities. Introduction COVID-19: Threats, Risks, and Reactions COVID-19 and Crime: About This Book References Contents About the Authors Contributors Part I: East and Central Europe COVID-19 Pandemic Crisis and Its Impact on Crime Rates in Bulgaria Introduction Crime in Times of Economic Downturns Economic Crises and Street Crime in Bulgaria COVID-19 Epidemic, the Institutional Response, and Their Effects on Street Crime in Bulgaria Remigration, Social Unrest, and Institutional Instability: Direct and Indirect Impacts on Crime Conclusion References COVID-19 and Crime in Serbia Introduction COVID-19 Pandemic in Serbia, Measures Implemented by the Government, and the Social Reactions to the Restrictions Trends and Characteristics of Crime in 2020 Property Crimes Violent Crimes Rape Cybercrime Drug-Related Crimes Health-Related Crimes and Causing Panic and Disorder Non-compliance with Health Regulations During a Pandemic Transmission of Infectious Diseases Causing Panic and Disorder Domestic Violence and Pandemic in Serbia: Trends, Characteristics, and Social Responses New Crime and Victimisation Patterns Conclusion References Pandemic and Infodemic in Lithuania Introduction First Stages of Pandemic and Governmental and Public Reactions in Lithuania Infodemic and Threat Reception in Lithuania During the First Stage of Pandemic Crime and Pandemic in Lithuania General Trends Homicide During the Pandemic in Lithuania Conclusions References Crime, Law Enforcement and Rule of Law in Time of the COVID-19 Pandemic in Poland Introduction Governmental Measures Against the Pandemic Crime Trends in Poland During the Last 10 Years Crime Trends During the Pandemic Impact of the Pandemic on Crime: An Attempt at Interpretation Conclusions References COVID-19, Crime and Social Control in Slovenia Introduction Governmental Policies in Slovenia The First Wave Between the Waves The Second Wave The Social Impact of and Reactions to Restrictions and Surveillance Measures Crime Trends in Slovenia 2019–2020 Crime Trends in Slovenia During the First Wave of COVID-19 Stay-at-Home Restrictions from March to May in Both 2019 and 2020 Prevalent Types of Crime in Slovenia Property Crime Economic Crime Domestic Violence Cybercrime Discussion References Influence of COVID-19 Pandemic on Social Control, Crime Patterns and Life in Prison in Hungary Introduction Pandemic Data in Hungary in 2020 Pandemic First Wave Pandemic Second Wave Main Features of Social Control in the Context of the COVID-19 Pandemic, with Particular Regard to the State: Governmental Response On the Political System in Hungary State of Emergency and Pandemic Legislation Restrictions Government Pandemic Communication: War Metaphors Police Powers: Military Presence Hungary: An Autocratic Opportunist State Response to the COVID-19 Changes in the Pattern of Crime in the First Two Waves of the Pandemic Changes in the Volume of Crime Changes in the Pattern of Crime Institutional Self-Confidence and Transparency Deficit: Coping with COVID-19 in Hungarian Prisons Need for Prison Transparency: The Most Recent Hungarian Experience Pandemic Control in Hungarian Prisons Prisoners’ Rights and Contact with the Outside World Conclusions: Pandemic and Democracy in Hungary References Part II: South Europe Crime, Criminal Policy and Social Reactions in Greece in the Era of COVID-19 Introduction The Pandemic in Greece. The Chronicle of the Onset and the Development of the Situation Restrictive Measures Social Reactions to the COVID-19 Restriction Measures Criminality in Greece During the Pandemic Crime Statistics During the First Year of the Pandemic Interviews with Representatives of the Hellenic Police Regarding Criminality During the First Year of the Pandemic Crime Trends During the First Year of the Pandemic Fear of Crime, Feeling of Insecurity and Criminal Policy During the Pandemic Conclusions References The COVID-19 Pandemic in Italy: The Effects on Society and Crime Introduction The COVID-19 Health Emergency and Restrictions How Did the Society React to the COVID-19 Pandemic? Crime Conclusions References Social and Criminal Impact of COVID-19 in Spain Introduction Analysis and Evolution of the Pandemic Caused by COVID-19 in Spain First Wave and Onset of the Pandemic in Spain De-escalation and Subsequent Waves Evolution of the Main Criminal Phenomena During the First Phase of the COVID-19 Pandemic Criminal Context in Spain Evolution of Crime During the Pandemic in Spain Gender-Based and Domestic Violence Crimes Against Property Drug Trafficking Medical and Health Products Trafficking for Sexual Exploitation Cybercrime Conclusions References How Did the Pandemics Shape Crime and Justice in Portugal? Introduction Pandemics, Crime, and the Criminal Justice System The COVID-19 Pandemics in Portugal Impact of COVID-19-Related Restrictions on Crime and on the Criminal Justice System in Portugal Crime Trends Policing Criminal Courts Prisons Conclusions References Part III: West and North Europe The COVID-19 Pandemic in Germany: Prevention Measures, Protest and the Impact on Crime Rates Introduction The Course of the Pandemic and Measures to Contain the Virus First Wave (March to June 2020) Second Wave (October to March 2021) Acceptance of and Compliance with the Prevention Measures Acceptance of Prevention Measures Compliance with Prevention Measures Anti-Corona Protest and Politically Motivated Crime (PMC) Description of the Protest and the Participants The Impact on Politically Motivated Crime (PMC) Crime Trends Theoretical Background and Data Basis Analysis Conclusion References COVID-19: Policies, Trust and Crime in the Netherlands Introduction Anti-COVID-19 Measures: From ‘Herd Immunity’ to ‘Intelligent Lockdown’ in the Netherlands Dutch Reactions to COVID-19: Trust and Pressure Conspiracy Theories and ‘Suitable Enemies’ ‘New Criminals’ Crime in the Netherlands During COVID-19 Lockdown Organized Crime Conclusion and Discussion References Patterns of Crime During the COVID-19 Pandemic in Belgium Introduction Development of the COVID-19 Pandemic in Belgium Patterns of Crime During the COVID-19 Pandemic in Belgium Non-compliance with COVID-19 Measures Domestic Violence During the COVID-19 Pandemic Domestic Violence in Belgium During the Pandemic Lockdown Study 1: Verbal Partner Violence Study 2: Psychological, Physical, and Sexual Domestic Violence Help-Seeking and Reporting Discussion and Conclusion References Violent Crime in Finland During the First Year of the COVID-19 Pandemic Introduction The Pandemic Year 2020 in Finland Pandemic and Policy Measures Media Coverage Theoretical Relevance Data Sources Trends of Recorded Violent Crime Assaults Lethal Violence Rape Robbery Destruction of Property The Monthly Cycle Lockdown in Self-Report Crime Survey: A Methods Lesson Victim and Proxy Reports on Violence in 2020 Discussion Administrative Data Survey Perspective Concluding Reflections Acknowledgements This research is funded by the Institute of Criminology and Legal Policy (KRIMO), University of Helsinki, and the COVALC project with the National Institute for Welfare and Health, Finland. We thank Matti Näsi, Markus Kaakine References Violent Crime and COVID-19 in England and Wales Introduction Attitudes to Lockdown Violent Crime and Covid-19 Government Policy Response to Violence Overall Crime Figures in Midshire Acquisitive Crime Drug Crime Violence Hidden Harm Domestic Violence Child Abuse Discussion Domestic Violence Knife Crime Conclusion References Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Crime in Switzerland in 2020: A First Assessment Introduction The Criminal Justice System and Measures to Counter the COVID-19 Pandemic Evolution of the Pandemic and Measures Taken to Contain It Crime and Crime Rates in First Year of the Pandemic COVID-19 Hypothetical Evolutions of Offence Groups During the Pandemic COVID-19 Data Availability Crime Levels 2010–2019 in Comparison with 2020 Domestic Violence Cybercrime Traffic Offences Suspects Criminal Justice and Prisons: Maintaining Full Working Capacity The Imperative to Maintain the Activities of the Judiciary Adults: Convictions and the COVID-19 Pandemic Minors: Execution of Sanctions and the COVID-19 Pandemic Prison and the COVID-19 Pandemic Conclusion References Conclusion Theoretical and Methodological Background Anti-COVID-19 Policies and Social Reactions in Europe Crime Patterns During the Pandemic in Europe Reference Index