18 Aug IELTS Essay, writing task 2, sample answer

9.       Each year, the crime rate increases.

What are the causes of crime and what could be done to prevent this rise in criminal activity?

Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience.

           Write at least 250 words. 

Crime has always been an issue of concern around the world. In recent decades it has continued to rise and more money than ever before is being spent on the detection and punishment of criminal activity, this is across the world. The reasons why people commit crime are countless, but drugs, alcohol, social problems and poverty play a major role. To solve these problems, governments have to focus stricter punishments, speedy justice and improve employment opportunities; Many Governments around the globe are making investments in good housing projects and tackle drug and alcohol abuse.

One of the main causes of criminality is the use, sale and trafficking of narcotics. For example, the selling and trafficking of drugs is organized by criminal gangs who illegally traffic drugs and control their business with extreme violence. Consumption of Narcotics leads to users often steal or get involved in petty crimes to fund their habit. The social problems connected with crime are said to be the result of single-parent or broken families, absence of role models and difficult living conditions. The children from these broken families are some times susceptible to become criminals because they feel alienated from society. Poverty sometimes also leads to one getting into crime.

Crime can, of course, be dealt with by toughening criminal laws and introducing faster justice system longer custodial sentences for repeat offenders, but some of the best ways to deal with crime may be to deal with the social causes. Increasing employment opportunities in poorer areas would improve living standards, which would mean easy access to affordable housing and education. Governments can also set up drug and alcohol rehabilitation campaigns in areas that are more affected; this would help reduce dependency on stimulants and the need for the criminal activity that surrounds them. In conclusion, crime is a major issue, but a complete crack down on offenders with a harsh penal system is not the only way. These problems can be solved through creating better collective social efforts, government providing jobs and funding which should raise living standards and dramatically reduce crime levels.