Unemployment, economic downturn, social deprivation and a sharp drop in the quality of life – all these concerns are caused by the coronavirus pandemic. Disaster films depict the collapse of the law enforcement system and the rise in crime during a pandemic, especially looting, street robbery and violence. Is it really? Most likely, with fewer people on the streets and reinforced patrols, street crime will decrease. However, the incidence of physical violence within households and telephone and Internet fraud can increase.
– –
Disaster Criminology examines criminal behavior during emergencies. One of the most studied events of this kind is Hurricane Katrina. In 2005, it brought significant damage to the southern US states. The catastrophe led to the collapse of the law enforcement system, hundreds of thousands of people were forced to fight for survival by all available means. The opportunists and people left without legal opportunities to survive became looters or engaged in robbery. In the year of the hurricane, the level of recorded killings in New Orleans briefly increased from 50 to 90 per 100,000 of the population. This happened because law enforcement officers ceased to control the situation, and food, medicine and, most importantly, housing was not enough for everyone.
– – .
