A London based survey that found links between mental illness and crime has indicated that people suffering from mental illness are three times more likely to be a victim of crime and up to ten times more likely to be subject to assault.
Are psychological disorders and victims of crime strongly related? The inescapable answer, according to the three-year London based survey, is “yes”. It is proven in detail that people suffering from mental illnesses are three times more likely to be a victim of crime, five times more likely to experience an assault, women are ten times more likely to be subject of sexual harassment, and both men and women are seven times more likely to experience three or more crimes a year.
Lydia, a victim of crime, confesses that she seemed a “spider” to police officers. Complaints of police officers not taking these cases seriously have been brought to attention through this study.
According to BBC news, the Association of Chief Police Officers emphasizes that anyone appealing to the police is supposed to be listened to with seriousness and treated respectfully. Hence, the chief executive of Victim Support launches the new motto “Equal Rights to Justice”, highlighting an empathy for people with mental illness, who are neither criminals nor violent.
The issue that half of the people suffering from any kind of psychological disorder had experienced a crime in the last year is under investigation.
