Climate change will spark 'surge in street crime' » Environment » 24dash.com

Street crime will surge as winters become milder because of climate change, experts predicted today.

Criminologists believe that rates of violence and anti-social behaviour could rise with the mercury as Britain warms over the next century.

And researchers predict that criminal activity will also increase during the warmer summers because of higher alcohol intake.

Ken Pease, visiting professor of crime science at University College London, told the Scotsman newspaper: "We know that more people on the streets, larger crowds and alcohol consumption are all linked to increases in crime.

"And it stands to reason that warmer weather will encourage all three. The question really is not whether global warming will lead to an increase in street crime, but by how much?"

Several prominent studies undertaken in the 1990s found a link between high temperatures and violent crime.

Spikes in urban homicide rates in the US during the summer months are a much-documented trend.

Animal research, meanwhile, has suggested warmer temperatures boost aggression hormones such as epinephrine and testosterone.

Clive Murray, president of the Scottish Association of Police Superintendents, told the Scotsman: "There's an old expression that the best firefighter and police officer in Scotland is rain, and that's regardless of temperature.

"If it's raining, the streets tend to stay quiet."

Scientists have forecast a global temperature rise of between 1.4C and 5.8C in the next century.

Copyright Press Association 2007

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