80% of crime could be due to poor parenting
Breaking and entering: many children with conduct disorder later carry out crime
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Monday, 23, Nov 2009 12:01
By Emmeline Saunders
Four-fifths of all crime is committed by people who had conduct problems as children, a report by the Sainsbury Centre for Mental Health has found.
One child in 20 has conduct disorder, which manifests itself in aggression and destruction towards other people and property.
Poor, neglectful or harsh parenting can cause conduct problems, the report suggests, as can parents with low education attainment and family poverty.
Living in a deprived neighbourhood is another factor. The study found many children with the disorder had a genetic predisposition, which, combined with poor parenting and little supervision, could make a child more likely to offend as they grow older.
According to the report, 30 per cent of crime is carried out by people who were affected by the disorder when they were younger. This costs society upwards of £22 billion a year.
A single prolific offender can cost society £1.5 million over a lifetime.
Half of all crime is carried out by the 45 per cent of people who have a mild to moderate form of the disorder, which can include intimidating others, lying and stealing.
The report suggests that action taken to prevent conduct problems in young children, including group parenting classes costing £600-£900, can dramatically reduce their chances of being involved in crime later on in life.
Sainsbury Centre joint chief executive Sean Duggan said the cost of crime related to conduct problems could be tackled with effective action at a young age.
"In the UK, just one per cent of the annual law and order budget would fund a comprehensive programme of pre-school support for up to one third of all children born each year," he said.
"Early intervention of this kind will not just reduce the risk of future offending but give young children being born today the chance of a better life."
A scheme run in America has shown that pre-school parenting support for at-risk families can reduce the cost of crime by $11 for every $1 invested in it.
Steve Shrubb, director of the Mental Health Network, said: "This report shows how the effects of poor mental health and well-being can lead to very serious and costly problems in other services. We know from our own work that intervening early will mean money saved both in the NHS and elsewhere in our public services.
"To build on the progress we have made in improving mental health services in this country, we need to recognise that mental health issues play a key role in our schools, the criminal justice system, social services and the full range of public services.
"As the recession bites, not only are mental health services going to experience greater demand but also they will need to save money. This report along with our own work makes the case for investing in the right services so we can intervene early to offer better support and better value for the taxpayer."
Conduct disorder is more prevalent in boys, with an average of 6.9 per cent aged between five and 10 affected compared to 2.8 per cent of girls.
The lifetime costs of crime for each child with conduct disorder are an average of £160,000, and £45,000 for those with mild or moderate conduct problems.