Criminal: The Truth About Why People Do Bad Things

''As enlightening about crime in modern society as any book I have read'' The Times

''A richly researched, supremely sane discussion of the causes of and ways of preventing crime. From bobbies on the beat (they don''t reduce crime), to the idea that "prison works" (it doesn''t), Gash''s important book may well change your attitude to criminality and the justice system'' Guardian

There are two myths about crime. In one, the criminal act is a selfish choice, and tough punishment the only solution. In the other, the system is at fault, and perpetrators will change only when society reforms. Both these narratives are wrong.

Interweaving conversations and stories of crime with findings from the latest research, Tom Gash dispels the myths that inform our views of crime, from the widespread misconception that poverty causes crime, to the belief that tough sentencing reduces it. He examines the origins of criminal behaviour, the ebb and flow of crime across the last century, and the effectiveness of various government crack-downs - and in doing so reveals that crime is both less rational and much easier to reduce than many believe. Can we suspend our knee-jerk reactions, let go of cherished myths and embrace the truth about crime?