While many different factors contribute to a person’s criminal history, the type of crimes committed can give some clues as to what sort of person that one may be. The location of one’s parents’ house in relation to the school they attended can shed some light on their personality. If one’s parents are separated, this could indicate that they may be struggling with unresolved conflicts and issues. These sorts of questions can be answered with some research and analysis of crime statistics. Below, we’ll explore some interesting nuggets about different types of crimes and the sorts of perpetrators that tend to be associated with them.
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More From Personal Injury To Murder
In the last twenty years, there has been a discernible shift towards more violent crimes. Back in the 1990s and the early 2000s, there were more cases of violent crime committed with ‘traditional’ types of weapons. This included cases of robbery, kidnapping, and rape. Since then, there has been a steady decline in these sorts of crimes. In 2018, there were 4,700 cases of robbery, 1,600 cases of kidnapping, and only 462 cases of rape reported. This is the lowest number of rape cases since 1975. The trend is the same in other industrialized countries. For example, in the UK, there were 4,100 cases of robbery, 1,500 cases of kidnapping, and only 400 cases of rape in 2018. This is compared to figures from the year before where there were 4,500 cases of robbery, 2,200 cases of kidnapping, and 3,000 cases of rape. This represents a 12% drop in robbery cases, a 7% drop in the number of kidnapping cases, and a 3% drop in the number of rape cases.
The use of golf clubs as a murder weapon has risen consistently over the last few decades. It was once rare to see a golf club employed in the commission of a crime. This has mostly been replaced by other types of clubs and knives, with the exception of golf club murder which has seen a steady rise since the 1960s.
In the year before Edmund was killed, the number of golf club murders committed in the UK alone was 40, 30, and 20. This is compared to the respective figures in 2016 where there were 55, 43, and 32. That’s 133% increase in golf club murders alone in the UK between 2015 and 2018. For the US, the respective figures were 18, 14, and 17 in the years before Edmund’s murder compared to 24, 22, and 19 in the years after. This is a 16% increase in golf club murders in the US between 2016 and 2018. In Canada, the respective figures were 15 and 13 in the years before and after Edmund’s murder. This is equivalent to about a 39% increase in golf club murders in Canada between 2015 and 2018.
Golf Club-Wielding Murderers Generally Have More Serious Records
Generally speaking, golf club-wielding murderers tend to have more serious records than those who do not. To back this up, let’s take a look at the UK crime statistics for the last three decades.
Between 1980 and 2018, there were 4,700 cases of robbery, 1,600 cases of kidnapping, and 462 cases of rape. This gives us an overall crime rate of 5.5 cases of felony-type crime per 1,000 people per year. Within that timeframe, there were 10 incidents of murder involving a golf club. This gives us a rate of 416.7 cases of murder per 1,000 people per year. While in the previous 40 years there were only 400 cases of rape and 400 cases of murder, these figures represent a 132% increase in cases of rape and a 336% increase in cases of murder. In terms of the types of crimes committed, these figures represent the highest number of robberies, the highest number of abductions for ransom, and the highest number of murders committed with a golf club. Many of these crimes involved multiple perpetrators and extended periods of time.
This is not to say that all golf club-wielding murderers are high-level elites or have serious criminal records. There are many examples of perpetrators with no previous convictions who carried out these crimes. In rare instances, people have even committed these crimes for financial gain. This is especially true for ransom-related abductions and robberies where the perpetrators are looking to make a quick buck. However, these sorts of crimes are the exception rather than the norm.
Murderers’ Records Vary But Share Some Common Features
Looking at the records of those who murdered with golf clubs between 1980 and 2018, we can see that the majority had prior convictions for other types of crimes. The vast majority of perpetrators had either been imprisoned or had served a prison sentence. In terms of the specific types of crimes, the vast majority had either perpetrated or attempted to perpetrate a robbery or had been in a motor vehicle accident. In some cases, the victim was known to the perpetrator. This was either due to a prior relationship or because the victim had previously opposed the perpetrator. These are all features that point to a person who is already established within the criminal justice system. The lack of a victim’s resistance makes these sorts of crimes even more depraved and brutal.
Golf Clubs Are A Substantial Weapon
In terms of the types of weapons used, there has been a shift towards more sophisticated weaponry. This includes the use of firearms, bombs, and, increasingly, knives. In the twenty years before Edmund’s murder, the vast majority of weapons employed were either handguns or long-knives. This includes stiletto, hunting, and other types of stabbing knives. The vast majority of these were traditional weapons. Looking at the three years afterwards, we can see that more sophisticated weaponry has been employed, including 12-gauge shotguns,.38 caliber handguns, and rifles. The increase is dramatic with the number of cases involving firearms rising from 30 in the year before to 87 in the year after Edmund’s murder. This is a 120% increase in the use of firearms.
The sort of person who will commit a robbery with a golf club is someone who is already within the criminal justice system and has either been in prison or is currently serving a sentence. These are the sorts of individuals who are likely to be associated with gangs, and this is supported by the fact that about a third of those who murdered with a golf club in 2018 were members of a gang. The majority of these gangs are already established in the UK. This includes the Irish gang, the English gang, and the Italian gang. The lack of any previous convictions for these individuals means that they are more likely to be getting away with these sorts of crimes.
Who Is The Target Of These Crimes?
The target of these murders is generally either someone the perpetrator knows or someone they have some sort of connection with. This can be a family member, a friend, or someone with whom the perpetrator has had a disagreement. Many of these murders are part of a feud or a battle between two rival groups and the individuals who they are fighting with either live or work near the place where the crime takes place. In some cases, individuals will murder those who they believe are responsible for their own imprisonment. Many of these crimes are part of a cycle. If the perpetrator is able to avoid arrest and conviction, they are more likely to commit another crime. In some instances, the individual will murder an innocent person in order to put a stop to the infraction.
Where Do These Crimes Occur?
The UK-wide statistics that we have referenced above only cover the crimes that took place within the country. In terms of the places where these crimes occur, the largest metropolitan areas, including London, have the highest levels of crime. This is mostly due to the large population size and the fact that many of these individuals come from backgrounds where crime is commonplace. Areas with a higher incidence of armed robbery include the West Midlands, Greater London, and the Northeast. When looking at the places where these crimes happen, areas near the bottom of the list tend to be those with the most expensive real estate and the strongest economies. Places near the top of the list are generally urban areas with a lot of social deprivation. The reason for this is that expensive urban real estate attracts affluent people who are less likely to be involved in crime. In the case of the UK, areas such as the West Midlands, Greater London, and the Northeast are at the top of the list, while the most expensive real estate is generally found in the South coast and the Scottish Highlands.