Sorry Charlie but this recession is nothing to do with any other party than Labour.The Cons and Libs have inherited a complete financial mess.And immigration nightmare.Deliberately manufactured because thank God they were on their way out.

The short answer to this question is a big yes, this recession is fueling & causing the rise in criminal activity.
When ordinary working class people are thrown out of work as a direct result of this Con/Dem coalition governments policy it is of small wonder that people turn to crime.
When people see a cutback in their benefits and a fall in their living standards-and things are going to get worse-turning to crime is the only way to survive.
That is one reason as to why riots broke out in August 2011 & I predict it'll happen again.
Think of a situation-----you have children to feed, cloth & house----you have rent/mortgage to pay-----you have no income what so ever-----& I'm talking Britain in 2012 & beyond.
Sending people to jail is not the answer as it does not address the causes' of crime.
One more thing, in wbrowns post, I totally disagree with him/her on the topic of "unfettered" immigration.
Immigrants are NOT NOT to blame for the increase in crime.