Heroin Use and Acquisitive Crime in an English Community

This paper examines the possible linkage between a widespread heroin epidemic and a parallel and unprecedented rise in acquisitive crime in a community in north-west England between 1981 and 1986. A very close relationship between the 'extra' crime being generated and the presence of a large number of young, unemployed heroin users was established. It was found that 50 per cent of a sample of young adults convicted of domestic burglaries during 1985 were also known heroin users. Amongst those who were both offenders and heroin users two distinct groups emerged: first, the larger group who had a criminal record prior to heroin use but had * * * . * . * a een commstt1ng muc n more acqussstsve crsme ssnce zecom1ng users; second, a group who had no criminal record prior to heroin use but who are now deeply involved in crime.