Knives and Armed Robbery

• NCJ Number: 186882
• Author(s): Emma Ogilvie
• Editor(s): Adam Graycar Dr.
• Date Published: July 2000
• Length: 6 pages
• Sale Source: Australian Institute of Criminology
• Publication Format: Document
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: Australia
• Note: Trends and Issues in Crime and Criminal Justice, No. 159

Annotation

This paper brings together new data on robbery, noting the strong presence of knives and the analysis of containment strategies to reduce the use of knives.

Abstract

In Australia, knives are used during armed robberies at between two and three times the level of firearms. In addition, in terms of offense categories, armed robberies accounted for the largest (proportional) increase in recorded crime between 1997 and 1998. The focus of most research into armed robbery is the use of a gun. In North America, firearms are involved in between 60 to 65 percent of all armed robberies. However, in Australia, firearms are involved in less than 30 percent of all armed robberies. These figures mean that knife use needs to be viewed as a critical issue and collaborative work undertaken to contain knife use. This paper is the first step in this process. This paper provides a review of the research. A theoretical argument is made that Australia has relatively low levels of firearm use in armed robbery because guns are not readily available and firearm legislation is effective. This provides the basis for the argument that the increase in other weapon use, such as knives, results from the lack of a gun culture in robbery. Another theoretical approach depicts offenders as making quite specific choices concerning weapon use. The argument suggests that perpetrators of armed knife robberies consider the seriousness of penalties associated with the use of a firearm, and make conscious decisions to use a knife in order to avoid the greater penalties associated with firearm use. In summation, there are two important trends occurring. First, armed robbery is increasing and is being driven by an increase in the use of weapons other than firearms. Second, it can be suspected that the reason for increasing use of knives in armed robbery is the complex nature of the connection between availability and intent. The data used to draw out this point are incomplete and not very specific. Critical questions still need to be answered to improve the capacity to develop effective and appropriately targeted crime prevention strategies. Notes and references