Debt

The key facts about rising knife crime Violent crime in England and Wales up 19% Police solve fewer than one in 10 crimes The new report from criminal justice consultants Crest Advisory examined robbery trends across Western nations - including Germany, Australia and France. … [Read more...] about Robbery rise blamed on police cuts and rise in smartphone use

“We know that people with mental health problems often find these assessments hugely stressful and, since they don’t accurately assess the extent to which a mental health problem can affect someone’s ability to work, many individuals get the wrong outcome. This could mean they are required to look for work before they are ready, or have to go through a lengthy and stressful appeals process to challenge the decision, all of which can impact further on their mental health. … [Read more...] about Fit-for-work tests may have taken serious toll on mental health – study

“Our research shows many prepay meter customers have to fork out hundreds of pounds more than those on online direct debit deals. This unfairness leaves some of the poorest people struggling to heat their homes and keep the lights on.” … [Read more...] about Prepay meters hit the poorest hardest – Citizens Advice

“I couldn’t fail and I mustn’t fail and when the circumstances are such that one feels one has failed, everything else fell around me. In my case it was economic. I couldn’t fix my financial problems and business problems,” he said. “I now know I was suffering from anxiety and depression, but then I couldn’t make sense of how I was feeling. I was terrified that I couldn’t provide for my wife and kids any more.” … [Read more...] about Austerity a factor in rising suicide rate among UK men – study

UC bundles six current benefits into a single payment. It was designed to encourage people to work more hours. The study found “very limited evidence” of benefit sanctions bringing about what is seen as positive behavioural change such as people moving into work. The common thread linking stories of success wasn’t so much the threat or experience of having benefit cut, but the availability of appropriate individual support. However, the study found that, overwhelmingly, experiences of support from Jobcentre Plus or the government’s outsourced Work Programme were negative. … [Read more...] about Benefit sanctions are now hitting ‘hardworking’ families