International Students as Perpetrators of Crime

Abstract

The literature relating to migration and crime suggests that similarities exist in the experiences of migrants and international students. Many international students stay in their host country after completing their studies (Access Economics, 2009) and, as a consequence, are often considered as temporary or ‘backdoor’ migrants (Robertson, 2011). Contemporary findings confirm that immigration does not increase crime and may indeed lessen it (Reid et al., 2005). However, migration can weaken the social institutions within a community, leading to increased levels of crime attributable to both immigrants and native-born residents (Bankston, 1998; Sampson and Groves, 1989; Vessey and Messner, 1999). To date, there has been very little attention paid to the topic of international students as perpetrators of crime. While interviewees in all three countries did not think it was common for international students to be perpetrators of crime, they were able to provide examples where this was the case. The experience and knowledge of our interviewees provides new insights into the problem of international students as perpetrators of crime.

Sometimes it is what’s acceptable in their country and how they treat people. It is a different set of rules.

(P4 Campus Police Officer, UK)