PRESS RELEASE: Prison Break DVD
Written: Monday 6th July, 2009
CRIME DAYS
NEWS COPY
The average Brits breaks the law at least once EVERY DAY, a study revealed yesterday (Sun).
Researchers have found that Brits break the law around eight times a week by committing offences such as speeding, illegally downloading music or dropping litter.
Other laws which we ignore on a daily basis are rules which prevent us from cycling on the pavements, having sex in a public place or smoking in an enclosed area.
Talking or texting on a mobile phone while driving and buying cigarettes or alcohol while under age also featured high on the list.
Worryingly, the poll which was carried out to mark the release of Prison Break Season 4 on DVD also found one in four adults weren't concerned by their actions.
And more than half of those said they didn't consider the offences to be serious while one in four of those said they weren't bothered because 'everyone does it'.
Drinking alcohol under the age of 18 was the law most likely to be ignored with 56 per cent of people admitting to breaking it at some point in their lives.
Speeding was second with 51 per cent of Brits regularly flouting the limit, while 35 per cent admitted eating or drink behind the wheel.
More than a third of the 2,000 polled said they downloaded music using illegal file sharing websites instead of buying tracks to listen to.
Other offences committed on a daily basis include smoking, sniffing or injecting illegal drugs, not wearing a seatbelt and parking on double yellow lines.
Cycling without lights after dark, having sex under the age of 16 and not cleaning up your dog mess also made the list.
The researchers also discovered that 21 per cent of law breakers aren't at all worried about getting caught.
Three quarters of people said they had never been spotted ignoring the law.
Yesterday a spokeswoman from top London law firm Seddons said: ''The survey results are indicative of just how far standards have slipped in Britain.
''There is an expectation of 'getting away with it' or if one is caught breaking the law that there will be little, if any, punishment.
''Whilst it is to be commended that those serving a prison sentence would miss family, the answer is to be a law-abiding citizen in the first place.''
Top 20 laws we ignore
1. Drinking alcohol under the age of 18
2. Speeding
3. Eating or drinking while driving
4. Downloading music
5. Dropping litter
6. Cycling on pavements
7. Having sex in a public place
8. Talking on a mobile/texting while driving
9. Parking partly on a pavement
10. Buying cigarettes under the age of 16/18
11. Taking drugs
12. Not wearing a seatbelt
13. Parking on double yellow lines
14. Cycling without lights after dark
15. Having sex under the age of 16
16. Not cleaning up dog poo
17. Skipping red lights
18. Smoking in a public place
19. Not informing the DVLA of a change of name/address etc
20. Not having a TV license
ENDS
