Plan this problem and solution essay about crime with the ideas and outline below, write it on a 40-minute timer, then compare it with a band-8 model answer.
You should spend about 40 minutes on this task.
Write about the following topic:
In many communities, people are reluctant to report crimes they have witnessed to the police.
What are the causes of this problem and what measures could be taken to solve it?
Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience.
Write at least 250 words.
GoPrep wrote this practice question in the style of the exam. It is not an official IELTS question.
Pick two or three points from one or both columns. You do not need all of them, and your own examples score better than memorised ones.
Spend the first few minutes planning, then write.
0 words of 250 minimum
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Write your own answer first, then compare: how it answers the exact question, what each paragraph does, and which phrases you could borrow.
In many communities, people are reluctant to report crimes they have witnessed to the police. This essay will discuss the causes of this problem and suggest some solutions.
The most important cause is fear. Witnesses worry that criminals, or their associates, will take revenge, particularly in neighbourhoods dominated by gangs where the offenders live nearby. A second cause is lack of trust in the police. If people believe that officers are corrupt, indifferent or discriminatory, or if previous reports led to no action, they see no reason to cooperate. In some communities, there is also a social pressure not to inform on neighbours or relatives, and being seen as an informer can lead to exclusion. Others simply do not want to become involved, since giving evidence may mean losing time from work, attending court repeatedly and being questioned by lawyers. Finally, some people, such as immigrants without legal status, fear that contacting the authorities could create problems for themselves.
Several measures could improve reporting. Anonymous reporting systems, such as telephone hotlines and online forms, allow witnesses to give information without exposing themselves, and the organisation Crimestoppers has used this approach successfully in many countries. Witness protection and strict confidentiality are essential in serious cases. The police must work to build trust through community policing, in which officers get to know residents, treat them respectfully and respond to complaints. Courts can reduce the burden on witnesses by providing flexible hearing times and giving evidence by video link. Public campaigns that explain how reports help to keep the community safe may also change attitudes.
In conclusion, fear, distrust, social pressure and inconvenience prevent people from reporting crime. Anonymity, protection, trusted policing and a more convenient legal process would encourage them to come forward.
| Phrase | Meaning |
|---|---|
| witness | person who sees a crime |
| report a crime | inform the police of a crime |
| fear of reprisals | fear of being harmed in revenge |
| anonymous tip | information given without a name |
| trust in the police | confidence in the force |
| bystander | person who sees but does not act |
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