Sociologist Hakan Gündüz speaking to Kibris Postasi outlined the main reasons behind the rising crime rates in the country. He attributed the increase in crime to factors such as dysfunctional production conditions, waste of resources, and the normalisation of lawlessness and injustice.
Gündüz highlighted several crime-related issues, including uncontrolled money laundering, unplanned land transactions, illegal trade, and demographic shifts. He also noted that rising poverty worsens the problem, leading to an increase in crime rates.
He emphasised that economic stability is crucial for social wellbeing and that deteriorating economic conditions often lead to unforeseen social problems. Gündüz pointed out that inflation has been a major issue in fragile economies and that persistent inflation contributes to increasing the description of society.
Gündüz stressed that while rising crime rates can be a societal anomaly linked to economic downturns, attributing crime rates solely to inflation in the TRNC would be overly simplistic. He noted that there are numerous other factors influencing crime rates, including corruption, mismanagement, and demographic changes.
In February, a report on the same issues by Yeniduzen came to similar conclusions. It said that Fikri Toros (CTP), in an interview Yeniduzen about the existing problems in the TRNC, said that inflation was the main driver of a failing economy. He also referred to corruption in high places. Toros also said that because the TRNC was not internationally recognised, the country had become a magnet for criminals who engaged in money laundering and people trafficking.