Terrorism cuts crime.

The article looks at the decrease in crime in Great Britain following the terrorist bombings of July 2005. It has long been the subject of speculation among the police and criminologists: what would happen if all the officers who now spend so much of their time taking statements, profiling criminals and moving pieces of paper around were suddenly put on the streets? Crime figures released by London's Metropolitan Police this week provide the best answer yet. Following the bombings of July 7th and 21st, thousands of police officers materialised on London's pavements, many of them sporting brightly coloured jackets. Drawn from all over the city, they were assigned to guard potential targets such as railway stations. The show of force did not just scare off terrorists. There was less crime in July than in May or June, which is unusual: the warmer month tends to bring out criminal tendencies, as windows are left open and alcohol is imbibed alfresco.