24
July
2017
|
08:16
Europe/London

New BT survey reveals South West people commit 29 crimes a year

Summary
People in the South West commit an average of 29 crimes a year, according to research by BT TV. But quite often people are breaking the law without even realising it.


People in the South West commit an average of 29 crimes a year, according to research by BT TV.

But quite often people are breaking the law without even realising it. The research by BT TV to mark the UK network premiere of Better Call Saul reveals that South West residents regularly commit unlikely ‘crimes’, such as gesturing to other road users (36 per cent), vacuuming after 1pm at the weekend (35 per cent) and eating or drinking whilst driving (39 per cent).

Singing Happy Birthday in a restaurant is the law almost half of people in the region (48 per cent) admit to breaking, yet more than 98 per cent consider themselves to be law abiding. Nearly two-thirds (62 per cent) of people polled think many of these laws are completely unnecessary – and even more (69 per cent) admit they feel guilty if they break them. But nearly 83 per cent of people say they are confused by what is and isn’t illegal.

Nearly a third of South West people (31 per cent) revealed they have been caught doing something illegal – with 35 per cent claiming they simply weren’t paying attention. More than one in 10 (12 per cent) didn’t realise they were committing a crime.

Commissioned to celebrate AMC showing Better Call Saul on BT TV on Tuesdays at 9pm, the study of 2,000 UK adults found that 1.52pm on a Saturday is when people are most likely to break the law.

10 laws Brits break:

  1. Sang Happy Birthday in a restaurant (48 per cent)
  2. Drank alcohol under the age of 18 (47 per cent)
  3. Sworn or gestured to other road users (40 per cent)
  4. Eaten or drank whilst driving (39 per cent)
  5. Vacuumed between the hours of 6pm and 8am on a weekday or 1pm and 8am on a Saturday or Sunday (36 per cent)
  6. Parked partly on a pavement (34 per cent)
  7. Cycled on pavements (33 per cent)
  8. Speeding whilst driving (32 per cent)
  9. Beeped a horn for any reason other than alerting traffic (31 per cent)
  10. Been drunk on the street, or in a pub or restaurant (30 per cent)

Across the UK, three in five (60 per cent) respondents said it bothers them when they see others breaking the law – even if it’s something relatively small. On average, UK adults spot people doing something they shouldn’t four times a day – although just 10 per cent would ever confront the offender.

The offences that leave people frustrated when they see someone committing them include using a mobile phone while driving, people dropping litter and cycling through a red light.

The research comes as Better Call Saul star, Jimmy McGill has set up a new office in the UK, in the village of Saul in Gloucestershire to mark the network premiere of his show on BT TV. Mr McGill chose a BT phone box on Framilode Passage for his new ‘office’. Those in need of advice on these laws can reach Jimmy McGill on 0800 345 7285 (SAUL).

Jimmy McGill said: “I am proud to announce the first J M McGill Attorney at Law office outside of Albuquerque. I have chosen England as my new base after finding out that those folks with a stiff upper lip have some ridiculous laws. Only within England and Wales can someone get into legal trouble for having one too many drinks, vacuuming in the evening, dressing up as a sailor and even flying a kite in a park… crazy Brits.”

Better Call Saul is available to BT customers in the UK on AMC – on BT TV channel 332. AMC is also available in HD on both BT TV and Sky with an HD subscription[1].

Notes to editors

A survey of 2,000 UK adults was carried out by Onepoll on behalf of BT on June 22, 2017.

Images are available at the following links:

Images and press assets from “Better Call Saul”: https://tinyurl.com/yar8ud8v

---ends---

Enquiries about this news release should be made to the BT regional press office on 0800 085 0660.

All BT news releases can be accessed at our web site.

You can also subscribe to receive all BT announcements here and you can follow us on Twitter here.


[1] Customers must opt in to receive the AMC channel