50+ Essential Crime Vocabulary for IELTS Writing & Speaking

Today we’re going to learn about the topic “Crime.”

Why is this so important? Well, in both Writing and Speaking, you’ll often get questions about why crime happens, how to reduce it, or what governments can do.

If you only say things like “Crime is bad” or “We should punish criminals,” you won’t get a high band score for Lexical Resource, which makes up 25% of your IELTS Writing and Speaking score.. So in this lesson, I’ll share 50+ useful words, collocations, idioms, and phrasal verbs with examples and sample IELTS answers — so you can speak and write more naturally and confidently.

General Crime Vocabulary

• crime rate = the number of crimes committed in a particular area.
• law enforcement = the police and other agencies that make sure laws are followed.
• criminal activity = illegal actions like theft or drug dealing.
• violent crime = crimes involving physical harm (e.g., assault, murder).
• petty crime = minor offences such as shoplifting or vandalism.
• juvenile delinquency = crimes committed by young people.
• organized crime = large groups involved in serious crimes such as drug trafficking.
• white-collar crime = financial crimes like fraud, bribery, or embezzlement.
• cybercrime = crime committed using computers or the internet.
• victimless crime = illegal acts that do not directly harm others (e.g., gambling).

Criminals and Punishment

• offender / criminal / lawbreaker = a person who commits a crime.
• first-time offender = someone who commits a crime for the first time.
• repeat offender = someone who commits crimes again after being punished.
• suspect = a person believed to be involved in a crime.
• convict / prisoner / inmate = someone found guilty and sent to prison.
• rehabilitation = helping criminals live a normal life after prison.
• deterrent = something that discourages people from committing crimes.
• sentence = the punishment given by a court.
• capital punishment / death penalty = punishment of death for serious crimes.
• community service = unpaid work that criminals do instead of going to prison.

Crime in IELTS Writing Task 2

• reduce crime rates = make the number of crimes lower.
• introduce stricter laws = create stronger rules to prevent crime.
• act as a deterrent = discourage others from committing crimes.
• rehabilitate offenders = help criminals become law-abiding citizens.
• prevent juvenile crime = stop young people from committing offences.
• address the root causes of crime = solve the underlying social problems.
• increase police presence = have more police officers in public areas.
• impose heavy fines = make criminals pay large amounts of money as punishment.
• provide vocational training = teach prisoners job skills to reintegrate into society.
• reduce reoffending rates = lower the number of criminals who commit crimes again.

Crime-Related Idioms

• do time = spend time in prison.
• break the law = commit a crime.
• caught red-handed = caught while committing a crime.
• the long arm of the law = the power of the law to reach and punish criminals.
• turn oneself in = surrender to the police.
• get away with murder = do something wrong without being punished.
• a slap on the wrist = a very light punishment.
• behind bars = in prison.
• face the music = accept punishment for what you did.
• crime doesn’t pay = in the end, crime will bring trouble, not success.

Common Collocations Related to Crime

• commit a crime / offence = do something illegal; break the law.
• break the law = disobey or act against the law.
• enforce the law = make sure people follow the law.
• fight / tackle / combat crime = take action to reduce or stop crime.
• investigate a case = try to find out the truth about a crime.
• arrest a suspect = take someone believed to have committed a crime into custody.
• stand trial = go to court to be judged for a crime.
• serve a prison sentence = spend a period of time in prison as punishment.
• release from prison = allow a prisoner to go free after serving their sentence.
• reintegrate into society = return to normal life after prison and become a responsible citizen.

Useful Phrasal Verbs Related to Crime

• break into (a house, car) = enter illegally.
• hold up (a bank/shop) = rob using violence.
• get away with (something) = escape punishment.
• lock up (someone) = put someone in prison.
• run away = escape from police or prison.
• turn in / turn yourself in = surrender to the authorities.
• look into (a case) = investigate.
• crack down on (crime) = take strong action to stop something illegal.
• cover up (a crime) = hide the truth.
• set off (a bomb) = cause an explosion.

IELTS Speaking Part 1: Topic – Crime

Do you think crime is a serious problem in your country?

Yes, unfortunately, it is. In big cities, crimes like theft, robbery, and online scams are quite common. I think the main reason is the growing gap between rich and poor, which leads some people to commit crimes out of desperation.

Have you ever witnessed a crime?

Not directly, but I once saw a man trying to steal a motorbike. Luckily, people nearby noticed and stopped him before he escaped. It really showed me how important it is to stay alert in public places.

What do you think causes people to commit crimes?

I think poverty and unemployment are major causes. When people struggle to survive, they may turn to illegal activities. Besides, the influence of violent movies and video games can also play a role in shaping people’s behavior.

Do you think crime will decrease in the future?

It’s hard to say. If governments create more job opportunities and improve education, crime rates might fall. But if inequality keeps rising, we’ll probably continue to face serious problems.

IELTS Speaking Part 2 – Topic: Describe a Crime You Heard About

You should say:

• what the crime was
• where it happened
• how you heard about it
• and explain how you felt about it.

Useful vocabulary

• disturbed = upset or shocked by something unpleasant.
• made national headlines = became a major story in the news across the country.
• tragic = very sad or causing great suffering.
• suspect = a person believed to have committed a crime.
• confession = an admission that someone did something wrong or illegal.
• distort = change or twist something so that it is no longer true or realistic.
• tell right from wrong = know what is morally correct and what is not.
• a wake-up call = an event that makes people realize something must change.
• innocent = not guilty of a crime; not responsible for something bad.
• are exposed to = experience or come into contact with something (often harmful or dangerous).

What measures can be taken to reduce crime?

Well, I think reducing crime requires cooperation between the government, schools, and families.

• The government should tackle the root causes, like poverty and unemployment, by creating more jobs and improving education. It should also enforce stricter laws and run rehabilitation programs to help offenders reintegrate into society.
• Schools should go beyond academics and teach moral values and social responsibility, so students understand the consequences of breaking the law.
• And finally, parents play a vital role. They need to teach children right from wrong, give them guidance, and be good role models. When kids grow up in a loving and disciplined family, they’re much less likely to turn to crime.

Do you think punishment alone can reduce crime?

No, I don’t think so. Punishment can deter people to some extent, and putting criminals behind bars certainly helps protect society from dangerous individuals. However, it doesn’t really solve the root causes of crime, which are often related to poverty, unemployment, or lack of education.

If people commit crimes out of desperation or because they have no opportunities, punishing them alone won’t change anything. Instead, governments need to combine punishment with prevention — by improving education, creating jobs, and offering rehabilitation programs. That’s the only sustainable way to reduce crime in the long run.

What’s the role of technology in fighting crime?

Technology plays a crucial role in crime prevention. For example, modern AI-powered surveillance cameras can detect weapons or suspicious behavior in real time and alert the police. Drones can patrol large areas and respond quickly. Predictive policing systems analyze crime data to forecast where a crime is likely to occur, so police can position forces in advance. Gunshot detection systems can locate gunfire in seconds, allowing rapid responses. While these tools can deter and catch criminals more efficiently, we must ensure they are used ethically.