A new report says there is a "wave of micro crime" in Great Britain. Researchers from a research organisation were shocked by their findings. Matthew Smith, a data analyst, said: "You probably wouldn't expect that three in every four people you see are [hiding] a criminal past. Yet that's exactly what is happening….As many as 74 per cent of British people are 'micro-criminals' – having [done] at least one very minor or 'micro' crime." The most common crime the British public say they have done is paying someone cash when they know that the person will not pay tax on it.

The researchers say men and middle-class people were the most likely to commit micro crimes. About 80 per cent of middle-class people admitted to micro crimes, while the figure was closer to 70 per cent for working-class people. The second-most common micro crime was illegally downloading or streaming TV shows, movies or music. Slightly fewer than 30 per cent of people said they did this. Other micro crimes include not paying for bags in supermarkets, lying about your age to get a better deal, and eating things in a supermarket without paying.