vely allocate the budget and police to minimise crime is hard to set. The social optimum level would occur where marginal benefit is equal to marginal cost however this location is difficult to allocate.

To conclude, increasingly crime levels are threatening UK security due to an increase in violent and serious crime committed. Deterrence needs to be used to enhance security policy by increasing the severity of punishments however these policies will be costly and designing the optimal punishment to reduce crime is difficult. The debate of whether austerity has resulted in increased crime generally skews towards a negative relationship. This would suggest that increased government spending towards policing would therefore have a positive effect on UK security.

Military expenditure

Should the UK increase its military expenditure?

The UK currently has the fifth biggest defence budget in the world which during 2016/17 the defence expenditure was reported to be £35.3 billion. In April 2016 the UK’s defence budget increased for the first time in six years suggesting a new threat to UK’s security. Many individuals debate whether military expenditure (milex) has positive or negative effects on the economy therefore this section will weigh up whether the UK’s security policy will be enhanced by increasing or decreasing milex. According to SIPRI the UK’s government spent 4.7% of spending in 2017 on milex compared to USA government which spent 8.8%. Overall this equated to 1.8% share of GDP.

The various economic schools of thought have contrasting views on milex. Keynesian economics would argue the UK should increase its milex to boost the economy which entail will enhance security policy. Government spending on milex will stimulate spending in the economy resulting in a multiplier effect. This will lead to