Criminal Statistics The measurement of Crime

Official Statistics Official Statistics comprise those collected by various government agencies, such as: Official Statistics comprise those collected by various government agencies, such as: The police The courts The prison service The Home Office annually collates a document entitled Criminal Statistics England and Wales. The Home Office annually collates a document entitled Criminal Statistics England and Wales.

This document collates all the REPORTED crime over a given period and as such represents the ‘official’ figures of what is known about the extent of crime in the country. This document collates all the REPORTED crime over a given period and as such represents the ‘official’ figures of what is known about the extent of crime in the country. This is all shown on the Home Office website: This is all shown on the Home Office website: The info that criminal statistics provides has a number of uses. The info that criminal statistics provides has a number of uses. Allow redirection of resources Police can focus on hotspots

Problems with measurement Several agencies (HM Customs and Excise) maintain their own records, and even police recording practices have been shown to be potentially misleading Several agencies (HM Customs and Excise) maintain their own records, and even police recording practices have been shown to be potentially misleading This is shown in Farrington and Dowds’ study in This is shown in Farrington and Dowds’ study in 1984.

The Dark Figure of Crime Criminologists have long since queried the ‘official picture’ represents the true scale of criminal activity, and many regard the published figures to be only the tip of the iceberg. Detected, reported and recorded crime Crimes that occur and may not be detected, reported or recorded by official statistics.

Problem? If, then, the official statistics represent only a small portion of the ‘true’ extent of crime how can the ‘dark figure’ be assessed? If, then, the official statistics represent only a small portion of the ‘true’ extent of crime how can the ‘dark figure’ be assessed? “ main methods have been employed: “ main methods have been employed:

Self-Report studies These involve asking individuals (in confidence) either by questionnaire or interview to indicate crimes they have committed. These involve asking individuals (in confidence) either by questionnaire or interview to indicate crimes they have committed. These have been popular in the U.S. for decades and the logic behind them is clear. These have been popular in the U.S. for decades and the logic behind them is clear. Ask the criminals about the crime rate. Ask the criminals about the crime rate.

Problems with Self Report Study Many studies used young people in their samples and so it is likely that individuals concerned may have exaggerated their replies. Many studies used young people in their samples and so it is likely that individuals concerned may have exaggerated their replies. In addition, many items in the questionnaires cited largely juvenile acts and thus shed little light on the extent of adult crime. In addition, many items in the questionnaires cited largely juvenile acts and thus shed little light on the extent of adult crime.

Victimisation studies Sometimes called ‘Crime Surveys’, they focus on the victim of the crime. These have been conducted in Britain since the early 1980’s.

Crime Surveys Cont… They are conducted annually on a sample of several thousand individuals aged 16 or over each of whom is asked if they (or anyone in their household) have been a victim of crime in the last year. They are conducted annually on a sample of several thousand individuals aged 16 or over each of whom is asked if they (or anyone in their household) have been a victim of crime in the last year. If the individual has been personally involved, then further details are extracted and they process the results on different categories of crime. If the individual has been personally involved, then further details are extracted and they process the results on different categories of crime.

Evaluation of Measuring Crime The official statistics tend to under-represent actual crime, masking the ‘dark figure’ of crime. The official statistics tend to under-represent actual crime, masking the ‘dark figure’ of crime. Victim surveys are large-scale and randomly selected and so tend to be representative. However, they rely on accuracy of recall, and retrospective reporting may be inaccurate. ‘Telescoping’ may occur where respondents think that an event occurred in the past year but it may actually have been longer ago. Victim surveys are large-scale and randomly selected and so tend to be representative. However, they rely on accuracy of recall, and retrospective reporting may be inaccurate. ‘Telescoping’ may occur where respondents think that an event occurred in the past year but it may actually have been longer ago.

Evaluation cont…. Offender self-reports rely on offenders’ honest reporting. There may be several reasons why offenders fail to report truthfully or even exaggerate the number of offences committed. As only certain age/social groups are targeted, the sample could be said to be biased. Offender self-reports rely on offenders’ honest reporting. There may be several reasons why offenders fail to report truthfully or even exaggerate the number of offences committed. As only certain age/social groups are targeted, the sample could be said to be biased. Each set of data should be interpreted with caution in the light of its methodological limitations, with particular regard to validity and reliability. A combination of measures perhaps yields the best overview of offending behaviour. Each set of data should be interpreted with caution in the light of its methodological limitations, with particular regard to validity and reliability. A combination of measures perhaps yields the best overview of offending behaviour.