COMPARABLE EU STATISTICS ON CRIME, VICTIMISATION AND CRIMINAL JUSTICE Political Background Elements of an Action Plan European Commission Directorate-General Justice Freedom and Security, DG JLS Monika Olsson

Why EU statistics? Outline: 1) Citizen perceptions 2) Political commitments 3) Existing statistics and future EU measures 4) Work at EU level to develop comparable statistics 5) Elements of an Action Plan

Perceived importance at national level Crime and safety are issues of major concern to EU citizens The Eurobarometer spring 2004, a survey of public opinion in the European Union, show that a quarter of the interviewed persons place fighting crime as one of the two most important issues facing their country.

Perceived importance at EU level The Eurobarometer survey of autumn 2003 demonstrate that, according to almost nine out of ten citizens polled, fighting terrorism and fighting organised crime and drug trafficking, should be priorities for the European Union.

Perceived added value of EU actions Special Eurobarometer survey on Justice and Home Affairs from winter 2003: 71 % of EU 15 respondents believe that prevention of and fight against crime would be more effective if it were decided jointly at EU level

Commitments at EU level The treaty on European Union Art 30 2 d requires a network on statistics Millennium Strategy recommends the elaboration of crime statistics as does the evaluation of that strategy The Dublin Declaration recommends the development of a co-ordinated EU Crime Statistics Strategy

Commitments, continued The assessment of the Tampere programme requires the improvement of comparability of statistics on crime and safety The Hague Programme; outlining priorities for the next five years, adopted by the European Council nov. 2004, welcomes the Commission initiative to develop comparable information on crime and victimisation.

Problems with existing data International compilations of national data not comparable, could even be misleading Low comparability of levels even with time- consuming analysis and quality-assessment Victim surveys lack information on organised crime, on serious offences and on all MS, very expensive and time consuming Lack of quantitative data on organised crime

The future Continuing process of harmonisation of crime definitions, minimum penalties and criminal justice measures Future financial perspectives ( ): Growing importance of the area of Justice, Freedom and Security – Commission has proposed to devote a major share of the funds to justice and home affairs

Truly comparable statistics are needed to: Make possible to prioritise measures Inform risk assessments, threat assessments and vulnerability studies Inform the benchmarking of performance Evaluate effectiveness of action Monitor and evaluate Community funding programmes

Process The objective is to develop Community statistics on crime, victimisation and criminal justice Statistics that are comparable between MS and regions within MS, not only compilations of national statistics A long-term commitment that will be developed step by step, in close cooperation between Eurostat and DG JLS within the Commission

Process, continued 2004 – strong support from MS during consultation process A JLS ad-hoc expert group has met several times since July 2003, currently bilateral contacts A long-term action plan to be presented late 2005, based on the consultations held with MS (statistical and justice and home affairs areas) A first EU Crime Report is planned for 2007!

Action plan, contents 1. Co-ordination at EU level 2. Co-operation with non-EU organisations 3. Establish necessary consulting procedures 4. Stock-taking, basis for developing definitions 5. Development of indicators, definitions, reporting procedures etc. 6. Research, projects and studies 7. Political agreements

Action plan 1, Co-ordination at EU-level Continuous coordination will be necessary, as statistics expand: Within the Commission: Within DG JLS, with Eurostat, DG Research and other DGs With Europol and other relevant bodies Consultations with Member States (Forum meetings JLS area, Multidisciplinary Group on Organised Crime, Directors of Social Statistics, Council WG on Statistics)

Action Plan 2, Co-operation with non-EU organisations European Sourcebook Group UNODC – Office on Drugs and Crime UNECE – United Nations Commission for Europe, Conference of European Statisticians Other relevant international organisations

Action Plan 3, Necessary consulting procedures JLS consultative committee to be established – MS representatives, experts, users and providers JLS area Eurostat Task Force Statistical area Updated and expanded directory of contact points – general and specific Continuous consultation with MS

Action Plan 4, Stock-taking, basis for developing definitions Inventory of harmonised definitions of crime types Inventory of harmonised definitions of law enforcement measures Inventory of existing statistical information

Action Plan 5, Indicators, definitions, reporting procedures... Develop a database to hold truly comparable statistics Develop precise definitions, counting rules etc. for (EU level)harmonised crime types Develop definitions for other types of crime Examine the possibilities of: Developing already existing data sources on crime and victimisation Using private sector victimisation surveys to measure crime for example in the business sector

Action Plan 6, Research, projects and studies EUSTOC – Developing an EU Statistical Apparatus on Organised Crime IKOC – Improving Knowledge on Organised Crime to develop a common European approach EU-ICS – EU International Crime Survey Studies to develop definitions, collection methods etc., during studies Necessary to expand research input

Action Plan Follow-up, Political agreements Recommendations, conclusions or the like in the Justice and Home Affairs area to be proposed spring 2006 Legal basis for developing community statististics on crime, victimisation and criminal justice – a long-term objective