NCJ Number
140836
Date Published
1990
Length
7 pages
Annotation
This briefing summarizes various elements of the British Crime Surveys (victimization surveys) conducted in 1982, 1984, and 1988 by the Home Office Research and Planning Unit.
Abstract
The 1988 British Crime Survey (BCS) estimated that there were 13,292,000 household and property offenses in 1987 (four times more than recorded by the police), 12 percent more than the BCS estimate for 1983 and 21 percent more than the BCS estimate for 1981. Excluded from the BCS estimate are nonhousehold and nonpersonal offenses such as vandalism to shops, schools, and telephone kiosks, and shoplifting and fraud. An estimated 8,885,000 offenses (two- thirds of the BCS estimated total for 1987) were household offenses, 17 percent more than in 1983 and 29 percent more than in 1981. The average annual increase in household offenses fell from 5 percent annually between 1981 and 1983 and to 4 percent a year between 1983 and 1987. Theft was the most common offense, and within this category, vehicle theft was particularly frequent. An estimated 4,407,000 (one-third of the BCS estimated total for 1987) were personal offenses, 3 percent more than in 1983 and 7 percent more than in 1981. There were 803,000 violent offenses. A comparison between those BCS categories that match the crime categories used by the police indicates that crime has increased by an estimated 30 percent since 1981, compared with a 41-percent increase recorded by the police. Although the risk of being a victim of a minor offense is high, the chance of being a victim of a more serious offense is low. Both Afro- Caribbeans and Asians are at higher risk of being victimized by many types of offenses than are whites. This is largely due to social and demographic factors. Crime victims often experience financial, practical, and emotional consequences from the offense. 3 references and 2 tables