NCJ Number
210080
Date Published
2004
Length
35 pages
Annotation
This report presents key findings from the 2000 International Crime Victim Surveys (ICVS) regarding criminal victimization in urban Europe.
Abstract
The ICVS targets samples of households in which only 1 respondent age 16 or older is selected to respond about criminal victimizations experienced for 11 specified crimes. These are car theft, theft from a car, car vandalism, bicycle theft, motorcycle theft, burglary, attempted burglary, robbery, theft of personal property, assault/threat, and sexual incidents (women only). Two other types of crimes mentioned in the questionnaire are consumer fraud and bribery/corruption. This study found no major differences between urban sites in Western Europe and Central-Eastern Europe. In both regions, on average, just over one-quarter of the respondents were victimized by at least one crime in the past year. Regarding incidence rates, there were approximately 50 incidents for every 100 respondents. Given similar prevalence rates, the differences in incidence rates may be due either to victims who have experienced more than one type of crime or to repeat victimization. Data are presented for each crime type in each of the urban areas surveyed. In addition, data are presented on citizens' overall satisfaction with the police, satisfaction with the police response to a reported crime, reasons for dissatisfaction with police performance when reporting a burglary, fear of crime, and attitudes toward punishment. 17 figures and a 15-item bibliography