NCJ Number
201091
Date Published
2003
Length
4 pages
Annotation
This document presents findings from a 2002 study of victimization of students at seven higher education institutions in the East Midlands (United Kingdom).
Abstract
Findings show that one-third of the student sample were victims of crime during the past year. Almost 12 percent were the victim of theft or attempted theft. Ten percent were the victim of burglary. Theft, criminal damage, and burglary accounted for 7 in 10 crimes. Six in 10 crimes were experienced by repeat victims -- the most victimized three percent of students experienced over a quarter of all crimes. Just over 4 percent of students were stalked during the past year. Nearly 12 percent of students in private accommodation experienced a burglary compared with 5 percent of students that lived in university accommodation. Students that had been burgled were more likely to live in accommodations with fewer surveillance measures that those that had not. Sixty percent of all incidents were not reported to the police. Students felt most fearful of having their property stolen on campus at night. They perceived the least risk and were least fearful of all forms of intimate partner violence. Crime prevention programs should be tailored to take into account student lifestyles. Information should be provided about taking simple security precautions to help prevent students from being victims of the kind of property crime occurring where they live. Knowledge about local crime could help them decide where to live. Through campaigns sponsored by university security departments or the police, students should be encouraged to purchase the most secure brands of portable goods and to mark their property. Private landlords should be encouraged to provide adequate security for student accommodation. University administered landlord accreditation schemes could assist with this process. 1 figure, 2 tables, 3 references