NCJ Number
97820
Date Published
1984
Length
59 pages
Annotation
The 1982 British Crime Survey examined factors affecting risk of criminal victimization for three broad categories of crime (personal, household, and motor vehicle) in England and Wales.
Abstract
Interviews were conducted with 11,000 people 16-years-old or above in a sample of representative households. Data were collected on both reported and unreported victimizations and subjects' concerns about crime and their dealings with police. Among factors found to be associated with risk of personal victimization were younger age (16 to 24 years old), male, single marital status, and inner-city residence. Higher risk also was associated with work outside the home, travel on public transport, going out frequently at night, and frequent drinking. Risk of household crime (both burglary and vandalism) was greater among inner-city residents, apartment (versus house) dwellers, and recent movers. Families with children were at greater risk than older persons. Household victimization also was related to personal victimization, self-reported vandalism offending, and to other misfortunes. Overall, thefts of or from motor vehicles were extremely rare. Motor vehicle victimization for subjects in rural areas and with garage parking was about one-fifth that faced by those living in suburbs who parked on the street. Factors producing these differences were similar to those producing differences in risk of personal and household victimization. The relative rarity of serious victimization and the relationship between lifestyle and victimization risk are discussed. Tabular data and 36 references are provided.