5. Statistics and Patterns of Crime - 4. Ethnicity and Crime

Question 1

MoJ

Answer 1

Ministry of Justice

Question 2

According to the MoJ, what percentage of the population of England and Wales is white, Asian, black and mixed-race?

Answer 2

90% white
6% Asian
3% black
2% mixed-race

Question 3

How do crime statistics compare to MoJ?

Answer 3

Crime statistics don’t represent MoJ data as EMGs are over-represented in all areas of the CJS

Question 4

EMG

Answer 4

Ethnic minority groups

Question 5

3 ways of getting data on ethnicity and crime

Answer 5

OS
Victim surveys (CSEW)
Self-report surveys

Question 6

White people on the CJS according to OS

Answer 6

White people are under-represented in all stages on the CJS

Question 7

Trends in stop and searches, prison population, homicide and robbery according to the CJS

Answer 7

Blacks 7x more likely than whites to be stop and searched
Blacks 5x more likely than whites to be in prison
Blacks 6x more likely than whites to commit murder
Blacks 12x more likely than whites to commit robbery

Question 8

According to the CSEW, who is at a higher risk of being a victim of crime?

Answer 8

Those from EMGs

Question 9

What is the most likely ethnic group to commit muggings according to the CSEW?

Answer 9

Blacks are more likely than any other ethnic group to commit muggings

Question 10

When was the last self-report study in Britain? Sample size?

Answer 10

2005 with over 10,000 questionnaires analysed

Question 11

According to the 2005 self-report study, which ethnic group had the highest rates of offending?

Answer 11

Whites more likely than any other ethnic group to offend

Question 12

Significance of 2005 self-report study

Answer 12

Self-report study challenged the widespread view that rate of offending was highest for black ethnic groups

Question 13

What do the results of the self-report study show? Why?

Answer 13

Shows that there is bias in the CJS because whites commit the most offences but blacks appear in the prison population more

Question 14

What report shows that there is institutionalised racism in the police force?

Answer 14

2023 Casey Report

Question 15

3 explanations for the disproportionate stop and search figures

Answer 15

Police racism
Ethnic differences
Demographic factors

Question 16

How is police racism an explanation for the disproportionate stop and search figures?

Answer 16

Some police hold prejudices and negative stereotypes against those from EMGs (shown by Macpherson Inquiry). EMGs more likely to be targeted as a result

Question 17

How do ethnic differences provide an explanation for the disproportionate stop and search figures?

Answer 17

High level of stop and searches may reflect belief that black and ethnic minorities are more likely to engage in certain crimes. High discretion (police using stereotypes) and low discretion (police acting on previous information) may be used by police

Question 18

How are an demographic factors an explanation for the disproportionate stop and search figures?

Answer 18

The young and unemployed are likely to be stopped and searched

Question 19

Who carried out research into ethnicity and arrests?

Answer 19

Philips and Bowling

Question 20

According to P and B, which ethnic group is more likely to remain silent after arrest? Why?

Answer 20

Those from EMGs more likely to remain silent/seek legal advice/deny offences than white people. Probably because they’re suspicious of the police.

Question 21

How does the CPS indicate racism within the police force?

Answer 21

Before a case goes to court, the CPS decide whether to proceed with the prosecution brought about by the police.
CPS more likely to terminate cases including EMGs than whites.
This could be because evidence presented to the CPS by the police is weak, suggesting that EMGs are arrested with a lack of evidence (racism).

Question 22

How does the Crown Court indicate that there is a lack of trust of the police amongst EMGs?

Answer 22

Those from EMGs who plea not guilty are more likely than whites to go to the CC.
CC is where jury (random group of adults) chooses the verdict.
Indicates that EMGS believe that there is a higher chance of being found guilty when the CJS deals with them compared to random adults.