Crime statistics - issues and roles Flashcards
What are the major sources of statistical information about crime in the UK?
- Police criminal records
- Victim Surveys
- Crime Survey for England & Wales (CSEW)
- Self-report studies
- Court, prison & police caution records
How is the validity of crime statistics poor?
- Some offences aren’t reported
- Police don’t always record reported offences (up to 20%, HMIC, 2014)
- Many crimes aren’t solved or offenders convicted
- Recording is subjective
- Bias
How is the reliability of crime statistics low?
- Classifications of crimes change over time
- Random surveys or interviews don’t always access the same type or number of people
- Measures are changed a lot
- Social construction changes reporting
What are “Dark Crimes”?
Nobody knows about them because they aren’t reported or recorded
Why is it the case that Dark Crimes might not be reported sometimes?
- They’re viewed as too small/trivial
- It’s private or embarrassing
- It’s difficult to report
Why is it the case that the police might not record crimes sometimes?
- They think they’re unimportant
- It’s already been resolved by the time it’s reported
- They see the victim as unreliable
- They don’t think it’s an offence
How have recording and reporting changed over time?
Over the last 100 years, technology has moved at an unprecedented pace
New forms of communication, new social environments, changing political pressures and increased mixing of previously separate populations has dramatically changed reporting and recording of crime
What role does the media play?
Tabloids are increasingly focused on crime, making people more alert and anxious about it
This means they’re on the lookout and more likely to see/report crime, whether the actual level changed or not
What role does police attitudes & training play?
Police training has changed to include topics such as domestic crime, child abuse, racial abuse and hate crime These have increased in the statistics, but it’s likely they’re just being recorded more often
What role does increased reporting?
Most people now see the police as a “service” rather than a “force”
They report minor complaints like noise and vandalism more often
What role does changing norms play?
Society has changed as a result of protest movements like feminism, black lives matter and the “me too” campaign
This increases reporting of crimes against these groups, although the actual number may be decreasing or remaining stable
What role does changing police numbers play?
Police numbers are usually reduced under Conservative governments and increased under Labour governments Fewer police means less recording, but it’s likely crimes are stable or increasing
More police means more recording, but these might previously have been unreported crimes
What role does better equipment play?
Whenever police get new technology like body cameras, CCTV and traffic cameras, recording rises
This is due to better detection rather than crimes increasing
What role does changes in the law play?
If something becomes illegal it adds to the number of crimes reported, legalising something reduces the number
In both cases, behaviour is unchanged
