Defining and Measuring Crime

Question 1

Crime

Answer 1

A behaviour that is unlawful and punished by the state.

Question 2

Official statistics

Answer 2

Crime statistics that the government produces annually.

Question 3

Victim survey

Answer 3

A sample of people are asked to identify which crimes have been committed against them over a fixed period of time.

Question 4

Offender survey

Answer 4

Offenders are questioned in order to gain information about the extent of offending, anti-social behaviour and drug use.