Measuring Crime. Flashcards
Measurements of Crime - Self report studied
Rely on honesty
Offences in the last year.
CAMPBELL - Found the ratio between men and women to be more equal than suggested by official stats.
But BOX if remove petty than more equal. The more serious the crime the less likely it is to be reported.
Measurements of crime- Victim Surveys.
victims answer which crimes they have been victim of in the last 12 months, lie, forget, are not aware.
BCS - 31% crime recorded. 2x PRC rate.
But exclude business, serious and crime to tourists. Held with male head of household so domestic violence less obvious and no under 16s.
Measurements of crime -PRC
MAGUIRE - 60% not recorded as trivial, resolved, mutual blame, fear, private or inconvenient.
Changes in reportage of crime.
COMMUNITY - MAGUIRE Breaking down, more reports to police, previously would have dealt with internally. Neighbourhood watch schemes increase reportage more.
MEDIA- Public report 90% crime, if focus in media on one form of crime, the public are more likely to report it.
Higher stakes - More to loose if burgled, need police crime number for insurance.
CHANGES IN REPORTING - 2004 PRC peaked as new National crime recording standard introduced. May have different police focus.
CHANGES IN LAW
2012 - 292 new offences, 188 gone. 1998 peak year as harassment, possession of a weapon all became offences.
Communication - mobiles make reporting easier.
Trends.
CSEW record more crime than PRC and different types. 22% of crime violent for CSEW but 16% PRC.
Criminals
Peak age 14 for girls 18 for boys.
Fear
Girls 3x more likely to fear physical attack than boys, but boys are more likely to be a victim.
15% boys dont want to be out alone at night in London 35% girls,
under 25s have highest fear of crime then 60+
Type of crime:
70/80% of crime is crime against a property.
Repeat Victimisation:
CSEW 2004-05 24% population victim of 10.9m incidents.
Underreportage:
MOORE ET AL - Police act as filter.
Measurements of crime - Official Stats
Feminists- Exclude women
Functionalists- Accurate
L.Realists - Accurate but overestimate b. collar and underestimate w.collar
Interactionists - social construct.
BECK- Risk society, explosion of facts.
GARLAND - most believe crime is increasing whereas it is actually decreasing.
