Measuring Crime And Victimisation

Question 1

John I. Kitsuse and Aaron V. Cicourel on use of official statistics, 2014

Answer 1

Argues that statistics citing rates of deviance are unreliable due to unreliability if reports and probable unreported incidents
Also argues that the statistical definition of deviant behaviour is not ‘sociologically relevant’ and so statistics are therefore not suitable for sociological use

Question 2

Anthony Quinn on limitations of crime data, 2017

Answer 2

‘Dark-figure’ of crime is present, hidden from public, in 2017 uk police recorded only 75.8% of crimes that they felt to be ‘inadequate’ (HMIC)
Also reported by BBC news that 20% of crime reported to police is not recorded (HMIC)
Victim surveys also unreliable e.g. According to Rape Crisis England and Wales, only 15% of victims of sexual violence actually report this crime to the police

Question 3

Murray Lee on governmental crime statistics, 2001

Answer 3

Argues that the introduction of victim surveys and self-report studies is indicative of the government giving the public more control over crime statistics, but also allows the government to become more involved in public secrecy and so gain more control