Measuring Crime

• What are the two official ways of measuring crime?

  Police Recorded Crime Statistics and CSEW
• What does the Crime Survey of England and Wales (CSEW) focus on?

  It is a victim survey collecting data from individuals
• Why are crime statistics published by the ONS significant?

  They highlight trends in crime levels annually
• Since when have Police Recorded Crime Statistics (PRC) been collected?

  Since 1898
• What trend has been observed in crime rates according to PRC since the 1990s?

  Crime rates have generally been falling
• What should you do to research the latest official patterns of crime?

  Visit the ONS website for updates
• What are the strengths and limitations of Police Recorded Crime Statistics (PRC)?

  Strengths:

  • Official data source
  • Long historical record

  
  

  Limitations:

  • May underreport certain crimes
  • Potential manipulation of statistics
• What led to the establishment of the CSEW?

  The recognition of PRC weaknesses
• How many individuals does the CSEW sample annually?

  35,000 over-18s
• What types of crime have changed in the CSEW from burglary and theft?

  Cybercrime and fraud
• What was the estimated cost of cybercrime and fraud in the UK for 2015/16?

  £11 billion
• What are three reasons why a dark figure of unreported or unrecorded crime might exist?

  1. Victims may not report crimes
  2. Crimes may not be recorded by police
  3. Certain crimes may be deemed unimportant
• What do positivists argue about crime data?

  It should be reliable and valid
• What is the interpretivist view on crime statistics?

  All sociological views are subjective
• What should you do to evaluate the validity of crime statistics?

  • Analyze data collection methods
  • Consider biases in reporting
  • Compare different data sources
• What is the former name of the Crime Survey of England and Wales?

  British Crime Survey