NCJ Number
164573
Journal
Home Office Statistical Bulletin Issue: 19/96 Dated: (September 24, 1996) Pages: complete issue
Date Published
1996
Length
79 pages
Annotation
Between 1981, when the British Crime Survey (BCS) began, and 1995, the number of crimes recorded by the police in England and Wales increased by 91 percent.
Abstract
Between 1993 and 1995, however, recorded crime figures fell by 8 percent, whereas BCS figures for equivalent offenses rose by 2 percent. Offenses that declined in police figures stabilized or fell in the BCS and offenses that increased in police figures also increased in the BCS. Less than half of BCS offenses were reported to the police in 1995, although reporting rates varied by offense type. Most vehicle thefts and burglaries with loss were reported. Crimes went unreported primarily because victims felt they were not serious enough, but many serious incidents were not reported. Since 1981, the largest increase in violent crime involved domestic incidents, 3.4 times more in 1995 than in 1981. Violence among nondomestic acquaintances more than doubled during the 1981-1995 period. Mugging increased at a slower rate, and stranger violence in 1995 showed the smallest increase since 1981. Burglaries with loss declined between 1993 and 1995 in both BCS and recorded crime figures. Vehicle thefts fell by 8 percent in the BCS and by 18 percent in recorded crime figures. There was a small decrease in fear of crime, particularly with respect to property crime and safety on the streets. Supplementary tables and information on the survey methodology are appended. Tables, figures, and references