NCJ Number
203393
Date Published
October 2003
Length
11 pages
Annotation
This report provides a quarterly update to the June 2003 statistical information and trend analysis of crime in England and Wales.
Abstract
Analysis of crime in England and Wales from July 2003 through mid-October 2003 are provided and include measures of victimization, violent crime, domestic burglary, vehicle crime, public perceptions of crime and antisocial behavior, and public attitudes toward the criminal justice system. According to the analysis, the British Crime Survey (BCS) and the recorded crime rate, taken together, indicate that the crime rates in England and Wales continued to fall in 2003, with some variation between offenses. The risk of becoming a victim of crime during this period was 26.9 percent, the same as it was in 1981. Recorded crimes of violence against persons rose by 12 percent during this quarter, which includes a 7 percent increase in serious violence. The report speculates that this rise in violence may be due to the introduction of the National Crime Recording Standard, which increases the recording of relatively minor acts of violence. The analysis also indicates that recorded robberies fell by approximately 7 percent during the period April through June 2003 when compared to the same period in 2002. According to the BCS, burglary has dropped by 2 percent, although this drop is not significantly significant. Recorded crime figures indicate that burglary has fallen 4 percent during this time period. Vehicle thefts show a decrease of 7 percent according to the BCS and a decrease of 6 percent according to police statistics. Finally, in comparison to 2002, public fear of burglary, violent crime, and vehicle crime has decreased during 2003. Tables, figures, notes