NCJ Number
194825
Journal
The British Journal of Criminology Volume: 42 Issue: 1 Dated: Winter 2002 Pages: 109-128
Date Published
2002
Length
20 pages
Annotation
This paper provides an overview of what has been learned from statistical models that have used the British Crime Survey to describe property crime victimization at the level of the individual household.
Abstract
Studies have found that measured household and area covariates are not able to explain the distribution over households of British Crime Survey property crime victimization data. This only becomes apparent when repeat victimization is examined, indicating the importance of considering both prevalence and incidence. A review of simulated property crime distributions indicates the role of prior victimization in predicting subsequent victimization rates and risks, and they also indicate the differential contribution over crime categories of repeated crimes against the same victim to incidence. There were four issues on which the models could provide some insight. The first concerned household differences in the incidence of property crime; affluent households were more at risk than otherwise equivalent non-affluent households. The second issue was whether different types of property crime were directed against households of particular types. This was found to be true; for example, the greater crime proneness of affluent households was particularly evident for burglary; whereas, theft showed little difference between the affluent and non-affluent. The hypothetical one-parent household was particularly prone to theft. The third issue was the effect of area on property crime rates experienced by households. Area differences were clear in the results, with affluent areas being least vulnerable, with property crime rates and risks typically around half those of the average area and a substantially smaller fraction of the inner city ones. The fourth issue concerned the effect of victimization history on the rates of property crime experience. Theft was the type of property crime most increased by experiencing a prior assault. Based on the findings, this paper recommends that community development measures be deployed in areas whose characteristics are associated with high levels of property crime. This implies areas associated with low levels of affluence and high proportions of adolescents. Further, general crime prevention programs should target those whose individual characteristics are associated with different levels of crime incidence and that are tailored to the particular circumstances. Finally, the predictive role of prior victimization should be acknowledged in the deployment of crime prevention resources. Those with at least one victimization of any type in the past are arguably the first who should be protected. 3 tables and 33 references