NCJ Number
184982
Date Published
2000
Length
30 pages
Annotation
This report examines UK police force efforts to combat repeat victimization, and considers the extent to which a performance regime contributed to development of police activity on repeat victimization.
Abstract
As of May 1999 all 43 police forces in England and Wales had a strategy to combat repeat victimization. Burglary, particularly residential burglary, was the most common crime tackled. The forces also addressed criminal damage, personal crime and motor vehicle crimes. While there was some consistency in the way police forces defined repeat victimization, there was variation in how far they used previous crimes of a different type or previous unreported incidents. The report suggests that the impact of the performance regime was considerable. Although forces' strategies incorporated a wide range of tactics, it seems likely that many were in place prior to the development of the strategy on repeat victimization. There was no indication that they had been adapted to address it. Of greater concern was the implication that other, more evidence-based responses, had not been considered. The report suggests the need for more demonstration projects dealing with violent crime, more information and formal police training on how various activities will deliver the crime reduction required and incorporation of an outcome measure as part of the performance regime. Tables, figures, references