Unit 12 Crime and its Effects on

Society

Definition of Crime

In the broadest legal sense, a crime in most countries is an act committed in violation of a law forbidding it and for which a court may impose a variety of punishments including imprisonment, death, fine, or removal from office

How crime is measured in the England and Wales

Two methods are used to measure crime

rates in the England and Wales:

1. The British Crime Survey

2. Police Recorded Crime Figures

British Crime Survey�

• A large survey of a representative sample of people aged 16 and over living in private households in England and Wales • Asks about people’s experiences and perceptions of crime�• Includes questions on people’s attitudes towards crime-related � topics (e.g. anti-social behaviour, the police, and criminal justice system)• Asks about people’s use of illicit drugs�• Provides the most reliable measure of the extent of victimisation� and of national trends over time• Not affected by whether the public report crime or by changes to� the way in which the police record crime

Police Recorded Crimes

• Based on figures supplied by the police to the Home Office

• Covers crimes which are reported to and recorded by the police

• A good measure of trends in well-reported crimes and also the less

• common but more serious crimes• An important indicator of police workload• Provides data for small geographic areas

TYPES OF CRIME

TYPES OF CRIME

Questions 1. How many crimes were recorded by the BCS and Police recorded for

the 07/08? Why is there a difference between these figures?

2. By what percent is overall crime down for 07/08?

3. What is the long-term trends of crime in England and Wales?

4. The majority of crime is property related. List what types of crime these are the percentage for each in relation to overall crime.

5. What percent of overall violent crime involves no injury to the victim?

6. Give a percentage breakdown of implements used in violent crime.

7. Who is most at risk of violent crime? Why do you think this is so?

8. Who is most at risk of burglary?

9. What group of victims of crime are most likely to suffer repeated attacks?

10. Where do most robberies occur in England (see map, p. 8)

11. What number of crimes were cleared up by police during 07/08?

12. Do people believe that levels of crime are going up or down?