Written by Martina Prpic and Colin Murphy.
Crime statistics are used to show crime levels and trends and to inform national policies to protect citizens and society. It is thus important that they are as accurate as possible, which is a challenge to both those who record the occurrences of crime and those who subsequently compile and use the resulting statistics. However, it is accepted among experts that complete accuracy or the measurement of the full extent of crime may never be achieved.
To have a clear picture of the levels of crime, both over time and between countries, crime needs to be recorded in accordance with an accepted system of categorisation and in a uniform manner. The production of statistics nationally and trans-nationally is constantly changing and adapting its methods to achieve this goal. The International Classification of Crime for Statistical Purposes is an important step in this direction.
The accurate reporting and recording of crime is the foundation on which statistics are built. However, countries differ in when and how they do this, which can especially impact the comparability of statistics between countries. Under-reporting of crime can also affect accuracy and minimise the severity of certain crimes. A decision not to report a crime can have personal or social reasons, and the most vulnerable victims often avoid interacting with law enforcement authorities. However, these limitations do not negate the value of crime statistics. Statistics are an important element of evidence-based policymaking, but their users need to be aware of their shortcomings in order to draw informed conclusions.
Read the complete briefing on ‘Understanding crime statistics‘ in the Think Tank pages of the European Parliament.
Comments are closed for this post.