AC 1.6 Evaluate collecting statistics about crime Unit 1 Changing awareness of crime
Measuring and tracking trends in crime
There were traditionally two main methods of measuring and tracking trends
in crime:
Recorded crime statistics collected by the police (Home Office).
Information collected in the Crime Survey for England and Wales (CSEW)
(formally called the British Crime Survey).
Police recorded crime
The Home Office provides police recorded crime (PRC) in tables that contain
recorded crime figures broken down by offender type, geography and time
period. This information can be accessed by the public. It should be noted that
these figures can be affected by changes in recording policy and practice.
Local crimes in my area – Downham Market
Are there any common crimes? Violence and sexual offences, anti-social
behaviour, criminal damage, arson and theft.
Crime Survey for England and Wales (CSEW)
This is a victim survey that asks a sample of the population in England and
Wales about their experiences of crime. It includes crimes against households
and adults, also including data on crime experienced by children as well as
crime against society and businesses. An important feature of this survey is
that it includes crimes that are not reported to the police. This makes the
survey potentially a more accurate recording measure than surveys that just
ask about crimes reported the police. As well as information about the nature
of the crime, it includes location and timing, characteristics of the offender and
relationship between offender and victim
Reliability of methods of collecting statistics
Reliability is the consistency of results when the experiment is replicated under
the same conditions. Any statistic has its limitations and no source can tell us
with complete accuracy what is happening with crime. However, as the CSEW
also considers crime not reported to the police, it may be more reliable. The
methods of recording crimes by the police have changed over the years and
Measuring and tracking trends in crime
There were traditionally two main methods of measuring and tracking trends
in crime:
Recorded crime statistics collected by the police (Home Office).
Information collected in the Crime Survey for England and Wales (CSEW)
(formally called the British Crime Survey).
Police recorded crime
The Home Office provides police recorded crime (PRC) in tables that contain
recorded crime figures broken down by offender type, geography and time
period. This information can be accessed by the public. It should be noted that
these figures can be affected by changes in recording policy and practice.
Local crimes in my area – Downham Market
Are there any common crimes? Violence and sexual offences, anti-social
behaviour, criminal damage, arson and theft.
Crime Survey for England and Wales (CSEW)
This is a victim survey that asks a sample of the population in England and
Wales about their experiences of crime. It includes crimes against households
and adults, also including data on crime experienced by children as well as
crime against society and businesses. An important feature of this survey is
that it includes crimes that are not reported to the police. This makes the
survey potentially a more accurate recording measure than surveys that just
ask about crimes reported the police. As well as information about the nature
of the crime, it includes location and timing, characteristics of the offender and
relationship between offender and victim
Reliability of methods of collecting statistics
Reliability is the consistency of results when the experiment is replicated under
the same conditions. Any statistic has its limitations and no source can tell us
with complete accuracy what is happening with crime. However, as the CSEW
also considers crime not reported to the police, it may be more reliable. The
methods of recording crimes by the police have changed over the years and
