Crime statistics in the United Kingdom
Encyclopedia
Crime statistics in the United Kingdom refers to the data collected in the United Kingdom
, and that collected by the individual areas, England & Wales, Scotland
and Northern Ireland
, which operate separate judicial systems. It covers data related to crime in the United Kingdom
.
is an attempt to measure both the amount of crime, and the impact of crime. The original survey (carried out in 1982, to cover the 1981 year) covered all three judicial areas of the UK, but now it only covers England. Similar surveys have replaced it in Scotland and Northern Ireland, namely the Scottish Crime and Victimisation Survey and Northern Ireland Crime Survey. It collects information about the victims of crime, the circumstances surrounding the crime, and the behaviour of the perpetrators. It is used to plan, and measure the results of, crime reduction or perception measures. In addition, it collects data about the perception of issues such as antisocial behaviour and the criminal justice system.
Other crime surveys include the Commercial Victimisation Survey, which covers small and medium-sized businesses, and the Offending, Crime and Justice Survey, with a particular focus on young people.
details a series of criminal acts, and when these should apply. English courts apply criminal statutes and common law
as part of their responsibility for applying justice and dealing with the culprits.
According to the Home Office
, there were around 880,000 "Violence against the person" crimes in England and Wales in 2008–9, equivalent to 16 per thousand people in England and Wales. There were about 50,000 sexual offences during the same period, just under 1 per thousand. Other areas of crime included robbery
(80,000; equivalent to around 1.5 crimes/per thousand), burglary (285,000; 5 per thousand) and vehicle theft (150,000; 3 per thousand). Based on the Government's preferred comparison system, this marked a 7% decline in crime on the year before. On this system, the Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnership
(called "Community Safety Partnerships" in Wales) with the highest number of crimes per capita was the City of London
; however, this is based on resident population, which is considerably augmented by workers and tourists. The lowest rate was in Norfolk
. These figures were created by combining police recorded crime and the British Crime Survey.
The strength of the police force, as of 2008, in England and Wales was around 140,000 of whom 32,000 are women. 10,000 children above the age of criminal responsibility, 10, and beneath majority, 18, were found guilty of indictable offenses in 2009. and a further 75,000 cautioned. England and Wales has a prison population of over 80,000 (2007 estimate), equivalent to 149 people per 100,000. This is considerably less than the USA (762) but more than the Republic of Ireland (76). and a little more than the EU average (123). Around £2 billion is spent on the prison service of England and Wales each year.
is separate to English criminal law, including the use of a not proven
verdict at criminal trials in the Courts of Scotland
. The list of offences is also different to England and Wales, and Northern Ireland.
In 2007–8, there were 114 homicide victims in Scotland, a slight decrease on the previous year. In the third quarter of 2009, there were a little over 17,000 full time equivalent serving police officers. There were around 375,000 crimes in 2008–9, a fall of 2% on the previous year. These included around 12,500 non-sexual violent acts, 168,000 crimes of dishonesty (housebreaking, theft and shoplifting are included in this category) and 110,000 acts of fire-raising and vandalism
. In the 2008–9 period, there was a prison population in Scotland of about 7,300, equating to 142 people per 100,000 population, very similar to England and Wales. Spending on Scotland's prisons was around £350 million in 2007–8.
, an increase of 1.5% on the previous year. Northern Ireland has around 7,500 serving full-time equivalent police positions, and a prison population of 1,500, 83 per 100,000 of the population, lower than the rest of the UK.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
, and that collected by the individual areas, England & Wales, Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
and Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...
, which operate separate judicial systems. It covers data related to crime in the United Kingdom
Crime in the United Kingdom
Crime in the United Kingdom describes acts of violent and non-violent crime that take place within the United Kingdom. Courts and police systems are separated into three sections, based on differences within the judicial system of each nation: England and Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland.Crime...
.
Crime surveys
The British Crime SurveyBritish Crime Survey
The British Crime Survey or BCS is a systematic victim study, currently carried out by BMRB Limited on behalf of the Home Office. The BCS seeks to measure the amount of crime in England and Wales by asking around 50,000 people aged 16 and over , living in private households, about the crimes they...
is an attempt to measure both the amount of crime, and the impact of crime. The original survey (carried out in 1982, to cover the 1981 year) covered all three judicial areas of the UK, but now it only covers England. Similar surveys have replaced it in Scotland and Northern Ireland, namely the Scottish Crime and Victimisation Survey and Northern Ireland Crime Survey. It collects information about the victims of crime, the circumstances surrounding the crime, and the behaviour of the perpetrators. It is used to plan, and measure the results of, crime reduction or perception measures. In addition, it collects data about the perception of issues such as antisocial behaviour and the criminal justice system.
Other crime surveys include the Commercial Victimisation Survey, which covers small and medium-sized businesses, and the Offending, Crime and Justice Survey, with a particular focus on young people.
England and Wales
English criminal lawEnglish criminal law
English criminal law refers to the body of law in the jurisdiction of England and Wales which deals with crimes and their consequences. Criminal acts are considered offences against the whole of a community...
details a series of criminal acts, and when these should apply. English courts apply criminal statutes and common law
Common law
Common law is law developed by judges through decisions of courts and similar tribunals rather than through legislative statutes or executive branch action...
as part of their responsibility for applying justice and dealing with the culprits.
According to the Home Office
Home Office
The Home Office is the United Kingdom government department responsible for immigration control, security, and order. As such it is responsible for the police, UK Border Agency, and the Security Service . It is also in charge of government policy on security-related issues such as drugs,...
, there were around 880,000 "Violence against the person" crimes in England and Wales in 2008–9, equivalent to 16 per thousand people in England and Wales. There were about 50,000 sexual offences during the same period, just under 1 per thousand. Other areas of crime included robbery
Robbery
Robbery is the crime of taking or attempting to take something of value by force or threat of force or by putting the victim in fear. At common law, robbery is defined as taking the property of another, with the intent to permanently deprive the person of that property, by means of force or fear....
(80,000; equivalent to around 1.5 crimes/per thousand), burglary (285,000; 5 per thousand) and vehicle theft (150,000; 3 per thousand). Based on the Government's preferred comparison system, this marked a 7% decline in crime on the year before. On this system, the Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnership
Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnership
-England & Wales:A Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnership is one of a number of statutory local partnerships in England and Wales, and was established by the Crime and Disorder Act 1998 to co-ordinate action on crime and disorder.-Wales:...
(called "Community Safety Partnerships" in Wales) with the highest number of crimes per capita was the City of London
City of London
The City of London is a small area within Greater London, England. It is the historic core of London around which the modern conurbation grew and has held city status since time immemorial. The City’s boundaries have remained almost unchanged since the Middle Ages, and it is now only a tiny part of...
; however, this is based on resident population, which is considerably augmented by workers and tourists. The lowest rate was in Norfolk
Norfolk
Norfolk is a low-lying county in the East of England. It has borders with Lincolnshire to the west, Cambridgeshire to the west and southwest and Suffolk to the south. Its northern and eastern boundaries are the North Sea coast and to the north-west the county is bordered by The Wash. The county...
. These figures were created by combining police recorded crime and the British Crime Survey.
The strength of the police force, as of 2008, in England and Wales was around 140,000 of whom 32,000 are women. 10,000 children above the age of criminal responsibility, 10, and beneath majority, 18, were found guilty of indictable offenses in 2009. and a further 75,000 cautioned. England and Wales has a prison population of over 80,000 (2007 estimate), equivalent to 149 people per 100,000. This is considerably less than the USA (762) but more than the Republic of Ireland (76). and a little more than the EU average (123). Around £2 billion is spent on the prison service of England and Wales each year.
Scotland
Scots criminal lawScots criminal law
Scots Criminal Law governs the rules of criminal law in Scotland. Scottish criminal law relies far more heavily on common law than in England and Wales...
is separate to English criminal law, including the use of a not proven
Not proven
Not proven is a verdict available to a court in Scotland.Under Scots law, a criminal trial may end in one of three verdicts: one of conviction and two of acquittal ....
verdict at criminal trials in the Courts of Scotland
Courts of Scotland
The civil, criminal and heraldic Courts of Scotland are responsible for the administration of justice. They are constituted and governed by Scots law....
. The list of offences is also different to England and Wales, and Northern Ireland.
In 2007–8, there were 114 homicide victims in Scotland, a slight decrease on the previous year. In the third quarter of 2009, there were a little over 17,000 full time equivalent serving police officers. There were around 375,000 crimes in 2008–9, a fall of 2% on the previous year. These included around 12,500 non-sexual violent acts, 168,000 crimes of dishonesty (housebreaking, theft and shoplifting are included in this category) and 110,000 acts of fire-raising and vandalism
Vandalism
Vandalism is the behaviour attributed originally to the Vandals, by the Romans, in respect of culture: ruthless destruction or spoiling of anything beautiful or venerable...
. In the 2008–9 period, there was a prison population in Scotland of about 7,300, equating to 142 people per 100,000 population, very similar to England and Wales. Spending on Scotland's prisons was around £350 million in 2007–8.
Northern Ireland
Between April 2008 and 2009, there were just over 110,000 crimes recorded by the Police Service of Northern IrelandPolice Service of Northern Ireland
The Police Service of Northern Ireland is the police force that serves Northern Ireland. It is the successor to the Royal Ulster Constabulary which, in turn, was the successor to the Royal Irish Constabulary in Northern Ireland....
, an increase of 1.5% on the previous year. Northern Ireland has around 7,500 serving full-time equivalent police positions, and a prison population of 1,500, 83 per 100,000 of the population, lower than the rest of the UK.