OPPapers.com

Crime & Deviance

Subject: Sociology

Unit Title: The Crime Problem

Assignment Title: Understanding official crime Statistics.

1. False crime figures to reflect targets.

According to the British Crime Survey the decreased levels of crime are due to a greater tendency among police not recording certain behaviours in crime, or incorrectly categorising them to a less severe crime. It has been estimated that over 30% of crimes in 2002/2003 were not recorded as the police viewed them as being trivial. The chart (12.1) expressing the 1993-1995 official figures clearly shows that the majority of crime classifications have experienced a decrease in crimes levels. The reasons for this would be that the police are manipulating the official statistics to enable them to meet the new Home Office efficiency targets. The crime figures have decreased validity because of the un-reliability of the processing of the information.

2. Conviction increases due to change in law legislation/government targets.

If a higher volume of police were employed then more criminals will be detected, this will then be reflected by an increase in convictions. Although it is also known that the official statistics of crimes committed reflect the decisions and sentences given by the judiciary. Therefore if the statistics for convictions are falling then the judge is likely to convict more criminals.

Figure 12.2 reflects the rising crime levels, but the falling convictions are due to the police clearing up the majority of cases, which I believe, is because of target changes since 1980. Currently the police are operating within a target driven culture and it is apparent that the police officers will gain credit in relation to the number of arrests they make. The government sets these targets through current law legislation, which has an influence on police priorities and the crimes they will target. If there is a change in law legislation/government targets this will have an...