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Reporting Crime to the Police

NCJ Number
231081
Journal
British Journal of Criminology Volume: 50 Issue: 3 Dated: May 2010 Pages: 474-490
Author(s)
Roger Tarling; Katie Morris
Date Published
May 2010
Length
17 pages
Annotation
This paper examines how crime reporting in England has changed since 1991 and how this change has been affected by changes in attitudes and policy initiatives.
Abstract
This paper examines how crime reporting has changed over time by comparing findings from the 2007/08 British Crime Survey with the results obtained from the last major enquiry reported in 1994. International research conducted since that date is also reviewed. The paper finds that seriousness of the offense is still the most important factor influencing victims' decisions. But reporting rates have changed: broadly, property crime is less likely to be reported whereas violent crime is more likely to be reported. As property crime predominates, the overall trend has been downward. There has been a very notable shift in that crimes committed by family members and others well known to the victim are much more likely to be reported than previously. Tables and references (Published Abstract)