Violent crime - British Crime Survey data

Source: The British Crime Survey (BCS)


How the British Crime Survey (BCS) works

• For a variety of reasons, people do not always report crimes to the police - which means they don't get reflected in police recorded crime figures.
  
  
• The British Crime Survey (BCS) asks people about their actual experiences - and so gives us a more accurate picture of crime levels and trends across England & Wales. (more...)

Note: Violent crime, as measured by the BCS, includes common assault, wounding, robbery and snatch theft. It does not include homicide (as the victims cannot be surveyed) and other types of violent crime, like firearms offences.

According to the BCS :

• In 2005/06 the total number of violent offences in England and Wales was 2,420,000.
  
• These include:
  
  • 357,000 incidents of domestic violence
  • 817,000 incidents where the offender was an acquaintance
  • 863,000 incidents where the offender was a stranger
  • 382,000 incidents of mugging
    
• Violent crime has fallen by around 43% since its peak in 1995 and has remained relatively stable between 2004/05 and 2005/06.
  
• In 2005/06, 3.4% of people experienced a violent incident. In just under half (49%) of all such incidents there was no injury.

More on this

• Crime in England and Wales 2005/06 - An annual publication that combines the results of the British Crime Survey with police recorded crime figures.
  
•  Violent crime overview, homicide and gun crime 2004/05 - examines BCS, OCJS and recorded crime for 2004/05.
  
•  Domestic violence, sexual assault and stalking: Findings from the British Crime Survey (file size 561kb) - Focuses on inter-personal violence which comprises crimes of domestic violence, sexual assault and stalking.
  
• Crime in England and Wales 2004/05: Supplementary tables - Nature of burglary, vehicle and violent crime.

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