British Crime survey

Key facts

Survey coverage:	England and Wales
Target Sample:	20,000 achieved interviews(in 2000) + 4,000 ethnic minority boost
Response Rate:	80%+

Why is the survey carried out?

The BCS measures the amount of crime in England and Wales. This includes crimes which may not have been reported to the police, or recorded by them. It thus provides an important alternative to police recorded crime statistics. Without the BCS the government would have no information on these unreported crimes. The BCS also helps identify those most at risk of different types of crime. This is used in designing and informing crime prevention programmes. It is also used to assess people's attitudes to crime and towards the Criminal Justice System. It is one of the major sources of information about levels of crime, public attitudes to crime and other Home Office issues.

How is the survey done?

The 2000 BCS was carried out by Social Survey Division and the National Centre for Social Research. From 2001 the British Crime Survey, which is still a National Statistic was carried out by the Home Office.

Topic areas include:

• experiences of crime - property and personal;
• attitudes to the Criminal Justice System, including the police and the courts;
• worries, fears about crime
• security, including neighbourhood watch, home and vehicle security measures
• violence at work
• perceptions of equality and prejudice
• volunteering and community activity
• experience of household fires
• illegal drug use
• sexual victimisation

Where can the results be found?

Recent BCS publications are available from the Home Office Research & Statistics website at: http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/index.html

For more information about SSD or the surveys we carry out contact:
SSD Project Support Branch Tel: +44 (0)20 7533 5500 or e-mail: ssdpsb@ons.gov.uk

This page last revised: Wednesday, 26 March 2008