Statements are used from a variety of social groups, including business groups, trade unions, and the press, who have used official statistics to support their arguments about increasing levels of violence associated with private property. Some evidence suggests that these lobby groups have put enough pressure on the authorities to stiffen penalties for those convicted of committing violent crimes. This paper argues that not much significance should be attached to the official crime statistics as an adequate indicator of the level and nature of violent crime and victimization. The production and use of crime statistics must be understood not only in terms of organizational processes, but also as reflections of wider social, economic, and political structures in society. 1 figure, 14 notes, 25 references. (Author abstract modified)