As local crime surveys emerged in Britain in the 1970's, the possibility of a nationwide survey was considered throughout the mid-1970's, but was rejected due to the costs and potential political disadvantages. By 1980, however, both the Research Unit of the Home Office and its Crime Policy Planning Unit were arguing for a national survey as a necessary tool for policymakers as a means of countering public misperceptions of crime and as a means of boosting criminological research and theory. The BCS has been conducted three times to date -- in 1982, 1984, and 1988 -- with each survey measuring crime in the previous year. A fourth "sweep" is being planned for 1992 or 1993. In presenting selected findings from the three sweeps of the BCS, this report considers levels and trends in crime (with a focus on burglary for 1972-87), the victimization of ethnic minorities, and individual and community correlates of risk. A discussion of the BCS' impact focuses on crime measurement and the development of criminal policy. Indications are that the survey will be repeated regularly in the future. 4 tables and 64 references