Official crime rates and victimization rates indicate that crime has increased from 1955 onwards across western Europe. At the end of the 1980's crimes such as theft, burglary, simple assault, and indecent assault were a serious concern in the larger European cities. On average, however, the crime problem is still less serious than in the United States. The Federal Republic of Germany spends somewhat more than other countries on crime prevention and control, and the Netherlands and Sweden spend substantially less. There is no clear relationship between the level of expenditures on criminal justice and the level of recorded crime. In many European countries, crime prevention policies from 1975 to 1985 were largely victim-oriented (locks and bolts and neighborhood watch). Responsibility for crime prevention was largely in the hands of the police as part of their public relations policies. Offender-oriented prevention policies should be integrated with the existing victim-oriented policies. This integrated strategy should be based in a partnership between local government and the police. 3 tables