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Review of Victoria Police Crime Statistics

NCJ Number
201186
Author(s)
Carlos Carcach; Toni Makkai
Date Published
2002
Length
75 pages
Annotation
This monograph provides information about how police crime statistics in Victoria are obtained.
Abstract
The goals of the research were to review how Victoria police classify crimes, how crime data quality is monitored, the processes used the police when recording crimes in its Law Enforcement Assistance Program (LEAP) database, and the accuracy of current crime recording practices. Methods of data collection included interviews with individuals involved in the collection and recording of crime statistics, analysis of a random sample of LEAP records, a comparison of crime records from LEAP and those generated by the Statistical Services Branch, and a scenario-based analysis of crime recording decisionmaking. Chapter 1 of the report reviews the way in which crime statistics are generated by Victoria police. Chapter 2 explores the policies and procedures involved in the recording and processing of crime reports and their transformation into crime statistics. Chapter 3 examines findings regarding the LEAP records and the reliability of crime statistics generated by Victoria police. Chapter 4 discusses the way in which individuals decide how to record crime allegations, and Chapter 5 provides recommendations for future recording of crime data. Among the findings contained in the report is the fact that the crime statistics reported by Victoria police accurately reflect the crime classifications and reporting rules in the LEAP database. The LEAP database was found to have effective policies and procedures for data quality assurance, and the level of error in the LEAP records was found to be insignificant. Differences in crime statistics generated by Victoria police versus the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) were a function of differing methods of counting crime. Victoria police present offense-based statistics while the ABS reports statistics based on victims. Recommendations include the fact that Victoria police should remain flexible about their counting rules to meet multiple client needs, the LEAP database should be enhanced to integrate existing databases and to become more user-friendly, and the Victoria police should move toward a “prima facie” model of crime recording. Appendices, references