VICTIM IS A VICTIM IS A VICTIM - CHRONIC VICTIMIZATION IN 4 SWEEPS OFTHE BRITISH CRIME SURVEY

This paper builds on previous work which identified the importance of multiple victimization in determining crime rates. Using the first fou r sweeps of the British Crime Survey, patterns of property and persona l crime victimization are investigated and the interdependence of inci dents is established. the probability of a further victimization incre ases with each subsequent victimization. A comparison is made between the observed distribution, and a hypothetical distribution which assum es that crime incidents are randomly distributed throughout the popula tion. Given the extent of concentration of incidents amongst a small n umber of chronic victims, recommendations are made for the way officia l crime statistics are recorded.