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Victimisation Surveys in Comparative Perspective: HEUNI Publication Series # 56
Kauko Aromaa and Markku Heiskanen (eds.)
(paperback)
2008, 188 pages
ISBN: 978-952-5333-37-4
$52.00

Criminologists have gone a long way recently toward solving the mysteries of “hidden crime,” which refers to offenses that are missing from official statistics because they are not reported to police. These crimes are no longer “hidden” because of information elicited in surveys that ask samples of ordinary citizens describe their experiences as victims. The 15 papers in this anthology explore three current trends in crime victimization surveys: (1) the development of comparative multinational victimization surveys; (2) redesign to make the survey data more useful to decision makers and researchers; and, (3) the launching of surveys targeted specifically at violence in intimate relationships.

The objectives and possibilities of a new Europe-wide (“Eurostat”) crime survey are discussed by Geoffrey Thomas. Markku Heiskanen and Minna Viuhko provide an overview of a HEUNI proposal to initiate a large-scale European victimization survey. Jo Goodey describes pilot testing in six European Union countries of a survey to measure crimes committed against immigrants and members of ethnic minorities. Antony Pemberton shows how results from victimization surveys have been used by a Dutch victim support organization in developing policy proposals. Richard Blath reflects on the significance of victimization surveys for crime and criminal justice policy in Germany.

Seven papers describe recent developments in national victimization surveys. Andri Ahven assesses the results from four victimization surveys carried out in Estonia since the early 1990s. Maria Guiseppina Muratore and Giovanna Tagliacozzo highlight the main achievements of Italy’s national victimization survey. Sweden’s new series of national crime surveys, begun in 2006, are described by Annika Toyra. The major contributions of the British Crime Survey over the past 25 years are set forth in papers by Alison Walker and Paul Wiles. Tarja Mankkinen of the Finnish Ministry of the Interior identifies problems with national victimization surveys from the decision maker’s point of view. Rannveig Porisdottir and Helgi Gunnlaugsson explain why so few victims report consumer fraud to the authorities in Iceland, even though it is the nation’s most common crime.br>
Two papers report results from specialized victimization surveys on violence in intimate relationships. High rates of male partner violence against women were uncovered by victimization surveys in Finland, as reported by Markku Heiskanen and Minna Piispa, and in Italy, according to Maria Guiseppina Muratore and Isabella Corazziari.

Sylvia Walby explains how to convert statistical information obtained in victimization surveys into practical indicators that are useful in decision making.

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