Criminal Data and Statistics - Essay Example

Criminal Data and Statistics Criminal records and data are utilized by various categories for different purposes. When it comes to politics, it determines whether how successful or failing the policies prescribed for criminal record and justice related policies are. When it comes to the working level, they are responsible to give the essential information in order to give the best way to assign the resources of the state. From the public point of view, it gives pointers which helps in judging the degree of the performance related to criminal justice. Hence, it is credible gadget to have a firm grip on accountability and keep a track of the different important players that are concerned with the justice system concerning the criminals of our society. The sector of criminal data and statistics should only be utilized for the sake of safety of the society also provides the security practitioners to develop their agenda, implement it and quantify the initiatives taken by the social crime deterrence activities. The data of these criminal related activities needs to be precise and very accurate as it helps the lawmakers, stakeholders, crime prevention authorities, defense related forces etc. to function on the basis of their records. If these records have the minutest flaw it will eventually damage the productivity and can cause an inappropriate action towards the crime issues. Furthermore in the year 2006, the 'British Home Office' scrutinized the United Kingdom's crime records for the following reason: it was observed that the people had lost faith in the British Home office for its inefficiency and for not being able to produce qualitative results. Their productivity has backfired drastically so as that it is no more possible to have an argument on the other criminal justice related laws. The trend in crime has changed and variations need to be made. The home secretary condemns this and therefore wants the policies to be made in such a manner that the level of productivity increases and hence the trust of the people is redeemed. (Crime Hub) Thus without having precise criminal records, data and statistics the result of the policies that govern this system is pretty useless. One should not completely rely on this criminal records as alone they can't give the answers but eventually they do help and look after the within city and outside the city crime activities and give initiatives to develop prevention to such crimes. The crime data obtained is used for various things and serves a lot of purposes. The major work of the acquired criminal data is used by law enforcing agencies I order to form budgets, plan, allot various resources, and scrutinizing various police operational activities. This has helped in addressing the various criminal activities at different levels. The data generated related to crime is used in various fields like the chamber of commerce and tourism where this record helps in judging the geographical vicinity they denote. It is also utilized by the researchers who study the nature, reason, and the diversity in the crime trends in the past. This data also helps in formulating various anti-crime measures. Lastly media is even concerned with these criminal statistics to determine and hence interpret news to the common man. The Home Office, London metropolitan police and The BCS are the three police forces that are formed to serve the Great London. These police forces specialize in their respected areas being extremely competent and strictly working to sustain the peace and overcome any such activity that disrupts the peace of the city. The Home Office is responsible for the misuse of drugs, racial activities etc. this is the highest agency to which the others report. The BCS is responsible for the crime surveys and acts like a watch dog of all criminal related activities. They are responsible to draft the criminal statistics in a precise manner. The BCS is working on behalf of the Home Office. Lastly the London Metropolitan Police is an agency for the people which deals with all sort of criminal activities and keeps track of those making records of the crimes in London city. They not only help in finding out about criminal related activities, the unethical behavior, and the result of such behavior in ones area through the help of mapping tools one can easily retain the data. The strengths of using the crime data provided by the British Crime Survey (BVS) is that one can easily determine the crime rate and the number of people victimized. The provide accuracy and one can determine exactly the rate of crime prevailing in Britain. The London Metropolitan police has made its data public therefore the data can be utilized by the regional services, as well as the stakeholders can take advantage from it. Lastly, the Home Office produces the genuine data acquired from the other bodies and gives out authentic and genuine reports. The weaknesses within our crime recording systems are that they fail to record issues of less importance. Usually it is seen that the major issues like homicides and big thefts are given a lot of importance and various minor crimes go unregistered. The problem that is associated with BCS is that is bounded by time constraint. If a girl has been raped 14 months back and the survey is targeted to the year then she will not be considered making it an unfair deal. Also some people consider being a tactic of the government and a way to camouflage the reality. Secondly there is not any check and balance by the High Office. They fail to understand the problems in the system and hence rely on the data generated by these departments without scrutinizing it which results in inefficiency and counterproductive results.(Bureau of Justice Statistics Bridging Gaps in Police Crime Data, 2000, 59) Here I would like to talk about the increase in rape cases in London over the past 12 months. It has been observed that rape cases recorded in London have increased to 37% which is shocking and depressing at the same time. this great fluctuation in the rape cases recorded is quite alarming. The BCS approach over the increase in rape activities is, "Over the last year, police forces have reported taking some additional steps to improve their recording of rape and other sexual offences. This may be reflected in the increases for recorded sexual offence figures that can be seen in 2009/10." (Liberal democrat voice) Considering to be an for the BCS to have recorded so many rape incidents it marks a failure in the part of the police who fail to do their part in protecting the dignity of individuals. On the other hand rape cases in the past four years have increased to 53% as reported by the BBC. (BBC news) Thus crime data is very essential to determine, evaluate and interpret the crime rate. It is very important as it helps to judge the shortcomings of the agencies if evaluated in an accurate manner. The problem with the current system is that it has been completely victimized by the inefficiencies. As the survey, data gathered etc. is swindled according to the requirements of the agencies not being precise. Crime data is very important as it can help to bring about peace and stability within a nation as well as being used for various purposes but for that the credibility of the data is a must. WORKS CITED: Crimehub - Why are crime statistics important?....(n.d.). ISS Africa | Home. Retrieved May 30, 2013, from http://www.issafrica.org/crimehub/page.php?page=1000043 “Shocking 37% rape increase in London”…or is it?.(n.d.). Liberal Democrat Voice. Retrieved May 30, 2013, from http://www.libdemvoice.org/shocking-37-rape-increase-in-londonor-is-it-21416.htm “Shocking 37% rape increase in London”…or is it?.(n.d.). Liberal Democrat Voice. Retrieved May 30, 2013, from http://www.libdemvoice.org/shocking-37-rape-increase-in-londonor-is-it-21416.html (2000). Bureau of Justice Statistics Bridging Gaps in Police Crime Data. http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/bjs/abstract/bgpcd.htm. Read More