XN000022-1990-11-10 — Page 8

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SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 10, 1990

DECREASE IN INCIDENCE OF CRIME VICTIMISATION

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THE INCIDENCE OF CRIME VICTIMISATION HAS DECREASED SIGNIFICANTLY, FROM 293,400 CASES IN 1986 TO 205,800 CASES IN 1989 A DROP OF 30 PER CENT.

THIS WAS ONE OF THE MAIN FINDINGS OF THE CRIME VICTIMISATION SURVEY CARRIED OUT BY THE CENSUS AND STATISTICS DEPARTMENT IN JANUARY THIS YEAR.

THE SURVEY WAS THE FOURTH OF ITS KIND CONDUCTED UNDER THE AUSPICES OF THE FIGHT CRIME COMMITTEE. IT WAS FIRST CONDUCTED IN 1979 AND THEN IN 1982 AND 1987.

CRIMES AGAINST BUSINESS ESTABLISHMENTS WERE NOT COVERED IN THIS SERIES OF SURVEYS. NEITHER WERE CRIMES INVOLVING TRIADS, DRUGS AND BRIBERY.

IN THE 1990 SURVEY, 51,000 PERSONS AGED 12 AND ABOVE FROM 17,000 RANDOMLY SELECTED HOUSEHOLDS WERE INTERVIEWED ΤΟ GATHER INFORMATION ON CRIMINAL VICTIMISATION THAT AFFECTED THEM IN THE YEAR 1989 WITH THE EXCEPTIONS MENTIONED ABOVE.

THE DECLINE IN CRIME VICTIMISATION WAS PARTICULARLY SIGNIFICANT WITH REGARD TO PERSONAL CRIMES (39) PER CENT). THIS WAS LARGELY ATTRIBUTABLE TO THE DECREASE IN CRIMES OF THEFT, ESPECIALLY PICKPOCKETING. THE INCIDENCE OF HOUSEHOLD CRIMES FELL BY 14 PER CENT.

TO INCREASE, FROM 32

INCREASE WAS

THE CRIME REPORTING RATE HAS CONTINUED PER CENT IN 1986 TO 34 PER CENT IN 1989. THE

MORE SIGNIFICANT FOR INCIDENTS OF ROBBERY, SNATCHING, BURGLARY AND THEFT

FROM VEHICLES.

THE RESULTS OF THE SURVEY INDICATED THAT THE REPORTING RATE WAS 45 PER CENT FOR VIOLENT CRIMES, 41 PER CENT FOR CRIMES OF THEFT AND 24 PER CENT FOR HOUSEHOLD CRIMES.

THE MAIN REASON GIVEN BY VICTIMS FOR NOT REPORTING CRIME ΤΟ THE POLICE WAS THAT THEY BELIEVED THAT IT WAS NOT NECESSARY TO REPORT AS THEY SUFFERED LITTLE OR NO LOSS OR CONSIDERED THE INCIDENTS NOT IMPORTANT.

FOR THE FIRST TIME IN THIS SERIES OF SURVEYS, PERSONS AGED 18 AND ABOVE WERE ASKED TO GIVE THEIR OPINIONS ON ISSUES

ΤΟ RELATING CAPITAL PUNISHMENT AND LIFE IMPRISONMENT SENTENCES. THEIR AWARENESS AND ASSESSMENT OF THE TRIAD RENUNCIATION SCHEME WERE ALSO SOUGHT IN THE SURVEY.

THE MOST FOR THEIR HELD THAT

ABOUT 46 PER CENT OF THIS AGE GROUP FELT THAT APPROPRIATE TREATMENT FOR OFFENDERS SENTENCED TO DEATH WAS CENT SENTENCE TO BE COMMUTED TO LIFE IMPRISONMENT; 28 PER THE OFFENDERS SHOULD BE EXECUTED; AND 21 PER CENT HAD NO OPINION.

/ABOUT HALF