Trends in violence victimization in the England and Wales.

Abstract

According to the Crime Survey for England and Wales, violence rates fell by more than half between 1995 and 2013/14. What still remains puzzling, however, is why violent crimes have fallen dramatically since 1995. The current gap in knowledge impedes violence reduction opportunities not just in the UK but across the world. To better help understand why violence has fallen over time, the current study, funded by the Economic and Social Research Council Secondary Data Analysis Initiative Phase 2, examines the trends in stranger and acquaintance violence victimization in England and Wales. In doing so, it also considers the trends by gender and age. This study uses rich data stemming from the Crime Survey for England and Wales (CSEW). Findings show important differences in the trends of stranger and acquaintance violence during the recent two decades. The study emphasizes the importance of making a distinction between stranger and acquaintance violence when examining violence trends.