Becoming a Victim of Crime - Dissertation Example

The CSEW estimates can be two or more times higher or lower when compared to the number of police-recorded crimes. Crime may also be considered an adult act, one that is committed by adults or young adults against other grown-up people who are more or less equipped with the skill to prevent or at least mitigate the effects of crime on their lives. The CSEW identified the need to provide statistics on victimized youth and since 2009 their survey has included a separate questionnaire targeting children between the age of 10 and 15.

In 2012, 54 percent of crimes against children were violent crimes, 40 percent were theft of personal property and some crimes against children (0.05 percent) were vandalism to personal property (Office for National Statistics, 2013). However, the overall number of violent crimes is bigger; it affects a smaller sub-group of children, while thieves often target the same person multiple times. The CSEW, since 2009 has considered children ages 10 to 15 residing in England and Wales on their experience relating to crime (Office for National Statistics, 2013). . This includes the 6% who have been victims of violent crimes with the 8% victims of personal theft (Home Office, 2012).

Even as there have been more incidents of violence than theft, these violent crimes usually covered a smaller number of 10 to 15-year-olds, especially as these acts are most likely repeated against the same victim. About one in four children in England and Wales from ages 10 to 15 have been victims of crime in 2009 (Home Office, 2012). The year 2010 surveys indicate that most of the 2.1 million crimes involving theft and violence against teenagers were seen mostly in playgrounds. It covers incidents that are legally considered crimes, but when children were asked if they considered these to be crimes, only 410,000 incidents were soon considered as crimes (Home Office, 2012).

Findings indicated children are more likely exposed to incidents of violence as compared to adults, and this fact is an even greater cause for concern with the fact that some incidents not involving injury are not reported to the police (Home Office, 2012).