The questionable accuracy of police recorded crime data derives partially from the fact that the recording of a crime is subject to the officer’s integrity. The Public Administration Select Committee (PASC) investigation, Caught Redhanded: Why we can’t rely on Police Recorded Crime Statistics, revealed that there was “strong evidence” that police under-recorded crimes, believing this was due to “lax compliance with agreed national standards of victim focussed crime recording.” This can be seen in Her Majesty's Inspectorate of …show more content…
The issue here is the willingness of the public to report crimes they are a victim of, or have witnessed. This inclination to report depends on factors such as the expectations of, faith in the police force, the ease of reporting, and the nature of the crime.8 With approximately 60% of crimes not reported to the police (2006, A Smith), it is clear that accuracy within police recorded data is flawed, as more than half of crimes are not reported to the police. Public reporting behaviour can also be influenced by high profile cases, which lead victims to step forward. The NSPCC reported that after Jimmy Saville scandal there was an 80% rise in in reported child sexual abuse cases.9 This suggests that there is “strength in numbers” when reporting crimes. However, this may affect the accuracy of the figures as it suggests that victims who feel alone may refrain from