§ Mr. Simon HughesTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate he has made of the age profile of the victims of personal crime; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. David MacleanThe latest police recorded crime figures on victims of offences against the person relate to 1989, although only 10 of the forces were able to provide data. The figures show that the highest rate of victimisation was in the 16 to 24 age group, which accounted for nearly 40 per cent. of offences. The lowest rate was in the age group 60 and over. A full breakdown of rates of victimisation, by age group and sex of victim, is contained in figure 2.10 and table 2E of "Criminal Statistics 1990, " copies of which are in the Library.
British crime survey results for 1987 present a similar picture for the risks of assault. A comparison of these results with those of the 1987 police figures are described in "Recent trends in crimes of violence against the person in England and Wales", Davidoff and Dowds, Research Bulletin No. 27, Home Office Research and Planning Unit, also in the Library.
Corresponding figures from the 1992 British crime survey, covering 1991, will be published in the early autumn. A new survey of police violent crime statistics is planned for later this year.