Personal Acquisitive Crime

Exploring Personal Acquisitive Crime in England and Wales

Rebecca Thompson, from the Nottingham Trent University, made a contribution to the 2012 Annual Conference of the European Society of Criminology, in the category “Crime Prevention,” under the title “Exploring Personal Acquisitive Crime in England and Wales”. Here is the abstract: This paper considers the changing nature of personal acquisitive crime in England and Wales. The research focuses upon changes in products stolen over the period of the ‘crime drop’, as well as victim and incident characteristics. Preliminary analysis draws on British Crime Survey (BCS) data from 1994 to 2010. Initial support is given to the life cycle hypothesis with an overall reduction in the proportion of thefts involving more ‘traditional’ products such as cash, purses and handbags and an increase in thefts targeting portable electronic items, such as mobile phones. It is argued that new and desirable technology creates demand for supply by theft. The most conducive and cost-effective action is seen to lie in focusing resources on those most frequently targeted products and victims. Findings from BCS analysis (1994-2010) will be presented and policy implications discussed.[rtbs name=”criminology”]

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Further Reading

• “Exploring Personal Acquisitive Crime in England and Wales”, by Rebecca Thompson (Proceedings)