Citation

Levi M, Jones S. Br. J. Criminol. 1985; 25(3): 234-250.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1985, Centre for Crime and Justice Studies, Publisher Oxford University Press)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

This article reviews briefly the uses and abuses of seriousess surveys and them examines the crime seriousness ratings and rankings of representative samples of the police and public from one Northern and one Southern police force area in England and Wales. It concludes that there is high concordance (both among the public and between police and public) on offences such as violence and theft by a policc officer, but more disagreement on the rating of frauds, burglary, and "victimless crimes". The police understate the absolute and relative seriousness of business fraud offences, probably because of their occupational culture. Few significant differences appear between offenders and non-offenders or between victims and non-victims. Finally, the policy implications are discussed.