Mainstreaming Methodology for Estimating Costs of Crime
Estimating the costs of crime requires a wide range of detailed information. Most of the standard published sources present estimates and refer to data sources. But the detail is often sketchy and, in any event, users of this site may want to compile the data to make estimates for a country for which no such studies have been published.
Typically there are some cost categories that can be tackled easily but many others where any progress is very difficult. The two key issues this raises are first: what sorts of data sources can be used? and secondly, if nothing local is available, is there scope for making use of estimates developed in other settings?, whether for other sectors or other countries.
Other parts of the web site look at some of these issues. There is a whole section devoted to Statistical Sources. Other parts of this costing principles section are devoted to the principal categories of crime costs and contain detail notes on possible data sources.
The purpose of the Data Collection Strategy is to present some suggestions about possible data requirements and data sources in the form of a strategy.
