Mainstreaming Methodology for Estimating Costs of Crime
The purpose of this section is to set out, in a format similar to that used to summarise the Home Office model output and our idealised output template, the progress that can be achieved using widely available data. It is a summary of the information compiled from the various cost categories elsewhere in this Costing Principles and Methods part of the site. It is intended to demonstrate what can be done readily for most countries at present, and where the principal gaps lie.
The table summarising MMECC model output [link to FILE UNDER CONSTRUCTION: MMECC model output.xls] indicates that the gaps are substantial. Information on costs in anticipation of crime may be available from broader social surveys, but are rarely investigated by justice departments. Costs as a consequence of crime are covered in victim surveys, but coverage is rather patchy and it is only really the simplest forms of loss from property crime where coverage is widespread. Costs in response to crime typically involve national (or sub-national) criminal justice agencies. It is comparatively rare for these agencies to publish information on costs in a format that makes it possible to attribute costs by offence type.
A natural extension of the findings is the development of a data collection agenda for international agencies. The questions to which we seek answers in this on-going work [link saying ‘link under construction’] include:
