Mainstreaming Methodology for Estimating Costs of Crime
For purposes of beginning work on cost of crime estimation it is helpful to refer to a standard classification of offence types. Below is listed a suggested classification with some explanatory notes, first those which are suitable for applying the cost methodology on this website, followed by those which are not suitable but for which we provide some brief guidance.
The following list contains types of crime for which costs can be assessed by reference to our general principles.
Entries in CAPITALS constitute the principal categories of crime and are largely drawn from the European Sourcebook of Crime and Criminal Justice Statistics (Appendix 1 of the 2006 Edition of which contains Offence Definitions).
Entries in italics are variants of the categories of crime and, subject to any qualification indicated, may be subjected to the costings methodology.
Offences against the person
UNLAWFUL HOMICIDE
Assault leading to death
Assistance with suicide
Attempted homicide
Death by dangerous driving
Euthanasia
Infanticide
Manslaughter
Murder
Attempts to cause bodily injury
Causing grievous bodily harm
Domestic violence
MINOR WOUNDING AND ASSAULT WITHOUT INJURY
Slapping or punching
Assault causing only pain/scratches
OFFENCES AGAINST PERSONAL LIBERTY
Abduction/kidnapping
Cruelty or neglect of children (?)
Harassment
Procuring illegal abortion (?)
SEXUAL OFFENCES
Abuse of children through prostitution or pornography
Attempted sexual offence
bigamy
Exploitation of prostitution
Gross indecency with child
Indecent assault
Indecent exposure
Incest
keeping a brothel
procuration
Rape
Sexual abuse of minor
Sexual intercourse with vulnerable person
Soliciting of women by men
Violent intra-marital sexual intercourse
Offences against property
Abstracting electricity
Attempted theft
Handling stolen goods
Receiving stolen goods
Shoplifting
Unauthorised use/taking of vehicle/bicycle
Breaking/a ttempting to break into building
CRIMINAL DAMAGE TO PROPERTY
Arson
Destruction of property
Vandalism
The following offences are not suitable for applying the cost methodology detailed on this website. However, we do provide some commentary and references on costings and these can be read by clicking on the links below
MOTORING OFFENCES
Dangerous driving
Driving while under influence alcohol/drugs
Driving while uninsured
Driving without a licence
DRUG OFFENCES
Possession of unlawful drugs
Trafficking in unlawful drugs
OFFENCES AGAINST PUBLIC ORDER
Disorderly conduct
Loitering/vagrancy
Riot
Unlawful assembly
Blackmail
Counterfeiting/forgery
Embezzlement
Identity fraud
Obtaining property/services by deception
Trade misdescriptions
TAX AND CUSTOM OFFENCES
False accounting
OFFENCES AGAINST PUBLIC MORALITY AND DECENCY
Pornography/obscenity
Public indecency
ENVIRONMENTAL OFFENCES
Pollution offences
Public health offences
Wildlife and endangered species
MONEY LAUNDERING
OFFENCES RELATING TO SYSTEMS OF JUSTICE
Perjury
Perverting course of justice
OFFENCES RELATING TO PUBLIC SERVICES
Abusing public office
Bribery and corruption in the public sector
OFFENCES AGAINST THE CONFIDENTIALITY, INTEGRITY AND AVAILABILITY OF COMPUTER DATA AND SYSTEMS
Illegal access/interception
Computer fraud (deception of a computer instead of a human being)
OTHER REGULATORY OFFENCES
Betting and gaming
Commercial and trading
Finance and securities
Firearms and other weapons
Food safety
Health and safety at work
HUMAN TRAFFICKING AND RELATED OFFENCES
Human trafficking
Trafficking for sexual exploitation
Immigration
ESB definition: Inflicting bodily injury on another person with intent
ESB definition: Inflicting serious (i.e. grave, e.g. life-threatening or disabling) bodily injury to another person with intent, or under aggravated circumstances (use of weapons, or on a vulnerable victim)
ESB definition: Depriving a person or organisation of property without force with the intent to keep it.
ESB definition: S tealing from a person with force or threat of force
ESB definition: “deceiving someone or taking advantage of someone’s error with the intent to unlawfully gain financial benefits, thereby causing the deceived person to enter any operation that will be damaging to his or a third person’s financial interests”.
The ESB definition: “unauthorized entry into electronic systems (computers) or unauthorized use or manipulation of electronic systems, data or software”.
