atw: Re: crime stats

We are missing an important dimension in here.
The amount of crime reported is a political matter - and there's plenty
of research to back this up.
 
First, the internal politics of particular police units and departments
varies from week to week depending on what the Minister has agreed with
the Commissioner is to be focussed on that week.
Second, the longer term politics of experience of young trainees at
Goulburn and similar depends on just who is doing the training of that
batch of recruits and hence just what tack is taken on what constitutes
criminality.
Third, we have a long history, since our enforced exportation from the
UK, of having the police focus on crimes against property more than
crimes against people. Just what property depends on how active the
coppers feel the day the event is reported and their particular
experience of clear-up rates.
Fourth, what gets counted as crime depends on just how many coppers are
on duty, in any particular unit, at any particular time.
Fifth, if a matter has to go to court to determine whether it
constitutes a crime, we then have to deal with the ability to pay for a
brief and plea bargaining. Some matters can take an awfully long time to
be determined.

The ABS is a long way down the track, compared with these concerns.

Brian




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