Abstract
The use by the police of crime statistics and crime clearance figures has traditionally been identified as an indicator of police efficiency and effectiveness.
However, it has become clear, even in the police literature, that recorded
crime can be little more than a relatively sophisticated artifice. This is because
crime figures can be, and are, used to demonstrate police efficiency in terms
of clearance rates or, alternatively, lack of investment, when crime figures are
high and clearance rates are low. The ability of the police to manipulate re-
corded crime is now recognized and identified in the literature.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 215-237 |
Journal | The International Journal of the Sociology of Law |
Volume | 28 |
Issue number | 3 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - Sept 2000 |