Nationally around one in four people (24%) experienced a crime against themselves or their household in 2006/07 according to the British Crime Survey (BCS). This is higher than the previous year (23%) but significantly lower than the peak of 40% recorded by the BCS in 1995.
The total number of crimes recorded by the police in London in 2006/07 decreased by six per cent when compared with 2005/06. However the risk of being a victim of both household and personal crime in the London region remains higher than the national average and has remained constant since 2005/06.
Some demographic groups and communities suffer disproportionately from crime and are more likely to become victims. (e.g. Young men aged 16-24, full-time students and unemployed people) and victims of certain crimes are also more likely to experience repeat victimisation (e.g. 32% of vandalism victims, 28% of victims of assault with no injury) although this affects a minority of people.
Despite official figures showing falling crime rates the fear of crime remains high - around two in three people believe that crime nationally has increased over the last two years, although that figure drops to two in five when considering crime in one's own local area.
Below we have linked to resources providing further information and organisations working specifically with or on the behalf of victims of crime.