Dark Figure of Crime

Dark Figure of Crime Definition

The dark figure of crime is an estimate of the gap between officially recorded crime and the true crime rate, the latter calculated from victimisation surveys that ask people directly about their experiences as victims.

Why Official Statistics Undercount

Before a possibly criminal event enters government crime statistics it must clear several hurdles: it has to be observed, reported to the police, taken seriously by them, and formally recorded as a crime. Each stage loses cases. In many cities, overstretched police forces can do little about minor thefts and robberies, leaving victims with scant incentive to report them. Victims of some serious crimes, such as rape or fraud, may stay silent for fear that investigation, prosecution, or publicity would prove almost as damaging as the offence itself. Police forces and government agencies, moreover, have been known to manipulate crime figures for public effect.