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Dubious Distinctions?
Comparing crime across countries
South Africa has the reputation for being one of the most violent societies in the world. Despite problems of comparing international crime statistics, this reputation may be well founded.
While perceptions are seldom a reliable measure to compare crime across countries, statistical comparisons are equally fraught with difficulties for the following reasons:
- Varying levels of reporting and different recording procedures.
- Different categorisations of particular crimes by the police.
- The varying availability and access to police statistics (and demographic and other explanatory data).
Figure 1 Burglary and attempted burglary (Percentage of the population victimisation in urban areas)
Source: JJ van Dijk (1997) International Crime Victims Surveys 1988 - 1996
These problems are well illustrated by the contradictory burglary statistics presented in Figures 1 and 2. Figure 1 reflects victim survey data which captures crimes that are not reported to police, indicating that burglary is twice as predominant in Africa than in Western Europe. Burglary is probably well reported to (and accurately recorded by) police in developed countries such as the Netherlands, and less reported in developing countries such as South Africa (Figure 2).
Figure 2 Breaking and entering ratio per 100000 in selected countries in 1995
Source: Interpol 1995 (SAPS Crime Information Management Centre)
The most reliable crime type to compare across countries is murder given that reporting rates are generally higher and that classification is straightforward. Available data suggest that in 1995 South Africa had the third highest ratio (64,6 per 100000) among countries compared. This was eight times higher than the United States (see Figure 3).
Figure 3 Murder ratio per 100000 of the population in selected countries in 1995
Source: Interpol 1995 (SAPS Crime Information Management Centre)
Another pertinent example is robbery and violent theft. This crime category (which includes hijacking and other armed robberies) is less easy to compare internationally than murder. Interpol statistics suggest that South Africa’s rate (293 per 100000) is among the highest in the world. At 221 per 100000, the ratios of robbery in the USA and Spain are, however, also comparatively high.
Antoinette Louw and Mark Shaw,
Institute for Security Studies
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