Multiple Victimisation: Its Extent and Significance

The extent and significance of multiple and repeat victimisation have gone largely unrecognised. The literature is explored with respect to demonstrating that multiple victimisation is robust across crime types and method of study. Nine different research methods suggest a similar pattern of the distribution of victimisation; a small proportion of the population experience a large proportion of all crime. In the British Crime Survey, 70% of all incidents were reported by the 14% of respondents who are multiple victims (a conservative figure). With respect to significance, victimisation should not be studied without fully accounting for multiple victimisation. Many areas of policy and practice may be affected by a recognition of the importance of multiple victimisation. For crime prevention policy, if repeat or multiple victimisation can be prevented, a large proportion of all crime might be prevented. Crime prevention strategy developed through responses to victimisation should be spatially and temporally focused.