International crime victims surveys

The first ICVS took place in 1989, the second in 1992, the third in 1996 and the fourth in 2000. Surveys have been carried out in 24 industrialized countries since 1989, and in 46 cities in developing countries and countries in transition.

Apart from providing an alternative source of data on crime trends, the ICVS offers internationally standardized indicators for the perception and fear of crime across different socioeconomic contexts and over time. It includes the study of corruption, both an objective count of street level corruption" and of the perception of corruption by the general population. Major variable categories include: Car theft, Theft from car, Car vandalism, Theft of motorcycle/moped, Bicycle theft, Burglary, Attempt at burglary, Theft from grages/sheds/lockups, Robbery, Theft of personal property, Sexual offences, Assaults and threats, Consumer fraud, Corruption, Last crime over last five years, Police/prevention/punishment, prevention, Opinions and attitudes, Demographic variables, Why report/no report/no satisfaction