Victimisation and fear of crime, survey on living conditions, 2004

However, the exposure to crime is not higher than in the 1990s, when surveys showed that about 17 per cent of the population were exposed to one or more offences in one year. The 2004 survey shows that more than one in ten had been exposed to theft, and one in twenty had been exposed to one or more incidents of violence or threats of violence.

Every year one in four youths is exposed to at least one incident of violence, threats of violence, theft or criminal damage.

No increase in violence

In the 2004 survey, 5.1 per cent of the respondents said that they had been exposed to violence or threats of violence during the last year. More people are exposed to threats of violence than to violence that results in visible marks or injury. More than half of the 2.6 per cent that had become victims of violence during the last 12 months had visible marks on their body or other, more serious injuries.

The risk of being exposed to violence strongly correlates with age. In the 2004 survey and in all previous surveys, the proportion of victims of violence was much larger in the youngest age groups than in the oldest age groups. This applies to both men and women

When victims describe their exposure to violence, we find clear gender differences despite the relatively equal proportions of victims and age. Women are to a greater extent than men exposed to violence in a relationship or in their area of residence. Men are to a greater extent than women exposed to violence in the evening and at night, from more or less unknown assaulters and in public areas. In the 2004 survey, almost half of all incidents of violence towards women, and less than 20 per cent of incidents of violence towards men were domestic violence or took place in residential areas. 57 per cent of all incidents towards men and 11 per cent of all incidents towards women took place in public areas.

The 2004 survey, as previous surveys, shows a somewhat larger risk of being exposed to violence at weekends and at night. At such times, more people tend to be influenced by alcohol or drugs in public areas, and as in previous surveys the offender is influenced by alcohol or drugs in a large number of incidents of violence towards men (62 per cent). The corresponding figure for female victims was only 27 per cent.

Women are to a greater extent than men exposed to violence in their residential area, and a considerably higher number of women say that they fear violence and have received threats of violence in their residential area.

More victims of theft

In 2004, 12 per cent of the adult population said that they had been exposed to theft or criminal damage. Theft, particularly the types of theft which only result in lost possessions, is the type of offence that clearly affects most people in Norway. More than 10 per cent had been exposed to one or more incidents of theft during the last 12 months.

Previous surveys show a clear correlation between area of residence and exposure to theft. This correlation is also evident in the 2004 survey, as the proportion of victims of theft increases with the population density of the victims' residential area.

According to the 2004 survey, twice as many incidents of theft and criminal damage takes place during the summer six months, compared to the rest of the year.

More results from the Survey of level of living 1983-2004, victimization and fear of crime are available in StatBank Norway.

Tables:

• Table 1 Victimization and fear of crime, by age. 2004. Per cent
• Table 2 Victimization and fear of crime, by gender. 2004. Per cent
• Table 3 Victimization and fear of crime, by areas of residence. 2004. Per cent