European Commission - Eurostat

F4: Income and living conditions; Quality of life

European Commission - Eurostat

Unit ESTAT.F.4: Income and living conditions; Quality of life L-2920 Luxembourg

Since 2014, Eurostat and the UNODC have launched a joint annual data collection on crime and criminal justice statistics, using the UN crime trends questionnaire and complementary Eurostat requests

for specific areas of interest to the European Commission. The data and metadata are collected from National Statistical Institutes or other relevant authorities (mainly police and justice departments) in each EU Member State, EFTA country and EU potential members. On the Eurostat website, data are available for 41 jurisdictions since 2008 until 2018 data and for 38 jurisdictions since 2019 data (EU-27, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Albania, Serbia, Turkey, Kosovo(1)), having drop the data for the United Kingdom separately owing to three separate jurisdictions England and Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland.

This joint data collection and other data collections carried out by Eurostat allows to gather information on:

• police-recorded offences by type of crime
• police-recorded offences by NUTS3 region
• intentional homicide and sexual violence victims and perpetrators (suspected, prosecuted, convicted) by sex
• intentional homicide victims by age, sex, and relationship to the offender
• intentional homicide victims and offences in largest cities
• offenders by justice legal status (suspected, prosecuted, convicted), age, sex, and citizenship
• persons brought before criminal courts by legal status (convicted persons/acquitted)
• personnel by institution (police, courts, and prisons) by sex
• legal cases in first instance courts by type and stage
• prisoners by age, sex, citizenship, and status of the trial process
• prison capacity and occupancy
• people involved in human trafficking by legal status (victims, suspected and convicted traffickers) and victims of human trafficking by all forms of exploitation and citizenship

Where available, data are broken down by sex, age groups (adults/juveniles), country of citizenship (foreigners or nationals) and other relevant variables. National data are available and for intentional homicide offences, city level data (largest cities) are available for some countries. Regional data at NUTS3 level are also available for some police-recorded offences.

Some historical series are available: 

• Number of police-recorded crimes by type (intentional homicide, violence, robbery, home burglary, car thefts, and drug crimes) for the period 1993 – 2007
• Number of police-recorded homicide in cities for the period 1993 – 2007
• Number of police officers for the period 1993 – 2007
• Prison population for the period 1993 – 2007

Total number of police-recorded crimes for the period 1950 – 2000

(1) under United Nations Security Council Resolution 1244/99

Crimes are collected according to the International Classification of Crime for Statistics (ICCS).

Regions are classified by Nomenclature of territorial units for statistics (NUTS).

Legal status is classified according to United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime definitions.

Crime and criminal justice

Countries were asked to adhere to standard definitions when compiling the figures and to provide details of any divergences. The standard Eurostat- UNODC definitions used in the data collection are listed below. Countries’ compliance with ICCS and definitions and comments provided by the countries can be found in item 15.1 Comparability.

OFFENCES RECORDED BY THE POLICE

Intentional Homicide: Unlawful death purposefully inflicted on a person by another person. Data on intentional homicide should also include serious assault leading to death and death as a result of a terrorist attack. It should exclude attempted homicide, manslaughter, death due to legal intervention, justifiable homicide in self-defence and death due to armed conflict.

Attempted intentional homicide: Attempt to inflict unlawful death upon a person with the intent to cause death or serious injury.

Assault: Intentional or reckless application of physical force inflicted upon the body of a person. It includes Serious and Minor assault.

Serious assault: Physical attack against the body of another person resulting in serious bodily injury, excluding sexual assault, threats and slapping/punching. ‘Assault’ leading to death should also be excluded.

Kidnapping:Unlawfully detaining a person or persons against their will (including through the use of force, threat, fraud or enticement) for the purpose of demanding for their liberation an illicit gain or any other economic gain or other material benefit, or in order to oblige someone to do or not to do something. “Kidnapping” excludes disputes over child custody.

Sexual violence: Unwanted sexual act, attempt to obtain a sexual act, or contact or communication with unwanted sexual attention without valid consent or with consent as a result of intimidation, force, fraud, coercion, threat, deception, use of drugs or alcohol, or abuse of power or of a position of vulnerability. It includes Rape and Sexual assault.

Rape: Sexual intercourse without valid consent. In the current definition used by the UNODC, offences of statutory rape where the victim is below the age of consent are classified separately as sexual offences against children.

Sexual Assault: Sexual violence not amounting to rape. It includes an unwanted sexual act, an attempt to obtain a sexual act, or contact or communication with unwanted sexual attention not amounting to rape. It also includes sexual assault with or without physical contact including drug-facilitated sexual assault, sexual assault committed against a marital partner against her/his will, sexual assault against a helpless person, unwanted groping or fondling, harassment and threat of a sexual nature.

Sexual exploitation: Acts of abuse of a position of vulnerability, power or trust, or use of force or threat of force, for profiting financially, physically, socially or politically from the prostitution or sexual acts of a person. Sexual exploitation of adults and sexual exploitation of children should be both included. It includes Child pornography.

Child pornography: Procuring, arranging, facilitating or controlling a child for the purposes of creating child pornography and/or possessing, disseminating, broadcasting, transmitting, exhibiting or selling child pornography. Child as defined in national legislation. According to Article 20 of the Council of Europe 'Convention on the Protection of Children against Sexual Exploitation and Sexual Abuse', child pornography, at minimum, is visual representation or depiction of a child engaged in sexually explicit conduct, a real person appearing to be a child involved or engaged in sexually explicit conduct, or realistic images of a non-existent child involved in sexually explicit conduct.

Robbery: Theft of property from a person, overcoming resistance by force or threat of force. Where possible, the category “robbery” should include muggings (bag-snatching) and theft with violence, but should exclude pick-pocketing and extortion.

Burglary: Gaining unauthorised access to a part of building/dwelling or other premises, including by use of force, with the intent to steal goods (breaking and entering). “Burglary” should include, where possible, theft from a house, apartment or other dwelling place, factory, shop or office, from a military establishment, or by using false keys. It should exclude theft from a car, from a container, from a vending machine, from a parking meter and from a fenced meadow/compound. It includes Burglary of Private Residential Premises.

Burglary of Private Residential Premises: Gaining access to a dwelling by the use of force to steal goods. Burglary of a house, apartment or other dwelling place.

Theft: Depriving a person or organisation of property without force with the intent to keep it. “Theft” excludes burglary, housebreaking, and robbery, which are recorded separately. It includes Theft of a motorized vehicle or parts thereof.

Theft of a motorized vehicle or parts thereof: Theft of a motorized vehicle or parts of a motorized of vehicle. It includes Theft of a Motorised Land Vehicle.

Theft of a Motorised Land Vehicle: Removal of a motor vehicle without the consent of the owner of the vehicle. “Motor vehicle” includes all land vehicles with an engine that run on the road, including cars, motorcycles, buses, lorries, construction and agricultural vehicles.

Unlawful Acts Involving Controlled Drugs or Precursors: Illegal possession, cultivation, production, supplying, transportation, importing, exporting, financing etc. of drug operations which are not solely in connection with personal use.

Fraud: Obtaining money or other benefit, or evading a liability through deceit or dishonest conduct. Data should Include Mortgage fraud, financial fraud, quackery, impersonation, identity theft, possession, creation or use of false weights for measure, included cyber-related fraud.

Corruption: Unlawful acts as defined in the United Nations Convention against Corruption and other national and international legal instruments against corruption. Data should include bribery (active and passive), embezzlement, abuse of function, trading in influence, illicit enrichment, conflict of interest.

Bribery: Promising, offering, giving, soliciting, or accepting an undue advantage to or from a public official or a person who directs or works in a private sector entity, directly or indirectly, In order that the person act or refrain from acting in the exercise of his or her official duties.

Money laundering: Conversion or transfer of property, knowing that such property is the proceeds of crime, for the purpose of concealing or disguising the illicit origin of such property or of helping any person who is involved in the commission of the predicate offence to evade the legal consequences of his or her actions, as well as the concealment or disguise of the true nature, source, location, disposition, movement or ownership of rights with respect to the property.

Cybercrime: Unauthorized access to, interception of, interference with, or misuse of computer data or computer systems.

Participation in an organized criminal group: Participating in the activities of an organized criminal group.

SUSPECTS AND OFFENDERS WITHIN THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM

Persons Brought into Formal Contact with the Police and/or Criminal Justice System: Includes persons suspected, arrested or cautioned for a criminal offence at the national level.

Persons Prosecuted: Alleged offenders against whom prosecution commenced in the reporting year. Persons may be prosecuted by the public prosecutor or the law enforcement agency responsible for prosecution at the national level, irrespective of the case-ending decision.

Persons Convicted: Persons found guilty by any legal body authorized to pronounce a conviction under national criminal law, whether or not the conviction was later upheld. The total number of persons convicted should also include persons convicted of serious special law offences but exclude persons convicted of minor road traffic offences, misdemeanours and other petty offences.

Persons Acquitted: Persons found not guilty of a criminal offence by any legal body authorized under national criminal law, whether or not the acquittal was later upheld at the national level. The total number of persons acquitted should also include persons acquitted of serious special law offences but exclude persons acquitted of minor road traffic offences and other petty offences. 

Persons Held: Number of Persons held in prisons, penal Institutions or correctional institutions on a specified day and should excluding exclude non-criminal prisoners held for administrative purposes - for example, persons held pending investigation into their immigration status or foreign citizens without a legal right to stay.

CRIMINAL JUSTICE PERSONNEL

Police Officers: Personnel in public agencies as at 31 December whose principal functions are the prevention, detection and investigation of crime and the apprehension of alleged offenders. Data concerning support staff (secretaries, clerks, etc.) are excluded.

Professional Judges: Both full time and part time official legal professionals as of 31 December authorized to hear civil, criminal and other cases, including in appeal courts, and to make dispositions in a court of law, which have been recruited and are paid to practice as a judge. This category excludes non-professional judges such as lay judges and lay magistrates.

Prison Personnel: All individuals employed in penal or correctional institutions as of 31 December including management, treatment, custodial and other (maintenance, food service etc.) personnel.

CASES PROCESSED BY THE COURTS

Criminal Cases: Any cases processed under national criminal law.

Civil/Commercial Cases: Any cases processed under national civil/commercial law.

Administrative Cases: Any cases processed under national administrative law.

Other Cases: Any other cases processed under national law.

Cases Brought to Court: Number of proceedings initiated in court during the reporting period that were not already under consideration by the court in the previous reporting period.

Cases Resolved: Number of proceedings finalized/disposed of by a court decision during the reporting period, whether through a decision on the merit, a withdrawal of the claim, a settlement, or a rejection

on formal grounds, and whether this decision is later upheld or not.

Cases Pending: Number of proceedings that are not finalized/disposed of as of 31 December.

PRISON CAPACITY

Official Prison Capacity: The intended number of places available as of 31 December without overcrowding, excluding places/capacity used for detention of persons based on immigration status.

Crime statistics involve several kinds of statistical units. The basic statistical units used in crime statistics can be:

- Criminal offences recorded by the police:

- Cases processed by the courts (a case contains one or more offences)

- Persons brought into formal contact with the police and/or criminal justice system

- Victims of specific crimes

- Persons prosecuted, convicted, acquitted or held in prison

- Persons working in specific roles within the criminal justice system

- The official capacity of prisons in terms of number of places available

The following list shows the statistical unit for each dataset:

For administrative data, the statistical population for each statistic is the complete register (all the relevant records). The group of individuals depends on the type of unit.

For people, all ages and nationalities are usually counted.

The table highlights the minimum age of juvenile category and the threshold between juvenile and adult.

Information was provided during previous data collection or last available one.

European Union Member States, EFTA countries Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, Switzerland, and EU potential members Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Albania, Turkey, Serbia, and Kosovo.

Details on jurisdictions excluded are provided as follows:

BE: The data from the youth prosecutor's office of Eupen are not included

FR: Police data does not include French overseas territories (French Polynesia, French Southern and Antarctic Territories, New Caledonia, Saint Barthélémy, St. Pierre and Miquelon, Wallis and Futuna Islands)

CY: Prosecution and Courts data covers cover only the Government-controlled-area of Cyprus

DK: Greenland excluded

NL: in Police data, Aruba, Bonaire, Curaçao, Saba, Sint Eustatius and Sint Maarten are not covered

NO: in Police data, offences reported to the Norwegian police committed abroad are included. Offences reported to The Norwegian Bureau for the Investigation of Police Affairs are not included.

MK: Courts data are only from the Basic Court Skopje

RS: Police, Prosecution and Courts data excludes Region Kosovo and Metohija

The current tables are available from 2008 onwards.

Before 2008:

Total crimes are available from 1950 for Denmark, Germany, Estonia, France, Ireland, the Netherlands, Poland, Finland, England and Wales; from 1980 for most other countries.

Selected offences - are available from 1993.

Police officers - are available from 1993.

Prison population - is available from 1993.

2008 is used as base year.

• Absolute number.
• Rate per 100.000 population size.

Population size is defined as resident population January 1st according to Eurostat database population figures.

Crime offences - the standard reference period is the calendar year.

Criminal Justice Personnel – the standard reference date is 31 December.

Prison figures - the reference date for held persons is 31 December, except for the following countries:

DK - Denmark: 1st September

DE - Germany: 30th November and 31st March

SI - Slovenia: 31st January

SE - Sweden: 1st October

NO - Norway: 1st January

CH – Switzerland: 31st of January of the following year.

Collection of crime statistics is not mandatory, but it is envisaged by the  resolution 1984/48 of the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations, dated 25 May 1984.With The Hague programme adopted in 2004, the European Council stressed the lack of comparable data at EU level on crime. It explicitly gave a mandate to Eurostat to “establish European instruments for collecting, analysing and comparing information on crime and victimisation and their respective trends in Member States”. The Commission established the Action Plan 2006-2010 to develop a comprehensive and coherent EU strategy to measure crime and criminal justice. The first data collection with the reference year 2005 was organised in 2007 and figures on crime were then published by Eurostat. The 2009 Stockholm Programme reiterated the need for “Adequate, Reliable and Comparable statistics” on crime and criminal activities. In 2012, an Action Plan covering the 2011-2015 period underlined the strategies to be adopted in order to improve the collection of crime statistics. The data collection on Cybercrime is made mandatory by EU directive 2013/40 and is carried out by Eurostat on behalf of the Directorate-General for Migration and Home Affairs.

National crime data are collected jointly with UNODC (United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime) through the Crime Trends Survey Questionnaire.  Data on trafficking in human beings is collected by Eurostat and the UNODC Global report on Trafficking in Person questionnaire is also automatically filled with the same data. The validation of the data for both data collections is carried out by Eurostat.

Regulation (EC) No 223/2009 on European statistics (recital 24 and Article 20(4)) of 11 March 2009 (OJ L 87, p. 164), stipulates the need to establish common principles and guidelines ensuring the confidentiality of data used for the production of European statistics and the access to those confidential data with due account for technical developments and the requirements of users in a democratic society.

Not applicable.

Data are released approximately 16 months after the reference year.

Release calendar - Eurostat (europa.eu)

In line with the Community legal framework and the European Statistics Code of Practice Eurostat disseminates European statistics on Eurostat's website (see item 10 - 'Accessibility and clarity') respecting professional independence and in an objective, professional and transparent manner in which all users are treated equitably. The detailed arrangements are governed by the Eurostat protocol on impartial access to Eurostat data for users

Annual.

See News articles in Publications - Crime and criminal justice - Eurostat (europa.eu)

The Statistics Explained pages on the Eurostat website give information on general trends in crime and criminal justice:

Crime statistics - Statistics Explained (europa.eu)

Police, court and prison personnel statistics - Statistics Explained (europa.eu)

Prison statistics - Statistics Explained (europa.eu)

Prison occupancy statistics - Statistics Explained (europa.eu)

Trafficking in human beings statistics - Statistics Explained (europa.eu)

Tables are available on-line Database - Crime and criminal justice - Eurostat (europa.eu) and are updated annually within 16 months of the reference year.

Eurostat monitors user behavior through analysing database views for each dataset by years. In such way, Eurostat keeps track of users and their needs by monitoring the website.

For 2023, ‘Recorded intentional homicide and sexual offences’ and ‘Police-recorded offences’ datasets has the highest views among the other topics on the crime domain.

Not applicable.

The web portal on crime and criminal justice contains information on data, quality, methodology and publications, such as thematic working papers on specific crimes and guidelines.

According to the Eurostat Analytics dashboard, consultations of Crime metadata were 5 163 between February and December 2022 and 8 529 in 2023.

Each country determines the methodology and is responsible for its documentation. Data are produced by official authorities such as the police, prosecution service, the ministry of interior or the ministry of justice. Each country determines which authority or statistical office that should collect, check, and send data and documentation.

• Crime and Criminal Justice Statistics - Methodological guide for users This publication is an update of a previous guide supporting the methodological approach to crime and criminal justice statistics. The overall purpose is to provide information on the statistical processing of data, such as data validation, data quality assessment, and calculation of indicators. It addresses the issue of comparability by providing the key elements to be taken into account in the comparison. Finally, it explains the products disseminated on Eurostat's website.
• EU guidelines for the International Classification of Crime for Statistical Purposes — 2017 edition  This booklet presents the structure of the ICCS, its classification principles and its relations to existing classifications, to facilitate the implementation of the ICCS. It provides a brief overview of concrete organizational and technical tasks for a successful implementation of the ICCS at the national level, which should engage all crime data users and data providers. In addition, an implementation strategy through the creation of a correspondence table, a tabulation of all offence categories in the ICCS linked to all offences on the national level, is briefly described.
• Monitoring EU crime policies using the International Classification of Crime for Statistical Purposes (ICCS)-2018 edition This publication describes how the specific criminal offences defined in the legislation passed at EU level should be mapped to the ICCS. For these offences, a common approach towards the alignment with the ICCS needs to be developed, where possible, to ensure that all EU Member States treat these offences consistently when applying the ICCS at national level. Each chapter provides explanations on how to align the relevant offences defined at EU level with ICCS categories by suggesting possible mapping scenarios, providing correspondence tables or pointing out inconsistencies between ICCS definitions and definitions in EU legislation.
• Guidelines for the production of statistical data by the police These guidelines by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) for the production of statistical data are aimed at providing advice to police departments on the collection, production and dissemination of high-quality statistical data that can assist them in performing and monitoring their core functions, improving the measurement of access to justice and promoting the implementation of ICCS.
• Guidelines for the production of statistical data by the Prosecution Service and the Courts These guidelines by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) for the production of statistical data are aimed at supporting the prosecution service and the courts in the collection, production and dissemination of high-quality statistics based on administrative data relating to crime and criminal justice. 

• Further details on compliance with ICCS for disseminated crimes can be found in 15.1 Comparability

Further details on methodological rules are provided below as follows:

• Stage of data collection of police data for number of offences
• Stage of data collection of courts data for number of convicted
• Counting unit of police (offences), prosecutions (prosecuted persons), and courts data (convicted persons)
• Counting rules for offences (police data)
• Counting rules for persons when counting the total number of persons
• Counting rules for persons when counting the number of persons in reference to an offence.

Stage of data collection of police data for number of offences

The point in time when the offence is recorded in the statistics differs among countries. Offences recorded by the Police can be registered:

- At the time the offence is first reported to the police (referred to as 'INPUT' statistics)

- After the offence is first reported, but before a full investigation (referred to as 'PROCESS' statistics)

- After the offence has been investigated (referred to as 'OUTPUT' statistics).

Input statistics are likely to produce a higher number, as, during investigations, events might be reclassified as different offences or investigations show that no criminal offence occurred. Therefore, a crime may be dropped or reclassified at any point. However, in jurisdictions with input statistics, the number may decrease more in the first stage of the criminal justice process than jurisdictions with output statistics. In the table below, the recording practices for the countries involved in the data collection are shown: 

Stage of data collection of courts statistics

Court statistics (number of convicted) can be counted BEFORE or AFTER a case is appealed. When counted ‘before appeals’, the conviction could subsequently change if an appeal reviews the decision of the lower court, while ‘after appeals’ the conviction is final. In a jurisdiction where court statistics are collected after appeals, data on convicted persons may be lower than in a country that collects court statistics before the cases have been appealed, because the number of convictions could be reduced.

 Counting unit of police, prosecutions and courts data

Police may use different units for recording offences. According to the statistical unit used, figures may differ from one country to another. For example, a case may include several offences, or a decision may refer to more than one offence. In most jurisdictions, the police use the offence as the counting unit, while IE and TR use the ‘incident’ and XK the ‘case’.

The counting unit used by the prosecution is the 'PERSONS against whom prosecution commenced in the reporting year’ (people-charges) in most jurisdiction. However, in some jurisdictions, the counting unit for prosecution are the criminal proceedings (against one or more persons) and in other jurisdictions the number of persons prosecuted corresponds to the number of persons against whom prosecution is completed in the reporting year. As for the courts the counting unit is in most cases the person, while few countries use the proceeding or the case, as shown in the following table (information provided in last data collection or last available one):

Counting rules for offences (police data)

The following counting rules are recommended when counting offences (dataset crim_offcat, crim_gen_reg, crim_hom_ocit):

• the principal offence rule, meaning counting only the most serious offence in a crime, should not be applied
• serial offences should be counted AS MORE THAN ONE offence
• an offence committed by more than one person should be count AS ONE offence.

For example, if an offender has committed a theft and a damage of public property in the same criminal event, it is recommended to count both the offences. If an offender has robbed on three separate occasions, it is recommended to count as three offences. If a robbery has been committed by three persons, in the data collection it is recommended to count one robbery.

Not all the jurisdictions are able to apply properly the counting rules, due to their recording and reporting system. The compliance with the counting rules for offences recorded by the police is shown in the following table (information provided in last data collection or last available one):

 Counting rules for persons when counting the total number of persons

At police, prosecutions, courts and prison level, the following rules are recommended when counting the total number of persons (datasets crim_just_sex, crim_just_age, crim_just_ctz, crim_crt_per, crim_pris_cap, crim_pris_age, crim_pris_ctz and crim_pris_tri):

• the principal offence rule should be applied (the person should be count only once)
• persons committing serial offences should be counted AS ONE PERSON
• persons committing multiple (series of) offences in the same year are recommended to be counted AS ONE PERSON.

Counting rules for persons when counting the number of persons in reference to an offence

At police, prosecutions, courts and prison level, the following rules are recommended when counting the number of persons in relation to an offence (datasets crim_hom_soff e crim_pris_off):

• the principal offence rule should NOT be applied (each person is recommended to be counted separately in reference to each offence)
• persons committing serial offences should be counted AS MORE THAN ONE PERSON (each person is recommended to be counted separately in reference to each crime occurrence
• persons committing multiple (series of) offences in the same year are recommended to be counted AS MORE THAN ONE PERSON.

Not applicable.

Previous quality reports:

Summary quality report on the 2016 data collection

Summary quality report on the 2015 data collection

Other metadata:

Police-recorded offences by NUTS 3 regions (crim_gen_reg) (europa.eu)

Court processes (crim_crt) (europa.eu)

Trafficking in human beings (crim_thb) (europa.eu)

A study on the availability, comparability, and consistency of administrative statistical data on recorded crime and on the stages of the criminal justice process in the European Union published by the Directorate-General for Migration and Home Affairs of the European Commission, in 2021:

Overview of the availability, comparability and consistency of administrative statistical data on recorded crime and on the stages of the criminal justice process in the EU - Publications Office of the EU (europa.eu)

Data are provided to Eurostat by a contact point designated by each country to be part of the Working Group on Crime and Criminal Justice. Notably, this contact can be the national statistical office or another National Authority such as Ministry of Interior or Ministry of Justice. Each country determine its own procedures for gathering data from the different authorities.

No assessment has been made.

The need to provide information on the development of crime in the European Union was recognized in The Hague Programme adopted by the European Council in 2004. The system is being enhanced and extended as part of the implementation of the 2009 Stockholm programme: an open and secure Europe serving and protecting citizens, as outlined in the Commission Communication of 18 January 2012, Measuring crime in the EU: Statistics Action Plan 2011-2015. The need to provide information on cybercrime in the European Union is mandatory under Article 14 of the Directive - 2013/40 - EN - EUR-Lex (europa.eu).

Not assessed.

In the Eurobase tables published on the Eurostat website, some data are missing for certain countries and for certain years. The completeness in terms of number of countries for each dataset is shown in the following tables . It should be considered that the population coverage varies a lot between countries, for this reason a small number of countries providing data may even have a higher population coverage than a larger number of countries.

See 12.3

National practices and methodologies concerning the recording of crime statistics are not harmonized across European countries. Police-recorded data are considered to underestimate the overall crime due to:

• Not all crimes are reported to the police
• Police-recorded data depend on law enforcement policies. For example, special law enforcement initiatives aimed at particular offences can lead to a sudden increase in the number of these crimes being recorded, even when the actual prevalence of such crimes remains unchanged.
• Police-recording practices can vary within and across jurisdictions, due to discretion in registration and whether or not the police is obliged to file a complaint in case of crime. Moreover, the initial offence recorded may change in the light of evidence gathered during the investigation stage

On the other hand, police data includes recorded offences, whether or not they have led to prosecution.

The counting rules used to record crimes can also affect the number and type of crimes recorded (see Comparability). Due to differences in the criminal codes, some offences are treated as criminal offences in one jurisdiction and as lower level misdemeanour offences in another jurisdiction.

After an investigation is completed a decision is taken on whether or not to pass the case on for prosecution. Court statistics reflect the number of cases processed by the courts and First Instance decisions. However, conviction decisions may be changed at a later stage following a successful appeal.

Prison statistics provide information on the number of prisoners and prison capacity. However, the prison numbers relate to a single day in the year which may not be representative of the average across the year, especially in case of pardon.

Not applicable. Data are from administrative records.

Not applicable.

Data from administrative records are likely to contain some random errors (mistakes) as well as systematic errors (bias).

Not applicable.

Not applicable.

Not applicable.

Not applicable.

Not applicable.

Not applicable.

Not applicable.

Not applicable.

Not applicable.

Data collected from the criminal justice system sum up offences, cases or persons recorded over the course of a year, usually from the 1st of January to the 31st of December of the reference year (some jurisdictions however use different reference dates). The data for the reference year Y are requested to be provided by the 15th of September of year Y+1. After the validation checks have been applied to the data, the countries are consulted again to revise any inconsistencies or to provide additional reference metadata.

16 months.

Not applicable as there is only one release for crime data.

Following data validation, the data are published on the Eurostat website, within 16 months of the reference year.

In 2024, this lag was reduced by three months compared to 2021. 2019 data were disseminated on 21st July 2021, 2020 data on 8th June 2022, 2021 data on 11th May 2023 and 2022 data on 24th April 2024. 

No delay in 2024.

As countries records information primarily for their own administrative purposes, the data and methods they use may vary. Comparability is affected by many factors, such as differences in:
• Legal system and criminal justice system
• Legislation, criminal law and legal definitions
• Organisation and efficiency of police, prosecution, courts and prisons
• Recording stage, input-, process- or output data
• Recording system, reporting system, and production system
• Relation between national crime definition and international statistical definition
• Statistical unit and statistical population
• Statistical definition, reference time, counting methods and calculation methods
• Reporting rate for the crime

Figures for the prison population may be affected by many factors, including:
• number of criminal cases dealt with by the courts
• the percentage of offenders receiving a custodial sentence
• the length of the sentences imposed
• the size of the pre-trial population held on remand
• the date of the survey, especially where amnesties and pardons apply

All the points mentioned should be taken into account when comparing data between jurisdictions, as these factors can all lead to misleading comparisons. Attention should also be paid to any change to the recording system within a country.

On 10.6 Documentation on methodology, information is provided on the recording stage of police data, statistical units and counting rules for offences and persons (when counting total number and when counting number of persons in reference to an offences). The extent to which incorrect application of the rules affects the data was not assessed. Although a bias is expected, many cases in the criminal system concern one person and one offence, and the proportion of persons involved in more than one case in the same year is expected to be low compared to the total number of persons involved.

 The compliance with the International Classification of Crime for Statics (ICCS) for some criminal behaviors in disseminated crimes is shown in the tables below (information provided in last data collection or last provided one). Countries are requested to provide explanations when they diverge from ICCS definitions. Further comments provided by the countries are also displayed below.

Intentional homicide
Based on ICCS manual, Honour killing, Serious assault leading to death, Death as a result of terrorist offences, Dowry-related killings, Femicide, Infanticide, Voluntary Manslaughter, Extrajudicial killings, Killings caused by excessive use of force by law enforcement/state officials, if recorded separately, should be INCLUDED in Intentional Homicide (ICCS0101). Attempted intentional homicide, Non-intentional homicide, Non-negligent or involuntary manslaughter, Assisting suicide or instigating suicide, Illegal feticide, Euthanasia, Death due to legal interventions, and Justifiable homicide in self-defence, if recorded and counted, should be EXCLUDED in Intentional Homicide (ICCS0101). Countries’ compliance with ICCS definition is shown in the table below.

Comments by countries on Intentional homicide

DE: Source: German Police Crime Statistics (PCS; table 01 – keys 010000, 020000, 221000). Included are data on completed acts of murder (sect. 211 Penal Code (PC)), manslaughter (sect. 212 PC), less serious case of manslaughter (sect. 213 PC), killing a person at the person's own request (sect. 216 PC), and bodily injury resulting in death (sects. 227, 231 PC); excluded are data on cases of non-intentional homicide (homicide by negligence (sect. 222 PC)), assisting or instigating suicide, illegal feticide and other acts leading to death or intending to cause death, such as, rape/sexual coercion attended by death (sect. 178 PC), sexual abuse of children resulting in death (sect. 176b PC), robbery resulting in death (sect. 251 PC), stalking acc. to sect. 238 (3) PC (resulting in death), arson resulting in death (sect. 306c PC), people smuggling resulting in death (sect. 97 (1) Residence Act) or negligently causing another´s death by handing over, etc. of drugs (sect. 30 (1) no. 3 Narcotics Act). - German correspondence to the ICCS.

FR: Following the work on databases to make the homicides reliable, the series has been revised. Not included 01031 which is serious assault leading to death.

RO: Homicide (art.188-189 Penal Code), art.200 Penal Code. Offences solved by the police / declined to the Prosecutor's Office. Source: General Inspectorate of Romanian Police within the Ministry of Internal Affairs.

SK: Groups of victims - no number of personated gender registered.

EE: PC 113,114, 116.

CH: SCC art. 111,112,113,116.

TR: As the "death as a result of legal interventions and legal killing carried out during self-defence" data for the crime title Intentional Homicide is defined as out of scope in the ICCS and there is no such distinction in the Security Law Enforcement Transactions Project (EKIP) database, therefore all Intentional Homicide data is given. In addition, within the scope of terrorist incidents, the number of incidents involving martyred security forces and martyred civilians are also given. Offences are given according to the number of incidents not crimes.

Attempted Intentional homicide

Comments by countries  on Attempted Intentional homicide

DE: Source: German Police Crime Statistics (PCS; table 01 – keys 010000, 020000, 221010). Included are data on attempted acts of murder (sect. 211 PC), manslaughter (sect. 212 PC), less serious case of manslaughter (sect. 213 PC), killing a person at the person's own request (sect. 216 PC), and bodily injuries resulting in death (sects 227 PC (Offences acc. to sect. 231 PC (participation in a brawl resulting in death) are misdemeanours without legal provision relating to the punish ability of an attempt); excluded are data on cases of attempted acts of non-intentional homicide, assisting or instigating suicide, illegal feticide and other acts leading to death or intending to cause death, as listed under 1.1.1. - German correspondence to the ICCS.

RO: Art.188-189 Penal Code (Attempt). Offences solved by the police / declined to the Prosecutor's Office. Source: General Inspectorate of Romanian Police within the Ministry of Internal Affairs.

SE: It includes also branding and preparation for attempted murder.

Serious assault

Based on ICCS manual, Serious assault leading to death, Injurious acts of sexual nature, Serious threat and Minor assault should be EXCLUDED in Serious assault. Countries’ compliance with ICCS definition is shown in the table below.

 Comments by countries on Serious Assault  

BE: Figures for Assault (02011): no differentiation possible between serious and minor assault

BG: The process of the ICCS introduction in statistical practice of the country was not completed yet. Due to that reason data provided by the Police are not in full compliance with the ICCS requirements. Their data are according to the national offence categories as provided data are as closely as possible to the ICCS offence categories definitions.

DE: Source: German Police Crime Statistics (PCS; table 01 – key 222000). Included are data on completed and attempted acts of dangerous and serious bodily injury (sects. 224, 226, 231 PC (but not resutling in death)) as well as female genital mutilation (sect. 226a PC); not included are a. o. data on bodily injury resulting in death (sects. 227, 231 PC), mistreatment of persons under offender´s care (sect. 225 PC), slight bodily injury with intent (Sect. 223 PC) and negligent/unintentionally bodily injury (sect. 229 PC). - It is noted that a national correspondence table to the ICCS-section 02 has not been implemented in Germany up to now.

EE: Penal Code § 118

EL: 309-310 Articles of Penal code.

FR: The series has been revised because infractions were added. Geographical scope is changed : only count metropolitan France and the French overseas departments (not the French overseas territories).

MT: Includes cases of bodily harm and domestic violence (involving grievous injuries).

RO: Assault (art.194 Penal Code). Offences solved by the police / declined to the Prosecutor's Office. Source: General Inspectorate of Romanian Police within the Ministry of Internal Affairs.

SI: Previously the data also included the light bodily injury hence the large difference.

NO: “Maltreatment in close relations” (many different, but unspecified, acts of violence and other acts causing harm), not included. Conclusion of Statistics Norway’s assessment of the ICCS classification of Assault and threats (0201); “maltreatment in close relations” is sorted at sub-level Other assault and threats (02019).

CH: SCC art. 122, 124 (art. 123 "common assault" is not included, because we can not separate the details of the article.

MK: Article 131 of Criminal code for 2022

AL: Article 88, 88/a, 88/b, 89/a, 91.

Kidnapping

Based on ICCS manual, Abduction of a minor, Trafficking in Persons, Illegal adoption, Taking a  hostage should be EXCLUDED in Kidnapping. Countries’ compliance with ICCS definition is shown in the table below.

Comments by countries on Kidnapping   

BE: The process of the ICCS introduction in statistical practice of the country is not completed yet 

DE: Source: German Police Crime Statistics (PCS; table 01 – keys 231100, 232100, 233000). Included are data on completed and attempted acts of kidnapping (sect. 234 PC), deprivation of liberty (sect. 239 PC) and extortionate kidnapping (sect. 239a PC); excluded are data on a. o. hostage taking (sect. 239b PC), child abduction (under 18 years) (sect. 235 PC), trafficking in children (sect. 236 PC), trafficking in human beings with intent to exploit prostitution or manpower (sects. 232, 233 PC) and encouraging trafficking in human beings (sect. 233a PC). - It is noted that a national correspondence table to the ICCS-section 02 has not been implemented in Germany up to now.

BG: The process of the ICCS introduction in statistical practice of the country was not completed yet. Due to that reason data provided by the Police are not in full compliance with the ICCS requirements.

EE: Penal Code § 135.

IE: Kidnap and false imprisonment are not distinguished in the national crime incident recording system. All instances recorded as 'False imprisonment'. Data provided are for 'False imprisonment'.

FR: French law does not make distinctions between kidnapping and illegal restraint.

RO: Illegal deprivation of freedom (art.205 Penal Code). Offences solved by the police / declined to the Prosecutor's Office. Source: General Inspectorate of Romanian Police within the Ministry of Internal Affairs.

NL:the number is  020220 instead of 020221 as we cannot specify. This number is total of abduction/hostage.

SE: The definition of kidnapping according to the Swedish Penal Code (Ch. 4 Art. 1) is wider than the ICCS definition and therefore we cannot provide this data.

CH: SCC art. 184.

MK: Article 141 of Criminal code for 2022

AL: Article 109, 109/a.

Sexual violence (Rape and Sexual assault)

Based on ICCS manual, Sexual exploitation, Coercion, Prostitution offences, TiP for sexual exploitation, Harassment and stalking should be EXCLUDED in Sexual Violence. Countries’ compliance with ICCS definition is shown in the table below.

Comments by countries on Sexual violence              

DE: Source: German Police Crime Statistics (PCS; table 01 – keys 110000, 130000 minus 111900, 131400, 131600, 131800, 132000). Included completed and attempted offences against sexual self-determination with use of violence or exploiting a state of dependence.

BE: New sexual penal code since june 2022.

BG: The process of the ICCS introduction in statistical practice of the country was not completed yet. Due to that reason data provided by the Police are not in full compliance with the ICCS requirements. Their data are according to the national offence categories as provided data are as closely as possible to the ICCS offence categories definitions.

EE: Penal Code §§ 141-146.

FR: The series has been revised because infractions were added to the ICCS category 020111 since last year and we added contraventions.Geographical scope is changed : only count metropolitan France and the French overseas departments (not the French overseas territories).

MT: Includes cases reported in the NPS regarding sexually related offences with the exception of indecent exposure offences.

RO: Rape - art.218 Penal Code , Sexual assault - art.219 Penal Code, Sexual intercourse with a juvenile - art.220 Penal Code, Sexual harassment - art.223 Penal Code). Offences solved by the police / declined to the Prosecutor's Office. Source: General Inspect.

SI: Provisory data, requires further fine tuning on the national level (various overlapping’s occur).

NO: Sexual violence now include sexually abusive behaviour (ICCS 030122 and 030129) and more offences for Sexual act.

CH: We have revised and adjusted the consistency of the SCC articles with the ICCS definitions: art. 187, 188, 189, 190, 191, 192, 193.

RS: 2020 is the year of the Covid-19 pandemic, data of statistics  for 2020 are not comparable to other years.

MK:Chappter 19 of Criminal code for 2022.

Rape

Based on ICCS manual, Sexual penetration with physical force, Rape without force, Statutory rape should be INCLUDED in Rape. Countries’ compliance with ICCS definition is shown in the table below.

Comments by countries on Rape

BE: The process of the ICCS introduction in statistical practice of the country was not completed yet.

DE: German Police Crime Statistics (PCS): Tab. 01 - keys 111700 + 131500; rape without rape resulting in death; rape sect. 177 (6, 7, 8) PC + consummation of sexual intercourse with a child or other acts (sect. 176a (2) no. 1 PC).

NO: From the new definition of rape in the new Norwegian penal code of 2015, all incidents of sexual intercourse with children under the age of 14 years are considered as rape - regardless of use of force. This makes up the increased shown in revised figures for rape.

HR: Reasons designated for the increase are the results of the recent amendments of the Croatian Penal Code, as well as more extensive education of the police officers. To this end, if one consults annual statistics of the Ministry of Interior (for 2021 reference year, available in Croatian language at 2 (gov.hr), especially table 2.13. (“Criminality according to legal classification”) can notice significant increase of criminal offences with regard Article 158 of the Penal Code (“Sexual abuse of a child under the age of fifteen”). This criminal offence rose from 235 in 2020 to 411 in 2021. Other sexual criminal offences, in accordance with the official data from the Ministry, rose as well.

BG: The process of the ICCS introduction in statistical practice of the country was not completed yet. Due to that reason data provided by the Police are not in full compliance with the ICCS.

EE: Penal Code § 141.

CZ: Changes in methodologies for year 2021 and 2022. 

Previously included only TSK (tactical-statistical classification of the Police of the Czech Republic) code 201-Rape. Newly includes: TSK 201 Rape, TSK 211 Sexual abuse under dependence, TSK 212 Other sexual abuse, TSK 211, 212 are about sexual intercourse with a child under the age of fifteen.

FR : Data are revised due to an update of the databases of victims, offences and persons brought into Formal Contact databases. Geographical scope is changed : only count metropolitan France and the French overseas departments (not the French overseas territories).

MT: Rape cases registered in the NPS.

RO: Rape - art.218 Penal Code, Sexual intercourse with a juvenile - art.220 Penal Code. Offences solved by the police / declined to the Prosecutor's Office.  Source: General Inspectorate of Romanian Police within the Ministry of Internal Affairs.

SI: Provisory data, requires further fine tuning on the national level (various overlapping’s occur).

NO: From the new definition of rape in the new Norwegian penal code of 2015, all incidents of sexual intercourse with children under the age of 14 years are considered as rape - regardless of use of force. This makes up the increased shown in revised figures.

CH: Art. 190.

MK:Article 186 of Criminal code for 2022.

AL: Article 100, 101, 102, 102/a, 103, 104, 105, 106.

Sexual assault

Based on ICCS manual, Rape with force and without force should be EXCLUDED, whereas the Non-physical sexual assault (sexual harassment) should be INCLUDED in Sexual Assault. Countries’ compliance with ICCS definition is shown in the table below.

Comments by countries on Sexual assault   

BG: The process of the ICCS introduction in statistical practice of the country was not completed yet. Due to that reason data provided by the Police are not in full compliance with the ICCS requirements.

DE: Source: PCS; Tab. 01 - keys 111800, 112100, 113000, 114000, 115000, 130000 Minus 131400, 131500, 131600, 131800, 132000; included are completed and attempted sexual assaults and coercions in form of sect. 177 (1, 2, 4, 5 related to 6 No. 2, 7 No. 8) PC in form of sect. 177 (1 ,2 ,4 ,5 ,9) PC, sexual abuse in form of sect. 174, 174a-c PC, sexual harassment (sect. 184i PC), sexual assaults, coercions, rape and harassment from groups (sect. 184j PC), sexual abuse of children (sect. 176, 176a PC) and juveniles (sect. 182 PC) minus sexual abuse of children in form of sect. 176 (4) No. 3 - 4, sect. 176a (2) No. 1, sect. 176a (3), sect. 176b PC and minus exhibitionism, public nuisance (sect. 183, 183a PC).

EE: Penal Code §§ 142-146.

CZ: Changes inmethodologies Sexual assault  oon number of victims.

Previously included TSK (tactical-statistical classification of the Police of the Czech Republic) ): 202 Sexual Duress, 211 Sexual abuse under dependence, 212 Other sexual abuse. Newly includes only TSK 202, therefore there are fewer victims.

FR: The series has been revised because infractions were added to the ICCS category 03012 since last year and we added contraventions.

MT: Includes cases reported in the NPS regarding sexually related offences except for indecent exposure offences and Rape.

RO: Sexual assault - art.219 Penal Code, Sexual harassment art.223 Penal Code. Offences solved by the police / declined to the Prosecutor's Office. Source: General Inspectorate of Romanian Police within the Ministry of Internal Affairs.

SI: Provisory data, requires further fine tuning on the national level (various overlapping’s occur).

NO: Included here is Attempted rape, Sexual act and Sexually abusive behavior. All sexual act and sexually abusive behavior, also against children, is included. Grooming is considered as an attempt of sexual assault, and is also included.

CH: Data are revised and adjusted the consistency of the SCC articles with the ICCS definitions:  art. 189.

AL: Article 107/a, 108, 108/a.

TR: Offences are given according to the number of incidents not offences. Principle offence rule is applied and the data is taken on the basis of this approach.

Sexual exploitation

Based on ICCS manual, acts contrary to accepted public order sexual standards on prostitution (prostitution offences) and pornography (pornography offences) committed by adults and Trafficking in persons for sexual exploitation should be EXCLUDED in Sexual exploitation. Countries’ compliance with ICCS definition is shown in the table below.

Comments by countries on Sexual exploitation

DE: Source: German Police Crime Statistics (PCS; table 01 – keys 131400, 131600, 141100, 141200, 142000, 143200, 143030, 143040, 145000). Included are offences of sexual abuse of children in form of sect. 176 (4) No. 3 and 4 PC, heavy sexual abuse of children in order to produce and disseminate child pornography (sect. 176a (3) PC), promotion of sexual activity by minors (sect. 180 PC), exploitation of prostitutes (sect. 180a PC), procurement (sect. 181a PC), distribution, acquisition, possession and production of child pornography (sect. 184b PC), offences according sect. 184d PC (time of crime until 2020), offences according sect. 184e PC and violation of the intimate area by taking pictures(sect. 184k PC, new in 2021).

FR: Data are revised due to an update of the databases of victims, offences and persons brought into Formal Contact databases. Geographical scope is changed: only count metropolitan France and the French overseas departments (not the French overseas territories).

SK: The data on sexual exploitation for the Slovak Republic comprise data on human trafficking for the purposes of sexual exploitation, labor exploitation and taking of organs. This is because these offences have the same legal classification (§ 179 of the Act No. 300/2005 Coll. Penal Code) and, according to´modus operandi´, they are not processed/recorded as separate statistics. However, an amendment to the Penal Code is in the legislative process and, following its approval (expected by the end of 2023), these offences will be defined as separate articles and, therefore, they will be processed/recorded as separate statistics.

RO: Pandering (art. 213 Penal Code), art.216^1 Penal Code, art. 221 Penal Code, art. 222 Penal Code, Child pornography (art. 374 Penal Code). Offences solved by the police / declined to the Prosecutor's Office. Source: General Inspectorate of Romanian Police.

DK: The significant change in 2022  is due to a high number of registered offences in 2022 regarding Aliens Act.

SI: Provisory data, requires further fine tuning on the national level (various overlapping occur).

NO: Included is the offence type "Sexual intercourse through abuse of position of trust", child pornography (from Oct.1st 2015 due to new Penal code), child prostitution and pimping (child pornography, child prostitution and pimping is part of the offence type "Other or unspecified sexual offence".

CH: SCC art. 195, 196, 197 Abs. 3,  197 Abs. 4. Satz 2, 197 Abs 5 Satz 2.

AL: Article 108, 114, 117.

Robbery

Based on ICCS manual, Robbery of a car or vehicle and Robbery of an establishment should be INCLUDED and Theft without violence and Burglary without violence against the person should be EXCLUDED in Robbery. Countries’ compliance with ICCS definition is shown in the table below.

Comments by countries on Robbery

BG: The process of the ICCS introduction in statistical practice of the country was not completed yet. Due to that reason, data provided by the Police are not in full compliance with the ICCS requirements.

DE: Source: German Police Crime Statistics (PCS; table 01 – key 210000). Included are data on completed and attempted acts of robbery, extortion accompanied by violence, and assault on motorists with intent to rob (sects. 249-252, 255, 316a PC); not included are extortionate kidnapping or hostage taking (sect. 239a-b PC) in connection with robberies as well as extortion (sect. 253 PC) and pick pocketing (if there is no use of force or threat of immediate danger to life or limb for offences acc. to sects. 249-251 PC).- It is noted that a national correspondence table to the ICCS-section 04 has not been implemented in Germany up to now. Data include cases of robbery resulting in death.

EE: Penal Code § 200.

LU: Includes robberies and attempted robberies.

FI: Large increace in robberies, specifically done by minors (under 18-years).

FR: Data are revised due to an update of the databases of victims, offences and persons brought into Formal Contact databases. Geographical scope is changed : only count metropolitan France and the French overseas departments (not the French overseas territories).

MT: Includes cases of armed robbery, mugging and 'snatch & grab'.

RO: Robbery - art.233 Penal Code, Aggravated robbery - art.234 Penal Code. Offences solved by the police / declined to the Prosecutor's Office. Source: General Inspectorate of Romanian Police within the Ministry of Internal Affairs.

SI: Data amended to better comply with the definition.

CH: SCC art. 140.

TR: The data on robbery and  intentional robbery is given. Offences are given according to the number of incidents not crimes.

MK: Article 237 of Criminal code for 2022.

AL: Article 139, 140.

Burglary of private residential premises

Comments by countries on Burglary of Private Residential Premises 

BE:The process of the ICCS introduction in statistical practice of the country was not completed yet. Due to that reason data provided by the Police are not in full compliance.

DE: Source: German Police Crime Statistics (PCS table 01 – keys 435*00). Included are data on completed and attempted offences of theft committed under aggravating circumstances in/from theft by burglary of a dwelling (sect. 244 (1) no. 3 PC).

EE: Police data. Included in the number of thefts.

FR: There is no correspondence between French and this ICCS classification.

IT:  It includes theft in house.

MT: Includes cases registered in the NPS for  "Theft from residences - Occupied" and "Theft from residences - Vacant".

CY: Data is not available.

RO: Aggravated theft (art.229 Penal code) from housing. Offences solved by the police / declined to the Prosecutor's Office. Source: General Inspectorate of Romanian Police within the Ministry of Internal Affairs.

SI: Data corrected to include also non permanent residences (holiday houses and trailers etc.)

TR: The data on theft from home is given.

Theft

Based on ICCS manual, Burglary/breaking and entering and theft with force or the threat of force (robbery) should be EXCLUDED while Theft of a motorized land vehicle should be INCLUDED in Theft. Countries’ compliance with ICCS definition is shown in the table below.

Comments by countries on Theft               

DE: Source: German Police Crime Statistics (PCS; table 01 – key 3***00). Included are data on all types of completed and attempted acts of theft without aggravating circumstances acc. to sects. 242, 247, 248a-c PC, namely various forms of simple thefts, such as those of motor vehicles, mopeds, motorbikes and bicycles (each incl. unauthorized use, but without theft under aggravating circumstances), those from the exterior/interior of a/m vehicles, simple theft in/from banks, post offices, and the like, simple thefts in/from duty, manufacturing, workshops and storage premises, simple thefts in/from restaurants, canteens, hotels and boarding houses, simple thefts in/from kiosks, department stores, sales rooms, self-service shops, etc., simple thefts in/from dwellings, in/from attics, basements, laundry rooms, predominantly unoccupied new or unfinished buildings, pharmacies, doctor´s practices, hospitals, etc., as well as simple pickpocketing. - It is noted that a national correspondence table to the ICCS-section 05 has not been implemented in Germany up to now. Data for 2013 to 2015 have been revised due to an incorrect summation in the previous years.   

CZ: Methodological changes - selected crimes were moved from "Acts against property only" to "Acts against property involving violence”.

BG: Data are revised in compliance with ICCS codes and according to the proper inclusion or exclusion.

EE: Ministry of Justice. Excl. misdemeanours.

MT: Includes re-matched theft cases in NPS.

RO: Theft (art.228 Penal code), Aggravated theft (art.229 Penal code), Stealing for personal use - Total (art.230 Penal code). Offences solved by the police / declined to the Prosecutor's Office. Source: General Inspectorate of Romanian Police within the Ministry of Internal Affairs.      

SI: Data corrected to include all forms of theft therefore a large increase in numbers.

CH: Data is revised and adjusted to consistency of the SCC articles with the ICCS definitions:  art. 139 without burglary.

TR: Data includes vehicle (car, truck, bus, etc.) theft, motorcycle theft, openly theft, bicycle and electric bike theft, animal theft, theft from the religious building, theft from the vehicle, qualified theft, pick pocketing. 

Theft of a motorized land vehicle or parts thereof

Comments by countries on Theft of a Motorised Land Vehicle 

DE: Source: German Police Crime Statistics (PCS; table 01 – keys 3**100, 3**200, 4**100, 4**200) Included are data on completed and attempted acts of simple theft and theft under aggravating circumstances of motor vehicles, mopeds and motorbikes including their unauthorized use (sects. 242-244a, 248b PC); not included are e. g. obtaining motor vehicles by fraud (sect. 263 PC), misappropriation of motor vehicles (sects. 246, 247 PC), feigning a theft of a motor vehicle (sect. 145d PC) and receiving stolen motor vehicles (sects. 259-260a PC). - It is noted that a national correspondence table to the ICCS-section 05 has not been implemented in Germany up to now. In the meantime, data will be provided according to the a/m criteria.     

BG: Data are revised in compliance with ICCS codes and according to the proper inclusion or exclusion.

RO: Theft (art.228 Penal code), Stealing for personal use - car theft (art.230 Penal code). Offences solved by the police / declined to the Prosecutor's Office. Source: General Inspectorate of Romanian Police within the Ministry of Internal Affairs.

EE: Police data. Included in the number of thefts.

FR: There is no correspondence between French and this ICCS classification.

MT: Includes cases registered in the NPS for "Theft of vehicle".

RO: Theft (art.228 Penal code), Stealing for personal use - car theft (art.230 Penal code). Offences solved by the police / declined to the Prosecutor's Office. Source: General Inspectorate of Romanian Police within the Ministry of Internal Affairs.

CH: Data is revised and adjusted to consistency of the choice of vehicle codes with the ICCS definitions.

TR: Data is given for ICCS 050211 level for 2018,2019,2020,2021 and 2022. The data cannot be given for the ICCS 05021 level. The data on vehicle theft, motorcycle theft, construction machinery and agricultural vehicle.

Unlawful acts involving controlled drug or percursors

A paragraph in the document Monitoring EU crime policies using the International Classification of Crime for Statistical Purposes (ICCS) provides an insight on correspondance between EU Directives and ICCS classification.

Comments by countries on Unlawful acts involving controlled drugs or percursors

DE: Source: German Police Crime Statistics (PCS; table 01 – key 730000). Included are data on completed and attempted drug offences acc. to the Narcotics Control Act (NCA), such as general violations (so called “consumer-oriented offences”) under sect. 29 NCA, unauthorized trafficking in, and smuggling of drugs under sect. 29 NCA, unauthorized importation of (significant amounts of) drugs (sect. 30 (1) no. 4 NCA) and other violations of the NCA, specifically unauthorized cultivation of drugs under sect. 29 (1) no. 1 NCA, cultivation of/production of/trafficking in drugs as a member of a gang (sects. 30 (1) no. 1, 30a NCA), making available funds or other assets (sect. 29 (1) no. 13 NCA), advertising drugs (sect. 29 (1) no. 8 NCA), dispensing, administering, or making available drugs to minors (sect. 29a (1) no. 1; where appropriate sect. 30 (1) no. 2 NCA), negligently causing another´s death by handing over, etc. of drugs (sect. 30 (1) no. 3 NCA (even if this is an act leading to death or intending to cause death acc. to. ICCS-section 01, division 0109), unauthorized prescription and administration by physicians (sect. 29 (1) no. 6 NCA, and unauthorized trafficking, production of, dispensing, and possession of (not insignificant amounts) of drugs (sect. 29a (1) no. 2 NCA); excluded are data on offences directly aimed at procuring drugs or substitutes, such as robbery committed to obtain narcotics, simple theft of narcotics from pharmacies, doctors´ practices, hospitals, manufacturers and wholesale dealers, simple theft of prescription forms to procure narcotics and forgery committed to obtain narcotics. Data refer to those of the German annual drug report. - It is noted that a national correspondence table to the ICCS-section 06 has not been implemented in Germany up to now.

BG: The process of the ICCS introduction in statistical practice of the country was not completed yet. Due to that reason data provided by the Police are not in full compliance.

EE: Misdemeanours and criminal offences.

EL: The data include the Drug Trafficking Offences provided by the four (4) Law Enforcement Authorities in Greece, which are: Hellenic Police, Customs Service, Hellenic Coast Guard and General  Secretariat for  Financial & Economic Crime Unit .

FR: It is now possible to book the use of narcotics by a ticket on a tablet which explained the strong increase of offences for acts involving controlled drugs or precursors. Data are revised due to an update of the databases of victims, offences and persons brought into Formal Contact databases. It only counts metropolitan France and the French overseas departments (not the French overseas territories).

MT: Includes all drug-related offences as registered in the NPS. A change in management and how reports are lodged at the specialised branch being recorded in the NPS now are the main contributors to the increase between 2020 and 2021.

RO: The data also include data on drug precursors as well as data from the Law 194/2011 on combating operations with products likely to have psychoactive effects, other than those provided for by normative acts in force. Source: National Anti-Drug Agency.

CH: Art. 19, 19bis, 19a, 19c, 20, 21, 22.

RO: The revised data also include data on drug precursors, as well as data provided under the Law 194/2011 on combating operations with products likely to have psychoactive effects, other than those laid down in the legal acts in force.

SK: §§171,172.

MK: Article 215 and 216 of Criminal code for 2022.

Al: article 283-285/a.

Fraud

Based on ICCS manual, Burglary/breaking and entering, Theft with force or the threat of force (robbery), Theft of a motorized land vehicle and Money Laundering should be EXCLUDED in Fraud. Countries’ compliance with ICCS definition is shown in the table below.

More information on countries’ compliance can be found in the document Overview of the availability, comparability and consistency of administrative statistical data on recorded crime and on the stages of the criminal justice process in the EU – Publications Office of the EU (europa.eu).

Comments by countries on Fraud 

DE: Source: German Police Crime Statistics (PCS; table 01 – key 510000, (sects. 263, 263a, 264, 264a, 265, 265a-e PC)). Included are data on completed and attempted acts of merchandise fraud and merchandise credit fraud (sects. 263, 263a), fraud involving land and buildings (sects.), fraud involving holdings and investments (sects. 263, 264a PC), monetary credit fraud (sects. 263, 264, 265b PC), fraudulent obtaining of services (sect. 265a PC), fraud using unlawfully obtained non-cash means of payment, other forms of fraud, such as fraud by failing to provide service as agreed, by obtaining service on credit, job placement fraud, fraud to detriment of insurance companies and insurance abuse, computer fraud, fraud involving commissions, fraud to the detriment of social security systems and institutions, other forms of social security fraud, fraud involving access authorization to communication services, false accounting, lodging fraud, account opening and transfer fraud, non-payment of pub/restaurant bill, loan procurement fraud and fraud regarding sports bed and manipulation of professional sport competitions (sects. 265 c-e PC). - It is noted that a national correspondence table to the ICCS-section 07 has not been implemented in Germany up to now.  

BG: The process of the ICCS introduction in statistical practice of the country was not completed yet. The ata provided by the Police are not in full compliance with the ICCS requirements.

MT: A large proportion of reported offences of fraud are related to online scams. Due to how these are conducted there can be large fluctuations in the number of reports.

EE: §§ 209-213.

IE: This data refers to the number of reported crime  instances reported to the Police. It is not an account of detected crime or the number of offences that an offender has been charged with.

LU: significant changes: The shift of certain types of crime (scams and fraud) to new information and communication technologies, in particular social networks and virtual currencies, has led to an overall increase in fraud offences. In addition, the population has grown slightly (explanation given by STATEC).

RO: Art. 239, 244, 245, 246, 249, 250, 251, 258, 300, 306, 307, 327, 348 Penal CodE. Source: General Inspectorate of Romanian Police within the Ministry of Internal Affairs.

AL: Article 143/a- 147.

Corruption

Based on ICCS manual, Bribery, Embezzlement, Abuse of functions, Trading in influence, Illicit enrichment should be INCLUDED in Corruption. Countries’ compliance with ICCS definition is shown in the table below.

A paragraph in the document Monitoring EU crime policies using the International Classification of Crime for Statistical Purposes (ICCS) provides an insight on correspondance between EU Directives and ICCS classification and the Annex I to the document contains a table of correspondence between ICCS definition of corruption crimes and Member States’ national legislations.

Comments by countries on Corruption 

 BG: The process of the ICCS introduction in statistical practice of the country was not completed yet. Therefore the data provided by the Police are not in full compliance with the ICCS requirements.

DE: Data source: German Police Crime Statistics (PCS table 01 - key 650000): Included are offences acc. to sects. 258a, 298-300, 331-353d, 355, 357 German Penal Code (PC); e.g.: 299 (Taking and giving bribes in commercial practice), 300 (Aggravated cases of taking and giving bribes in commercial practice), 331 (Taking bribes), 332 (Taking bribes meant as an incentive to violating one´s official duties), 333 (Giving bribes), 334 (Giving bribes as an incentive to the recipient´s violating his official duties), 335 (Aggravated cases of taking and giving bribes) of the PC. - It is noted that a national correspondence table to the ICCS-section 07 has not been implemented in Germany up to now.

EE: Defined as 'corruption' in the yearbook of crime statistics. The increase in 2022 was mainly due to the sale of COVID-19 vaccination passes to people who did not want the actual vaccination: 6 crimes in 2021, 47 crimes in 2022.

IE: Bribery and corruption are not distinguished in the police crime incident recording system. Data provided are for both bribery and corruption.

FR: Data are revised due to an update of the databases of victims, offences and persons brought into Formal Contact databases. Geographical scope is changed : it is only count metropolitan France and the French overseas departments (not the French overseas territories)

MT: Source: Specialised branch (ECU). An increase of officers within the section contributed to the increase between 2020 and 2021.

RO: Taking a bribe (art.289 Penal Code), Giving a bribe (art.290 Penal Code), Influence peddling (art.291 Penal Code), Buying influence (art.292 Penal Code), Embezzlement (art.295 Penal Code), Abuse in office (art.297 Penal Code), art. 301 Penal Code, L. 78/2.

SI: Revised reported offences based on ICCS definition.

HU: The large case of bribery for 2021 is included in corruption as well.

NO: Includes both domestic corruption and corruption abroad.

CH: It was adjusted based of the consistency of the SCC articles with the ICCS definitions: art. 281, 322ter, 322quater, 322quinquies, 322sexies, 322septies, 322octies, 322 novies.

RS: 2020 is the year of the Covid-19 pandemic, data of statistics for 2020 are not comparable to other years. 

Bribery

A paragraph  in the document Monitoring EU crime policies using the International Classification of Crime for Statistical Purposes (ICCS) provides an insight on correspondance between EU Directives and ICCS classification and the Annex I to the document contains a table of correspondence between ICCS definition of bribery and Member States’ national legislations.

Comments by countries: on Bribery 

DE: Data source: German Police Crime Statistics (PCS table 01 - key 650000): Included are offences acc. to sects. 258a, 298-300, 331-353d, 355, 357 German Penal Code (PC); e.g.: 299 (Taking and giving bribes in commercial practice), 300 (Aggravated cases of taking and giving bribes in commercial practice), 331 (Taking bribes), 332 (Taking bribes meant as an incentive to violating one´s official duties), 333 (Giving bribes), 334 (Giving bribes as an incentive to the recipient´s violating his official duties), 335 (Aggravated cases of taking and giving bribes) of the PC.

BG: The process of the ICCS introduction in statistical practice of the country was not completed yet. Due to that reason data provided by the Police are not in full compliance with the ICCS requirements.

EE: Penal Code §§ 293-298. 

CZ: Change in methodology in 2022. Previously included TSK (tactical-statistical classification of the Police of the Czech Republic):846 Bribery, 819 Evasion of tax ,838 Unauthorized obtaining of means of payment, 830 Fraud, 881 Credit fraud, 821 Accepting bribes and Embezzlement. Newly includes only 846 Bribery

FR: Data are revised due to an update of the databases of victims, offences and persons brought into Formal Contact databases. Geographical scope is changed: only count metropolitan France and the French overseas departments (not the French overseas territories)..

LU: Accomplish and tentative.

RO: Taking a bribe (art.289 Penal Code), Giving a bribe (art.290 Penal Code). Offences solved by the police / declined to the Prosecutor's Office. Source: General Inspectorate of Romanian Police within the Ministry of Internal Affairs.

CH: Art. 322ter, 322quater, 322quinquies, 322sexies, 322septies, 322octies, 322 novies.

MK: Article 357 and 358 of Criminal code for 2022.

AL: article 164/a, 164/b, 244, 244/a, 245, 259, 259/a, 260, 312, 319, 319/a-319/e, 328/b.

 Money laundering

A paragraph in the document Monitoring EU crime policies using the International Classification of Crime for Statistical Purposes (ICCS) provides an insight on correspondance between EU Directives and ICCS classification.

 More information on countries’ compliance can be found in the document Overview of the availability, comparability and consistency of administrative statistical data on recorded crime and on the stages of the criminal justice process in the EU – Publications Office of the EU (europa.eu)

Comments by countries: on  Money laundering

BG: The process of the ICCS introduction in statistical practice of the country was not completed yet. Due to that reason data provided by the Police are not in full compliance with the ICCS requirements.

DE: Source: German Police Crime Statistics (PCS; table 01 – key 633000). Included are data on completed an attempted acts of money laundering, as well as concealment of unlawfully acquired assets (sect. 261 PC). - It is noted that a national correspondence table to the ICCS-section 07 has not been implemented in Germany up to now.  

EE:§ 394

DK: The significant change in 2022 is due to a general increase in registered offences regarding money laundering.

RO: Art. 49 - Law no. 129/2019 for the prevention and combating of money laundering and the financing of terrorism, as well as for the modification and completion of some normative acts.Source: General Inspectorate of Romanian Police within the Ministry of Internal Affairs.

PL: Data from the Police and the Border Guard.

AL: Article 287, 287/a

Acts against computer systems

A paragraph in the document Monitoring EU crime policies using the International Classification of Crime for Statistical Purposes (ICCS) provides an insight on correspondance between EU Directives and ICCS classification.

Comments by countries on Acts against computer systems

DE: Source: German Police Crime Statistics (PCS; table 01 – key 674200, 678010, 678020, 678030). Included are data on cases of alteration of data, computer sabotage (sects. 303a, 303b PC), data espionage, interception of data, preparation of data espionage and interception of data (sects. 202a, 202b, 202c PC).

DK: The Danish police doesn’t register cyber-related crimes separately.

BG: Data cannot be fully distributed by types of cybercrime.

EE: PC §§ 206, 207, 216.1, 217. 

EL: The large increase recorded is due to the fact that from the year 2022, Hellenic Police was connected to the gov.gr government web portal and from there citizens make online complaints about cybercrime cases.

LU: Empty: Among the most frequent cybercrime phenomena are intrusions into computer systems, scams (enterprises) and the publication of fake Luxembourg investment websites (cf. activity report).  For STATEC, it looks like the police are working with a broader definition of cybercrime. It's not just about cyber attacks in the narrow sense.

IE: Based on data recorded on the crime database of the Irish Police Service.

MT: NPS category - Computer Misuse. Increases between 2019 and 2020 are attributed as a result of the COVID pandemic, as a shift from physical to online shopping led to a increase in scams, such as with delivery services. In addition, there was an increase in other types of online crimes.

PT: There are other crimes in the Portuguese legislation related to cybercrime, so the total corresponds to all crimes of the Law 109/200 of 15 September (Portuguese Law on Cybercrime).

RO: Total offences against the security and integrity of information systems. illegal access to information systems - art. 360 Penal Code; illegal system interference - art. 363 Penal Code; illegal data interference - art. 325, 362 Penal Code; illegal interception - art. 361, 364 Penal Code; tools used for committing offences - art. 365  Penal Code. Source: General Inspectorate of Romanian Police within the Ministry of Internal Affairs.

SI: The articles of the DIRECTIVE 2013/40/EU were implemented in paragraphs of various crime offences and could not be correctly statistically presented/separated

FI: Typically, offences where series of offences is reported at same time and this causes figures to vary greatly

SE: The Swedish police reports crimes according to a classification system based on the Swedish law. The articles in the Swedish law/penal code is not an exact equivalent of the articles in this directive, hence it is not possible to render this data. There is data available for the articles in the Directive in total.

Participation in an organized criminal group

More information on countries’ compliance can be found in the document Overview of the availability, comparability and consistency of administrative statistical data on recorded crime and on the stages of the criminal justice process in the EU – Publications Office of the EU (europa.eu).

Comments by countries on Participation in an organized criminal group 

BG: The process of the ICCS introduction in statistical practice of the country was not completed yet. Due to that reason data provided by the Police are not in full compliance with the ICCS requirements.

DE: Source: National Situation Report on Organized Crime 2022 (the German Police Crime Statistics do not provide data on Organized Crime): https://www.bka.de/EN/CurrentInformation/AnnualReports/OrganisedCrime/organisedcrime_node.html .

EE: PC 255

PL: Data from the Police and the Border Guard.

RO: Creation of an organized crime group (art.367 Penal Code). Offences solved by the police / declined to the Prosecutor's Office. Source: General Inspectorate of Romanian Police within the Ministry of Internal Affairs.

SE: Participation in an organized criminal group is not an offence in Sweden.

CH: SCC art. 260ter.

AL: Article 333, 333/a

Countries’ comments on definitions for offenders and personnel in the criminal justice system  are provided below.

Comments by countries on Persons Brought into Formal Contact with the Police and/or Criminal Justice System

DE: Source: German Police Crime Statistics (PCS table 20). Included are data on all suspects registered in Germany.

IE: Nationality not available for suspected offenders.

CZ: There was a change in methodologie for offences like  Rape, Sexual Assault (pleasee see above)

HU: Perpetrators of crime, known and unknown natural persons.

MT: All persons registered in the NPS as possibly related to a crime incident.

SI: The differences in the sum are caused predominantly by filtering out data where persons sex and/or age and/or nationality were not known or data was missing.

FI: Road traffic act changed in 1.6.2020 and after that most minor traffic infractions are considered as administrative sanctions and therefore are not part of offence statistics.

NO: Not all suspected included, only those seen as guilty by the prosecution after end investigation, regardless of liability. See https://www.ssb.no/en/statbank/table/09415/.

CH: For the laws: SCC, FNIA, NarcA. All employees of Cantonal Polices, without employees of Community Police and Federal Police.

BA: One reporting unit does not have data by sex. Partial data on national citizens.

Comments by countries on Persons Prosecuted

DE: The available statistics on public prosecution offices (Staatsanwaltschaftsstatistik) does not collect this kind of information.

HR: In 2021 there were 18.491 crime reports on unknown perpetrator; In 2022 there were 19.372 crime reports on unknown perpetrator.

AT: Young adults (between 18 and 21 year olds) were previously mistakenly counted as juveniles and are now counted as adults.

NL: Data exclude legal entities. Data include persons with an unknown age/gender. Including adults and juveniles with unknown sex

RO: The data refers only to the persons brought before the Criminal Courts and only these ones could be broken down by sex. Source: Public Ministry.

LI:  Most striking is the decrease in reports of minor offenses. This decrease may be related to the Covid 19 pandemic (less mobility, fewer crimes in public spaces).

Certain fluctuations also occur here every year because larger packages of reports are sent by the police either before or after the New Year .

SI: From 2021 onwards the improved source for citizenship was used.

FI: Age and gender unknown.

NO: Excluded those with unknown citizenship. Figures broken down by national/foreign citizens does not add up to the total figure due to persons with unknown citizenship.

Comments by countries on Persons Convicted 

BE: The persons convicted of minor road traffic offences, misdemeanours and other petty offences are included. Missing value for age status.

PL: Data for 2021 will be available by the end of 2023, and data for 2022 will be available in the second quarter of 2024.

EE: Natural persons (source: database OSA). The same person could appear repeatedly in different court cases in the same year.

NL: Including adults and juveniles  with unknown sex.

RO: Source: Superior Council of Magistracy.

FI: Unknown age and citizens.

NO: Foreign citizens include stateless and unknown citizenship.

Comments by countries on Police Officers

BE: Police personnel: the total of the operational personnel is represented (local + federal police). The civil personnel has not been included.

FR: Lokal police is included.

DE: Source: Federal Statistical Office of Germany, Statistics on Public Service Personnel. Included are civil servants (excluding trainees) as headcount as at 30 June in the functional area Police in the framework of the Statistics on Public Service Personnel.

EE: Police officers. 2019-2022: on 1 January of the following year. Excl. administrative personnel.

IE:Personnel at Forensic Science Ireland included.

IS: 1st of February each year.

LI: Full-time equivalent positions filled at the end of the year.

LV: Completely new method of counting police officers was developed to more precisely include officers whose service duties are closely related to combating crime. Only those police officers whose job’s/position’s classification includes actions as investigation, operational activity etc.

RO: Source: General Inspectorate of Romanian Police within the Ministry of Internal Affairs.

CH: Adjusted data -included: federal, cantonal and community polices . That's the reason for the revised data in 2019 und 2020.   Source: https://www.kkpks.ch/de/meldungen/polizeibestaende-2022-249.

TR:The data sent from the General Commandership of Gendarmerie was revised for the years 2019-2021. For this revised data, compulsory military service (conscription) personnel was excluded.

Comments by countries on Professional Judges

CZ, CY, LT, LU, AT, SE, IS  reported the number of judges authorized to hear specifically criminal cases.

DE : Source: Federal Office of Justice: Richterstatistik; Numbers represent FTE, data is collected every two years as of December 31st.

IT:Judges from first to third instance courts (both for adults and juvenils), civil + criminal sector. Both professional and lay judges are considered. The figures refer to the posts actually filled.

RO: Data represent the number of professional judges and magistrates. Source: Superior Council of Magistracy.

SK: Represent The total number of judges, not only for criminal cases.

TR: Includes judges assigned to the judicial Supreme Court, Regional Court of Justice, Judicial Justice.

Comments by countries on Adult Prison Staff

DE: Source: Prison staff data collection by the Federal Ministry of Justice; effective date 1. Sept. refers only to total personnel without disaggregating according to age.

IE: Prison data only relates to adult prisons and so adult prison personnel = total prison personnel.

CZ: It is not possible to separate Adult and Juvenile prison staff. Juvenile prisoners are held in the same facilities as adult prisoners, only in separated sections, but the staff is the same for both sections. 

CH: We can't differentiate prison staff by sex

ES: Some prisons have departments for people between 18 and 21 years old and this data include all.

RO: Source: National Administration of Penitentiaries within the Ministry of Justice.

TR: Data source is General Directorate of Prison and Detention Houses.

Comments by countries on Juvenile Prison Staff

DE: Source: Prison staff data collection by the Federal Ministry of Justice; effective date 1. Sept. refers only to total personnel without disaggregating according to age.

LT: Kaunas Juvenile Detention and Correctional Home have been merged with Kaunas Remand Prison. There is no separate Juvenile Prison. From 2021 Juvenile Prison staff are included in the number of Adult Prison staff.

RO: Source: National Administration of Penitentiaries within the Ministry of Justice.

FI: There are no specific institutions for young offenders.

SE: Reported figures refer to all staff working within the Swedish National Board of Institutional Care. Therefore, figures refer not only to juvenile prison staff, but also staff working in substance abuse homes for adolescents and adults.

TR: Data source is General Directorate of Prison and Detention Houses.

Not applicable.

Comparability can be focused upon trends, on the assumption that the characteristics of the recording system of a country remain fairly constant over time. However, there could be exceptions as methods might change which will cause breaks in time series. The comparability of the data over time is checked before dissemination as part of the data validation process. Countries are asked to indicate any change in the methodology used, definition applied or counting rules used. Significant changes arising from changes in national methodologies or procedures are reported as breaks in series These are indicated by the flag ‘b’ for values in the datasets.

The comparable time series starts in 2008. The historical data on crime and criminal justice published by Eurostat prior to 2008 are based on different definitions and cannot be directly compared with the data published at a national level from 2008.

Not applicable.

Not applicable.

Not applicable.

The internal coherence of the data is checked with basic validation rules (see section 18.4. Data validation). Figures for categories may not add up to the total, because information for some categories is unknown. Sum of regional data is checked with the national data. However, sum of regional data may differ from national figures due to differences in the data source or in the timing of the data collection.

The crime statistics collected by Eurostat are based on existing data compiled by national administrative sources. Also, the joint data collection between Eurostat and UNODC avoids duplication of data collections and unnecessary response burden for the data providers. The two data collection questionnaires (one for UNODC, one for specific EU needs) are structured in the same way to facilitate the completion of the questionnaires. In addition, Eurostat provides guidance notes and a helpdesk facility to support the national contact points when completing the questionnaires.

To further specify the general Eurostat revision policy, the following revision policy has been established for the crime domain. Revisions to the data are possible at any time, but only based on new data received from national contact.

The revision practice effectively corresponds to the revision practice of the domain listed under sub‑concept 17.1 (data revision – policy). All reported errors (once validated) result in corrections of the disseminated data. Reported errors are corrected in the disseminated data as soon as the correct data have been validated. Data are only published once they are deemed to be sufficiently complete for all data providers. Whenever new data are provided and validated, the already disseminated data are updated. Data are usually revised for the previous three years. Aggregates and components are revised at the same time.

Not available.

The crime statistics published annually are derived from administrative sources covering the four different stages of the criminal justice system: police, prosecution, courts and prison services. The source data type is the data recorded in the administrative registers.

Annual

Since 2014, Eurostat annually collects data on crime and criminal justice jointly with the UNODC. Eurostat is responsible of the collection for 38 jurisdictions (41 jurisdiction until 2019 data collection). Two separate questionnaires are sent to the Eurostat contact point in each jurisdiction. The UNODC questionnaire includes 7 sheets to be filled in and is complemented by the Eurostat questionnaire that comprises 3 sheets containing questions required by the European Commission for its specific policy areas. The two parts are harmonized, double requested avoided and consistency checked when applicable. Moreover, countries are requested to fill in a metadata file containing 9 sheets. Because of the diversity of the collected data, various actors are usually involved in the collection of data for each jurisdiction. Each national contact point is responsible for distributing the questionnaire to the appropriate data producers in the jurisdiction. The national contact point is then responsible for returning a completed and consolidated response to Eurostat. The files are sent to Eurostat by a common procedure, the electronic Data file Administration and Management Information System.

As soon as the survey questionnaires are received through the Eurostat electronic Data files Administration and Management Information System (eDAMIS), the data provided are checked through a set of validation rules. The validation rules consist of checks for completeness of data, internal consistency of the data, consistency over time, compliance with counting rules and ICCS and coherence with different data sources in the questionnaire or other relevant data sources. As regards to the consistency of the data, Eurostat systematically checks if the following basic rules are respected:

• The sum of the subtotals (men and women, adults and juveniles, nationals, and foreigners) should be equal to the total.
• Large revisions of data require confirmation and explanations from countries
• Large variation from one year to the next require confirmation and explanations from
• countries
• empty values, use of 0 and notes

The contact points are contacted to resolve or comment on any issues revealed by the data checking and/or to add any missing data or metadata. The data are deemed validated when all the issues addressed by Eurostat have been resolved or explained by the contact points. All information about definitions, divergencies, technical and legal changes provided by countries are disseminated in metadata.

Validation through attrition rates is also used to validate the data. The attrition rate describes the percentage rate at which the number of criminal cases decreases within the criminal justice system during the process, especially from the first contact with police to the level of convictions. The numbers of persons suspected, prosecuted, and convicted are expected to decrease but they should remain into a realistic range. The figures refer to suspects, prosecuted and convicted persons in the same calendar year. Although collect data do not allow to follow the individual outcomes for each person, they provide an estimate of the reduction process along the justice system.

EU ratio per hundred inhabitants, according to responding countries, are published for the following indicators:

• victims, suspected persons and convicted persons (total, males, females) of intentional homicide, rape and sexual assault in the crim_hom_soff dataset;
• victims of intentional homicide by family and relatives or intimate partner (total, males, females) in the crim_hom_vrel dataset

The percentage of the unsentenced detainees is calculated, for reporting countries and EU totals in crim_pris_tri dataset, as percentage of the number of prisoners with pre-trial legal status divided by the sum of the number of prisoners with pre-trial legal status and of the number of prisoners with sentence passed.

Not applicable.

Not applicable.

Not applicable.