Information about victim surveys
Why we conduct victim surveys
The majority of forces within England and Wales will conduct victim satisfaction surveys with specific victim groups as the result of a previously mandated Home Office requirement. Although this activity is no longer mandated by the Home Office, forces recognise the importance of collecting feedback from victims, in order to continuously improve the service they provide.
The offence and incident types covered by the surveys in Cumbria are:
- residential burglary, which is burglary in a dwelling, including aggravated and attempted burglary
- violent crime, including wounding, assault and personal robbery
- victims of fraud
- hate crime, which are crimes motivated by a person's race, religion, sexual orientation, transgender identity or disability
- incidents of antisocial behaviour
In addition to the above, we are also required to survey a sample of persons who have been the victim of domestic abuse, and victims of stalking and harassment without a domestic abuse element. Unlike the surveys we have already mentioned, this is a mandated requirement set by the Home Office.
Who conducts victim surveys
The social research agency SMSR undertakes all non-mandatory surveys. We have worked with SMSR for a number of years.
For mandatory surveys in relation to domestic abuse and stalking and harassment, we use Leicestershire Police.
How surveys are conducted
Surveys are conducted via a telephone interview. This methodology yields better response rates than other techniques. For example, 45 to 55% telephone, 20 to 25% paper.
Use of telephone surveys also allows the force to obtain greater qualitative insight from victims into which aspects of the service provided worked well, and where they felt improvements could be made.
If Leicestershire Police call you, the number will show as being withheld.
If SMSR call you, the telephone number will show as 01482 380361.
How people are selected to take part
Probability sampling techniques are used to select the sample, in order to ensure that each member of the sampling population (such as victims of the crime types specified earlier) has an equal chance of being selected. Care is also taken to ensure that the 'profile' of respondents reflects the profile of the victim group in age, gender and ethnicity.
Sample details are sent to Leicestershire Constabulary and SMSR on a monthly basis in a safe and secure manner and in accordance with Data Protection guidelines.
Exclusions
We apply the following exclusions either before or after the sample is selected:
- victims below the age of 16
- where the offender was another family member, such as sibling, parent or child of the victim (this is only relevant to data sent to SMSR)
- victims who are members of the police service or police authority
- victims for whom the survey would cause undue distress or who were involved in a very serious injury
- victims who are considered vulnerable, such as victims with mental health problems or who are elderly
- victims who have requested no further police action
- victims who will not cooperate with the police investigation
- victims already contacted several times in 12 months
- when the incident is part of an ongoing neighbour dispute
Information that's collected
Sample data provided to SMSR contains the following information. For each victim of burglary, fraud, violent, hate crime and ASB incidents:
- full name
- incident type
- incident type code
- recorded date time
- weekday name
- area
- incident number (if applicable)
- crime number (if applicable)
- phone number (mobile)
- phone number (home)
- BCU name
- sector name
For domestic abuse crime victims or stalking and harassment victims, this information is provided to Leicestershire Police:
- crime number
- full name
- safe contact number
- address
- home office sub code
- offence title
- full circumstances
- area
- date of birth
- age
- is forced marriage (yes or no)
- is honour based violence (yes or no)
- crime recorded date
- crime outcome
- month
- is stalking (yes or no)