1. International Crime Victimisation Survey (ICVS_2)
Gordon Barclay
Home Office UK

2. International Government Research Directors
Membership
Australia, Canada, Denmark, Germany, Netherlands, New Zealand, Sweden, UK, USA

3. Context of new survey
To enable the continuation of the long established ICVS survey.
To pilot a method to provide Government Ministers with an indication of victimisation changes since the 2005 ICVS
To establish a clear organisational structure bearing in mind the need for a identical methodologies in participant countries.
To overcome concerns in the last survey about small sample sizes including the effect of oversampling in main cities.
To take account of the fall in the use of landlines and the increasing use of mobile phones.

4. Main features IGRD Project Board.
4,000 sample with no city oversampling
Short modular based questionnaire based upon policy needs.
Mixed methodology based upon telephone (landline / mobile) , paper and internet.
Centralised approach to polling
Wide availability of results and methodology.

5. Current progress
Denmark, Germany, Canada, Netherlands, Sweden and UK agreed to participate and part-fund survey.
USA and other IGRD members not financially able to participate but providing expert input.
Appointment of NICIS Institute for project coordination.
Initial pilot study in Canada, Sweden, Germany, UK in January 2009
Application to EC for funding under Framework program.
Development of tender document for survey.

6. Timetable EC funding decision: June 2009
IGRD meeting at Stockholm Symposium: 23 June 2009
Survey: Sept 09-Dec 09
Validation of results: Jan - Feb 2010 and initial reports
Final report, website and database: April 2010
Final report, project closure: May 2010

7. Main differences with current Eurostat pilots
Smaller number of participating countries including non-EC countries.
Single methodology/sample size for all participants.
Shorter policy based questionnaire.
Short timescale from survey to final report.

8. Future
Production of a single international instrument for victimisation surveys adaptable for developed and developing countries.
Ability of EC countries to compare both between MSs and outside.
Minimise the number of victimisation surveys.
Need for frequent surveys but low costs.