Critically evaluate the concept of crime with reference to the concepts ‘invisible victims’ and ‘invisible crimes’. This essay encourages you to engage critically with two sets of data, as you explore the key concepts and theories raised in Block 4. The two data sources raise issues about: • What is officially counted as ‘crime’, who are victims of crime and what experiences of victimisation are recorded. • What knowledge about crime and victims of crime is produced through these official statistics: which crimes and victims of crime are prioritised in these official statistics and which crimes, victims and harms are not recorded. • The limited scope of official crime statistics and crime victim surveys for identifying hidden crimes and hidden victims of crime. • The limitations of the concept of ‘crime’ for addressing structures of power that generate harm and victims of harm. A key focus of the concepts and theories introduced in Block 4 is the role and relevance of official data for perpetuating common understandings (and sometimes misunderstandings) about crime and victims of crime.
