Should we trust crime figures?
Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can describe where crime figures come from and evaluate their trustworthiness.
Key learning points
- All crimes that are reported must be recorded as either crime or non-crime incidents.
- There are two ways in which crime is recorded, via police data and crime surveys.
- Crime figures are not necessarily always accurate as not all crime is reported.
- The media can impact perception of crime and therefore crime reporting.
Keywords
NCRS - National Crime Recording Standards; principles that ensure police record all reported crimes accurately and consistently across the UK
Crime survey - an interview that asks people about their experiences of crime, including those not reported to the police
Media - television, radio, social media and printed media which can reach a large number of people
Common misconception
Crime figures are 100% accurate.
Not all crime is reported, so crime figures can only provide an estimate.
Teacher tip
Encourage pupils to think critically about where crime data comes from and the factors that may influence its accuracy.
Content guidance
Depiction or discussion of sensitive content
Depiction or discussion of sexual content
Depiction or discussion of violence or suffering
Supervision
Adult supervision required
Licence
Lesson video
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Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1.Who enforces the law in the UK?
Q2.Whose responsibility is it to report crime?
Q3.Which human right is supported by the media?
Q4.What is the purpose of 999?
Q5.What word best describes the factors that lead to crime?
Q6.Which is not an example of media?
Assessment exit quiz
6 Questions
Q1.There are two ways in which crime is recorded, via police data and ...
Q2.Match the word to its definition.
principles that ensure police record all reported crimes accurately
an interview that asks people about their experiences of crime
television, radio, social media and printed media
Q3.Which statement about police recorded crime data is false?
Q4.Which statement about crime surveys is false?
Q5.Complete the sentence, how a police officer decides to record a crime can be based on subjective...
Q6.Which statement is an example of how the media can influence people to not report crime?
To help you plan your 10 citizenship lesson on: Should we trust crime figures?, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your 10 citizenship lesson on: Should we trust crime figures?, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs.
The starter quiz will activate and check your pupils' prior knowledge, with versions available both with and without answers in PDF format.
We use learning cycles to break down learning into key concepts or ideas linked to the learning outcome. Each learning cycle features explanations with checks for understanding and practice tasks with feedback. All of this is found in our slide decks, ready for you to download and edit. The practice tasks are also available as printable worksheets and some lessons have additional materials with extra material you might need for teaching the lesson.
The assessment exit quiz will test your pupils' understanding of the key learning points.
Our video is a tool for planning, showing how other teachers might teach the lesson, offering helpful tips, modelled explanations and inspiration for your own delivery in the classroom. Plus, you can set it as homework or revision for pupils and keep their learning on track by sharing an online pupil version of this lesson.
Explore more key stage 4 citizenship lessons from the What can we do to reduce crime? unit, dive into the full secondary citizenship curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.