Elderly Victims of Crime and Exposure to Risk

Abstract

Abstract: It has been debated for some time whether lower rates of personal victimisation among the elderly are due to the fact that ‐ because of fear or other reasons ‐ they shield themselves from situations in which they might be victimised. This ‘differential exposure’ explanation is examined using data from the 1982 British Crime Survey which provides risks for different age/ sex groups and detailed information about respondents' ‘lifestyles’. Looking at evening ‘street’ offences, differences in risks between the age groups change very little when account is taken of different patterns of going out: irrespective of frequency, means of travel, destination and activity, the elderly are still less frequently victimised. Some theoretical and practical implications of the findings are discussed.