Decrease in number of victims of crime in Northern Ireland
Date published:
New official statistics published on 02/07/2025 by NISRA statisticians in the Department of Justice reveal that 4.5% of respondents to the Northern Ireland Safe Community Telephone Survey (NISCTS) were victims of at least one crime measured through the survey during the 12 months prior to the interview; the proportion is down from 5.8% in 2022/23.
The Northern Ireland Safe Community Survey (NISCS) is a representative, continuous, personal interview survey of the experiences and perceptions of crime and crime-related issues of adults living in private households throughout Northern Ireland.
As a result of the pandemic, interviews moved to telephone mode and asked a shorter questionnaire to reduce completion time.
Key Findings:
- NISCTS 2023/34 respondents were more positive in their perception of crime trends in their local area than at the regional level. Just under a quarter, 24% believed local crime levels had increased in the preceding two years. This compares with 68% considering crime in Northern Ireland as a whole to have risen, a proportion which is up from 60% in 2022/23.
- Findings indicate that 7% of participants perceived the level of anti-social behaviour (ASB) in their local area to be high, similar to the 2022/23 figure of 6%. None of the seven ASB strands considered showed a statistically significant change. "People using or dealing drugs" (28%) and "rubbish or litter lying around" (27%) were most likely to be viewed as problems.
- Around one-in-twelve (8%) respondents expressed a high level of worry about violent crime with the same proportion, 8%, very worried about becoming a victim of burglary. Of vehicle owners, 7% were very worried about becoming a victim of car crime. All three proportions were on a par with 2022/23.
- In terms of the effect of fear of crime on quality of life, there was no change in the breakdown from last year. At 76%, the majority of 2023/24 respondents felt fear of crime has a minimal effect on their quality of life, 21% a moderate impact with the remaining 3% reporting it has a great effect.
- Overall public confidence in the police and police accountability arrangements (based on a seven-strand composite measure) was 80% in 2023/24, similar to the 2022/23 figure of 81%. Two of the seven indicators that comprise the composite measure showed a statistically significant change. The proportions who felt that the Policing Board is independent of the police (70%) and helps the police do a good job (79%) both dropped from 73% and 84% respectively.
- When asked about confidence in the criminal justice system (CJS), three-fifths (60%) were very or fairly confident that the CJS as a whole in Northern Ireland is effective, while 63% considered it to be fair. The latter saw a statistically significant decrease from 66% in 2022/23.
About this Publication:
This publication provides statistical information on modules contained within the Northern Ireland Safe Community Telephone Survey (NISCTS) relating to:
- Experience of crime
- Perceptions of crime (including anti-social behaviour)
- Confidence in policing and in the justice fairness and effectiveness of the Criminal Justice System (CJS)
Further Information:
For the full PDF report please visit: Experience of Crime and Perceptions of Crime and Policing and Justice: Findings from the 2023/23 Northern Ireland Safe Community Telephone Survey
For the publication page and associated documents and tables please visit: Experience of Crime and Perceptions of Crime and Policing and Justice: Findings from the 2023/24 Northern Ireland Safe Community Telephone Survey | Department of Justice