The Nature of the Violence
Offenders were said to have had a weapon or something they used as a weapon in
21% of muggings, (British Crime Survey term) and this was usually a knife (15% of
muggings). Firearms were cited in 1% of muggings. However, weapons were rarely used
to do more than threaten. More often, victims were punched, slapped or kicked (29%
of incidents). See table below.
Muggings were relatively unlikely to result in injury. Many robberies involved
threats of force, and in snatch thefts the force was restricted to pulling off bags
or jewellery, rather than deliberately inflicting injury. Of the one-third of incidents
that did result in some injury, this was usually bruises or scratches - though nearly
one in five were cut in some way. Victims received medical attention in a fifth
of incidents.
Table A6.13 - Use of Weapons in Violent Incidents (1998 and 2000 BCS)
|
Percentages |
Mugging |
| |
1998 |
2000 |
|
No weapon used |
72 |
79 |
| |
|
|
|
Unweighted N |
154 |
129 |
| |
|
|
|
Glass/bottle |
1 |
1 |
|
Knife |
12 |
15 |
|
Stabbing implement |
1 |
- |
|
Hitting implement |
3 |
3 |
|
Firearm |
2 |
1 |
|
Other |
9 |
- |
| |
|
|
|
Unweighted N |
154 |
129 |
Notes:
- Source 1998 and 2000 BCS. Excludes don't knows for type
of weapon.
- More than one response was allowed.
- '-' indicates there were no incidents in this category.
- '<1' indicates less than 0.5%
- Results for mugging should be treated with caution due to the
small number of incidents.
|
