Patterns of offending by age

Research shows clear patterns of criminal activity linked to age, with the likelihood of engaging in criminal activity generally decreasing as people grow older.

Key trends in age-related offending

• Decline with age - Statistical evidence indicates that the older a person becomes, the less likely they are to commit a crime.
• Concentration among younger groups - Most crimes are committed by individuals under the age of 40.

Specific statistics on offending

• Prison population data - In 2016, only 10 per cent of the total prison population was aged 60 and over.
• Crimes by young offenders - The 10–17 age group is responsible for a significant share of specific offences:
  • Half of all street robberies, particularly acquisitive robbery.
  • One in three burglaries.
  • A fifth of violent crimes, sex crimes, and shoplifting offences.

Patterns of victimisation by age

Disproportionate fear versus actual risk

• Fear among older people - Older individuals often have a disproportionate fear of crime.
• Higher victimisation among the young - In contrast, young people are actually more likely to be victims of crime.

Evidence from victim surveys

• Victimisation of children - According to the CSEW, one in four children aged between 10 and 15 has been a victim of personal crimes, including robbery, assault, and theft.
• Under-reporting among young victims - There is considerable under-reporting in this age group, with only one in ten children reporting crimes against them to the police.

Victimisation of young men

Young men are the most likely victims of violent crime, particularly knife attacks linked to territorial gang violence.