Statistical presentation

Data description

The statistics on victims of reported criminal offences form part of the Danish System of Criminal Statistics which includes data on criminal cases from the reported offences and victims and charges to the convictions plus arrests and imprisonments.

The statistics of victims of reported criminal offences are case statistics, which show the number of victims of some particular police recorded offences, i.d. sexual offences, violence and some property offences as robbery and bag snatching.

The victim is identified by a journal number and a personal identification number which can be used by linking to other areas of the crime statistics. Other key variables are the code number of the reported criminal offence and the date and place of the criminal offence.

Classification system

Grouping of the codes of the criminal offences. Main groups are sexual offences, crimes of violence, offences against property and other offences.

The provisions of the Danish Criminal Code regarding sexual offences went through essential amendments taking effect from 1 July 2013. The amendments resulted in e.g. more categories of sexual offences than previously being placed under the provisions about rape (section 216). See more in the attatched Note on victims of rape (2023).

Sector coverage

Not relevant to these statistics.

Statistical concepts and definitions

Reported criminal offence: A reported criminal offence is a violation of the law which has been reported or by other ways has come to the knowledge of the police.

Type of offence: Type of offence describes the kind of law violation which the victim has been exposed to. The criminal offences are divided into the penal code, the road traffic act and special law/legislation. Violations of the penal code are grouped in sexual offences, crimes of violence, offences against property and other offences. The most special laws/legislation are referred to as single acts, while the rest are categorized as 'Other special laws/legislations'. The grouping of offense codes used is available here: Violations of the penalcode.

Victim: A victim is a person who has been exposed to a crime causing personally harm.

Statistical unit

The unit in the statistics of victims of reported criminal offences is the victim case. If a person has been exposed to several cases during a year each case will count in the statistics.

Statistical population

Victims of reported criminal offences include victims of some particular police recorded offences, i.d. sexual offences, violent crimes and some property offences as robbery, trick thefts, theft from pocket and bag snatching and also violations of the law on restraining order, ban on stay and expulsion.

Reference area

Denmark, except the Faroe Islands and Greenland.

Time coverage

The statistics has been produced since 2001.

Base period

Not relevant to these statistics.

Unit of measure

Number

Reference period

01-01-2023 - 31-12-2023

Frequency of dissemination

Annual

Legal acts and other agreements

The Act on Statistics Denmark § 6. There is no EU Regulation related to the statistics on victims of reported criminal offences.

Cost and burden

There is no response burden as the data are collected via registers.

Comment

Victims of reported criminal offences have a Subject page