Ethnicity and crime

Official statistics show higher rates of arrest for some minority ethnic groups. For example in 2007/8, black
people were nearly four times more likely to be arrested than white people.

In the same period, the risk of being a victim of a racially motivated crime was higher for those from minority
ethnic groups than for white people. For example, three per cent of mixed race people experienced a racially
motivated crime in 2007/8, compared with less than one per cent of white people.

Using material from Item A and elsewhere, evaluate sociological explanations of ethnic differences in both
offending and victimisation (30 marks).

At each stage of the criminal justice process, there are differences in the experiences of different ethnic
groups. For example, members of some ethnic groups are more likely than others to be arrested and
convicted. Studies also show that some minority ethnic groups are more likely to be identified as perpetrators
by victims.

Applying material from Item B and your knowledge, evaluate sociological explanations of ethnic
differences in offending and criminalisation (30)

1. Item. The risk of being a victim of crime appears to vary by ethnic group, both in terms of ‘ordinary’
crimes and raciall motivated crimes. This is shown in victim surveys. Surveys are based on the
assumption that people are aware of what is happening to them. All suspected crimes have to go
through a process of being reported and investigated before they are officially categorised as a crime.
The role of the police is crucial to this process.

Applying material from Item A, analyse two explanations of the apparent differences in the rates of
victimisation of ethnic groups (10).